Heroes coming together Chapter 17: The Immortal, a Flash + Avengers Crossover fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own anything you may recognize

Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.

Thanks a lot to gussygus28 and Brainstorm Sorcerer for their help with this chapter too, really couldn't have done this without them. Thank you to Stand with Ward and Queen for a little suggestion too.

There has been a shooting in the Prague University on 21st December. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this. Rest In Peace to the people who lost their lives in this senseless crime.

Chapter 17- The Immortal

Earth-1, Central City

A ship had just arrived at the docks, and the captain was walking down, where the cop greeted him. "Welcome home. Any trouble?"

"Nah", the captain shrugged, then added. "But believe it or not, we got ourselves a stowaway."

The four crew members appeared, leading a tall and cuffed man who'd long hair and a beard, while also dressed in dark clothes.

"He give you his name?" The cop asked.

"Didn't say", the captain said. "Sat in the brig silent for three weeks." Then he lifted up a purple trench coat, inside which were many sheathed knives, to the cop's shock. "He was all decked out in this when we found him."

"Jeez, how many are there?" The cop wondered.

"32."

They all turned, surprised to hear the stowaway speak for the first time since being captured.

"And I'll polish them all in blood before long." The man looked around at the city. "I've waited a long time for this hunt", he turned to the captain, "and you have brought me very close to my prey." He smiled and seemed to bow his head in thanks.

The captain walked towards him. "Mister, you're not going to do any hunting in those handcuffs."

"Oh, but, Captain, you're wearing the cuffs."

The man lifted up his hands to reveal they were free, and the shocked captain saw his hands were cuffed now.

The man elbowed the captain, sending him falling down, and marched towards the cop, who took out his gun. "Who taught you that... Houdini?"

"Actually, I taught him", the man claimed, and dodged one shot, causing it to hit a crew member, then grabbed the cop's hand and twisted, making him shoot himself twice as well.

After that, he picked up his trench coat, wearing it with a flourish, as he adjusted it, then took out a knife, looking at the crew members.

He threw one, striking one of them, and then swiftly pulled it out before spinning and stabbing the other two in quick succession as well, killing them all.

Then, walking towards the captain, the man knelt near him with a smirk, and stabbed into his chest.

He'd sat silent for three weeks. He needed something to eat after all.

With that, he pulled out a good part of the captain's flesh from his chest, as well as his still beating heart.

The captain died slowly, as the man opened his mouth, and put the flesh and heart in his mouth, chewing and swallowing them whole and raw, before wiping some blood off his mouth.

Smirking again at his sated hunger, the man looked ahead at the city.

"Soon another sacrifice will be made", he declared. "And I shall be closer to my true destiny." He looked ahead. "I feel you out there, a stepping stone for my rise once more."

Next day, CCPD

"Man, this was a bloodbath", Joe said, looking at the pictures, very disturbed by the ripped-out heart.

"Done by one person", Barry said.

"One person did all this?" Patty asked.

"Yeah, a really sick person", Barry snarled. "You can see from the blood pattern." He gestured to all the pictures. "This guy was shot first, then the police chief, then these three were stabbed before finishing off the captain."

"Wow", Patty had to say. "Do you think a meta-human did it?"

"I don't know, but I found this in all of the stab victims' wounds", Barry said, lifting up an evidence bag. "It's some type of cryptocrystalline... Flint, most likely... Probably broke off the blade during the fight. I'll run it to make sure. For the heart, could be anything. Maybe the guy is trying to do some ritual or whatever."

"Let's see what stores sell those kind of flint knives", Joe said as he gestured to Patty.

"Will do", Patty nodded, then looked at Barry. "And, uh, I'll call you later."

"Okay."

Joe chuckled. "So cute." They looked at him. "You guys are trying not to be affectionate in front of me."

Patty shrugged while blushing. "Oh, no, we're just showing some professionalism."

"Yeah", Barry added, blushing as well, while Joe continued to chuckled.

Night time

Cisco and his girlfriend Kendra Saunders whom he'd started dating a few weeks ago entered CC Jitters where she worked as a barista, to have a date.

"Advantages of a trusting manager", Kendra shrugged, keeping the keys away.

"Oh, a lot's gone down in this place", Cisco said, looking around. "Nice." He then turned to Kendra. "So what's up? I thought we were gonna go to dinner."

Kendra walked towards the table, revealing covered dishes, to his surprise. "Whoa. What's going on here?"

"I couldn't decide which restaurant to go to, so I thought we would create our own." Kendra revealed the dishes. "Voilà. Short rib, Yukon gold puree, and asparagus." She covered them again. "Got to have a vegetable."

"This is nice", Cisco smiled.

"I like to cook", Kendra told him. "I didn't know if you like red or white, so... I got you both."

"Ooh, two bottles", Cisco noted. "That's kind of dangerous, don't you think?"

Kendra asked him. "You're not gonna run away all of a sudden, are you?"

Cisco assured her. "Trust me, I'm staying by your side as long as possible."

"Good", she said happily while moving across the table towards him. "You know, it's been really great hanging out these last few weeks. And it's helped make the move a lot easier, so... thanks."

"You're very welcome", Cisco assured her as they shared a kiss, only to be interrupted on hearing someone talk in a language they didn't recognize.

They turned to see the man in the purple trench coat as Kendra asked. "Sorry. How did you get in here?"

"Hey, man, this place is closed", Cisco added.

"You are just as beautiful in this life as any other, Priestess Chay-Ara", the man declared. "But you are as weak as you were before, perhaps even weaker. So now, it is time."

"Priestess?" Kendra simply asked in confusion.

"Uh, you're going to have to go, dude", Cisco told him.

"Oh, not without her..." the man revealed the knives in his trench coat, "dude."

"Oh, my God", Kendra whispered in horror, getting behind Cisco as the man unsheathed a knife. "Cisco." She looked at him. "I don't understand. What do you want?"

"I believe I was clear", the man shrugged.

Cisco quickly pressed a button on his phone and bravely said. "Kendra's not going anywhere with you."

"Oh, is that your name now?" The man asked Kendra mockingly. "Kendra... Quite boring. I believe it allowed you to blend in for a while. I've gone by many names too, to blend in." He turned to Cisco. "Now, give her to me, and I'll make your death fast, and I will not do anything else to your corpse."

"It ain't gonna happen", Cisco snarled, and then a blur sped in as Barry punched the man in the chest, sending him falling down.

"You are done here, pal", Barry said, marching up to him.

"So is he!" The man got up and hurled a knife at Cisco, as Barry ran towards him, quickly catching it, but when he turned around, the man was gone.

Cisco just sighed in relief, putting a hand on Barry's shoulder. "Oh! Thank God, Barry."

Barry looked at Kendra, then at Cisco as he shook his head in disapproval and annoyance. "Dude, come on."

Cisco gulped as he looked at Kendra's face and realized he'd spilled the secret.

Later, STAR Labs

"I can't believe you're The Flash", Kendra was saying to Barry before she turned to Cisco. "And that you work with The Flash."

Cisco chuckled. "Yeah, let's keep that on the DL."

Barry looked at the knife they'd gotten. "This is the same knife that was used to kill the men at the docks, and rip out one's heart. Residue is a perfect match."

"So it is the same guy", Joe noted.

"Definitely", Barry said, before looking down at the knife. "But the thing is, these blades are old, centuries old."

Iris asked Kendra. "Do you have any idea why this guy would be after you?"

Kendra shook her head. "No, I've never seen him before in my life."

"Well, he was certainly acting like he knew you", Cisco told her, remembering what the man had called Kendra. "He kept calling her Priestess Chay-Ara."

"That's Coptic", Harry said.

"You mean Egyptian?" Caitlin inquired.

"That's right", Jesse nodded.

"Is this 'Coptic' or 'Egyptian' a tongue you all use?" Strider inquired then.

"Well, yeah, the people from Egypt that is", Henry confirmed.

"So, this Man is of Egypt, or he stayed there long enough to learn their tongue", Strider noted.

"The blade is centuries old", Iris said, then thought since Strider was medieval, he could know something. "Maybe this man is from your world?"

"That cannot be true, there is no 'Egypt' in Middle-earth", Strider told Iris while looking at the knife. "And in all my years travelling across the land, I have never seen a blade like this one. I do not know of any creature who would take out only the heart of the one they slay. Not even Orcs."

"So, not from your world", Caitlin muttered.

Kendra said. "Well, I grew up in Wisconsin, and I've never even left the States, so..."

"This guy, he's clearly incredibly dangerous, so I need you to at least let us try to protect you", Barry requested Kendra.

Joe offered. "I can put a detail on her."

"You didn't see this guy, Joe", Cisco shook his head. "No offense, but I don't think a cop is going to be able to protect her."

"No, but we do have a few friends who could lend a hand", Barry told Kendra. "But we're going to need to leave Central City."

"And go where?" Kendra asked.

Few minutes later

Strider walked up to Barry as he saw Cisco walk off, and asked. "How far is this 'Star City' from here?"

"Not that far, and its just going to be us, Cisco and Kendra", Barry told Strider with a smile. "Actually, the hero of that city, the Green Arrow, he inspired me."

"He must be a noble and honorable warrior", Strider said, looking forward to meeting him.

"Oh yeah. I don't agree with him all the time, but I know he is a good man", Barry had to say. "He also trained me. That didn't go as well."

"What happened?"

"Oh, he shot me in the back", Barry shrugged. "Though I do heal fast."

"Sometimes you do get injured when you learn, it prevents you from being injured in a true battle", Strider pointed out, as Henry arrived.

"Barry, are you sure going to Star City is the right idea?" Henry inquired. "I mean, Green Arrow is still a new vigilante from what I know, so…"

"We'll be fine, dad", Barry assured him, while gesturing to Strider. "And he is with us, you know what he can do."

"Keep my son safe", Henry said to Strider.

"I will protect him. He has my sword", Strider promised Henry, who shared a hug with Barry.

"Be careful, son."

"I will, dad." Barry turned to Strider. "And once we're done with this man, you'll go home too, I promise."

Strider simply nodded.

Universe-208, Umbara

No matter what they did, or why they did it, Rex knew that what Fives, Hardcase, Jesse, and Steve did marked them as heroes. They saved not only their battalion, but General Kenobi's as well. If they did not destroy the supply ship, they would have lost who knows how many men trying to get to the capital and trying to destroy the ship as well. They did their duty and more, which, as much as he refrained himself from admitting aloud, was more than what could be said about General Pong Krell.

Rex would never say such a thing under normal circumstances…but this was not a normal Jedi.

Sure, General Skywalker was an unorthodox leader, but he got the job done and fought where the fighting was thickest, while trying to keep the casualties as low as possible. Not only that, but he also trusted the men under his command, it's what made the soldiers of the 501st loyal to the man. They believed their General could lead them to victory.

All General Krell could lead them to is an early death.

Since the day Steve was arrested, where Krell used the Force on him in a way Rex had only known Sith to do, he had begun to have doubts on the validity of the Besalisk Jedi. Rex knew Jedi would not choke people using the Force, because it was the Sith assassin Ventress who used it on the Clone Captain himself, that act of choosing to harm someone screamed the Dark Side.

Any attempt to contact the other Jedi Generals was met with failure, but Rex doubted it was an internal issue, they were fighting a war across the planet, then the Umbarans jammed their communications, reaching out for help now of all times was a slim chance at best.

So, Rex had to go down another route.

That was what led him to make his way to the tower to talk to the General.

"General Krell, I respectfully request you reconsider court-martialing Fives, Jesse, Hardcase, and Captain Steve Rogers."

Without even turning to face the Clone, Krell gave his answer. "The actions of ARC Trooper 5555, CT-5597, and CT-2666 were a clear act of treachery and disregard for my command. If punishment isn't swift, their defiance may inspire others to follow suit. As for the case of the…civilian," Rex frowned at how much venom the Jedi used when referring to Steve, no doubt still holding a grudge over what happened before and after the base was taken, "it is from his insubordination that these Clones were inspired to act against me. I bet it was his plan all along, introduce anarchy to the ranks. How General Skywalker couldn't see it, I will never know."

"Sir, the men are with you." This was it. Rex had a good feeling what was coming next. "But if you take action against these men, especially Captain Rogers, then I cannot guarantee their continued compliance."

A shock seemed to be sent through the Besalisk's system. He went rigid before whirling on Rex with a face that dared him to continue. "What are you implying, captain?" It was an order, clear as a day on Dantooine.

Rex stood straighter and held his helmet tighter. "You said before that Captain Rogers has no footing in this war. That did not stop him from fighting for us. He chose to risk his life by helping us. It was his choice, something the Clones were not given." There, Rex finally said it, and by how Krell's face sneered, he was taken aback as well. "I made my choice, sir, as have the men, we were born to fight this war, but they believe that you have needlessly put their lives in danger."

"All the more reason to send a clear message that I am in charge, and insubordination will not be tolerated, nor will this civilian's anarchy." Krell cut off Rex from saying more. "I see it now, the cause for these Clones' disrespect for my command. I had believed it was merely defective Clones, I have seen it before, but now I know for sure, it originated because of this so-called captain's presence." Rex's brow furrowed at what he said about Clones, but the Jedi was already pacing away with one of his arms stroking his chin. "Because of him, or perhaps due to their own faults, they refuse to submit to authority."

Rex did not like where this is going. He had a fear for what the four-armed General would say next.

"You're right, Captain. I don't think I can court-martial them. It will only be a waste of time, and that's something we don't have." Krell turned back and walked in front of Rex. "They will need to be disposed of before they spread the disease caused by Rogers any further." He laid a hand on the captain's pauldron and gave an order that chilled the clone of Jango Fett to his bones. "Prepare a squad for execution."

Execution?! That was beyond what he feared!

"What?! But-but, sir-"

"You heard me, Captain!" Even the Clones working at the holoprojectors could not hold back their shock from the orders. "Have it done immediately, or I'll do it myself."

"No, sir."

The Jedi General once again became rigid, more out of shock, before that shock turned to anger, and he turned to face the Clone before marching two steps to tower over the captain. "What did you just say, Captain?" He jabbed his finger harshly against the Clone's shoulder, but he held strong and barely allowed himself to move.

"I said, "no, sir"."

"Do you I need to remind you of your duty, CT-7567? Or perhaps I need to list the crimes against the imprisoned to make you realize the foolishness of your refusal to follow my orders!" Krell screamed at him, yet Rex did not react. "This "Steve Rogers" can be just an act put on by an Umbaran spy, an agent of the Separatists to instill turmoil in our ranks! You would risk your career, your life, on the machinations and treachery of this one man?!"

"I would risk nothing if I can't help it, General. That being said, all Captain Steven Rogers has done since the moment I met him on the ridge before your air support was fight our battles. He saved lives and was the reason for more than one victory during this entire invasion. I have already made a report of his actions to Admiral Yularen."

The look on Krell's face made it seem it was Rex who committed treason. "You. Did. What?!" He shouted in a rage.

"General, executing these four men on baseless claims of treason or espionage will only further the divide between the men and command. You may see Steve's actions as insubordination, but it is only because he is not trained in our protocols. He thinks differently, acts differently-"

"What are you implying, and take great care in how you answer, CT-7567." Krell hissed the number, and Rex knew, there was no going back.

"Captain Rogers has fought with us since the day he first arrived in the camp, saving lives."

"Do you expect every Jedi to fight every battle in this war, captain? Need I remind you of the massacre that occurred on Geonosis!"

"I was there, sir, I know what happened, and I also know that the men recognize a soldier going beyond the line of duty, like Fives, Jesse, Hardcase, and Steve Rogers did." Rex emphasized each of their names. "Over a hundred reports have been sent to the Admiral to plead for their case, especially in regards to our volunteer." Krell's eye both widened and narrowed in a rage that Rex had no seen before.

A hand moved to the lightsabers, Rex noticed.

"You went behind my back? I should have you put in the firing myself!"

"I am only doing what I believe is best for this battalion, sir!" Rex argued back with as much respect as he could. Krell was not appeased. "Giving the command to execute who the soldiers see as heroes will only alienate you further from the men. It is in your best interest that these men live and see a fair military tribunal."

For the longest time, Krell only stared at Rex, unblinking as his face contorted in a sneer, a growl just waiting to emerge. At any moment, Rex knew his career could end, if not his life, but he could not stay silent any longer. Executing the four of them could result in the rest of the 501st no longer following orders, something that would have been unheard of before the day they met Steve Rogers. The man whose empathy, courage, and strength won the hearts of nearly the entire battalion. Rex had hoped by reaching out to the Admiral that Krell's hand would be stayed, and the message could be reached back to the other Jedi, even General Skywalker, and restore order.

But honestly, Rex simply refused to order the execution of his brothers.

Including Steve.

Finally, after what felt like a rotation, Krell blinked and backed off, turning back to the cubic holoprojector of the Umbarans. "Very well, Captain, I will not order you to arrange the execution."

Rex did his best to hide a sigh of relief. At last, some good news.

Krell tapped his comms. "Sergeant Appo."

Rex's heart stopped.

"Yes, sir."

"Assemble a firing squad for the traitors. I want it done immediately."

"Will do, sir."

"But General-"

"But what, Captain?" Krell turned his head over his shoulder, not even turning to the veteran. "If you refuse to give the order based on a misguided belief of endangering my authority, I will have another do it for me."

"You can't-"

"Oh yes, I can." Krell turned fully and loomed over the Clone once more. "If you haven't forgotten, a General has the ability to extend punishment even during combat." Krell's finger waved in Rex' face. "Do not think I will forget this act of defiance, CT-7567. I will deal with the consequences of your actions later, once I have taken the capital."

Krell turned back to the holoprojector, even as the Clones working the controls stared at him and the Captain.

Rex could only lower his head in defeat.

There was nothing more he could do.

Earth-199999, New York City, Avengers Tower

All of Reed's research had been moved to the Avengers Tower for the duration of the project. Tony was on a screen, running schematics for an upgrade for the IDIOT, when he turned his head and saw Reed, his hands stretched out as was his head, tapping screens and observing data. Tony paused in his work to stare, Banner joining him to watch, mouth slightly agape.

Tony, of course, took a second before going. "I don't know whether to say "show off"...or eww."

Banner pushed that aside though, instead raising up his tablet and flicking the screen forward, sending the projection to the center of the room where Reed joined them. It was a holographic representation of a breach, Banner highlighting. "We were all preoccupied with trying to figure out the difference frequencies of other Universe, that we left out another variable. Back when Clark and Bart were staying with us-"

"Clark and Bart?" Reed asked.

"Big guy, cape. Small guy, fast." Tony simplified before turning back to Banner.

"We ran scans over their bodies, and while they weren't exactly normal humans, or human at all in Clark's case, they still were subjected to different types of cosmic radiation and energies we would encounter every day. I ran that through our records, and if you exclude the abnormalities due to their powers, there are microscopic differences in what they are exposed to, but they still exist. It sets them apart."

"Even on another world, Captain Rogers would still have the same radiation and energy signature." Reed realized, following Banner's thought.

"And Cap's body was exposed to vita rays when given the serum." Tony spread his hands and opened a holographic screen, tapping the keys to bring up a visual of the radiation in the air, before adding the vita rays to the mixture. "We finish working on the IDIOT, we can find Steve's unique signature, unless there's another boy scout sporting a super soldier serum and a patriotic frisbee."

"...maybe leave the motivational speeches to Steve." Banner said as he went back to work, in spite of Tony's exaggerated gasp.

Johnny was reading an article on the newspaper about him, the Avengers and the two Mutants having saved the day, and noted the name for their team. "They're calling us 'New Avengers'. Does that make us part of the team?"

In unison, across the Tower, Tony, Clint, Natasha, Banner, Sue, and Reed flatly said. "No."

"Oh come on! You guys need a new blood hot shot!"

"No."

"Well what am I supposed to do with these powers?" Johnny lit his hand on fire to demonstrate.

"Go to school?" Clint offered.

Johnny's eyes lit up. "Super school?"

"You barely pass regular school." Sue quipped.

"Don't think we'd want you there anyways", Bobby added as Johnny sputtered, the rest chuckling.

Earth-1, Star City

Damien Darhk had killed three ARGUS agents and was about to steal the chemical bomb with his men from HIVE.

Then there was the whistle of an arrow, as they turned to see an arrow stuck to the ground, before looking up to see Oliver, Sara, Diggle and Thea, in their suits.

"Oh, you brought arrows to a gunfight", Damien mocked. "And you're a few people shorter, I think."

"What guns?" Oliver asked, pressing a button, as the arrow attracted all the guns of the HIVE soldiers, disarming the men.

"Oh, that was actually pretty clever", Damien said, impressed. "Kill them."

Oliver fired an arrow that exploded, sending a few of them down, while Thea fired two more, getting two in the shoulder, and Sara threw her shurikens, taking down three more, with Diggle firing and getting some more.

Oliver fired one more arrow, this one multiplying into many and hitting many HIVE men in non-lethal spots.

"Fall back!" Damien ordered, as Oliver fired another one that exploded, and sent him flying back too. The HIVE men and Damien were forced to retreat as the four Team Arrow members jumped off the truck, only for a red blur to sweep them away.

Barry sped the four of them into an alley, as Diggle removed his helmet and vomited due to motion sickness. "Damn it! Every time."

Barry shrugged as Thea noted. "It's The Flash. Did I know we knew The Flash? We know The Flash." She looked at him. "Okay. I didn't know we knew The Flash."

"I did", Sara commented.

"Really? But you've been alive only a few weeks", Thea was shocked.

"I keep up", Sara told her.

Oliver told Barry. "Its good to see you, but I don't think you ran all the way here to help us."

"No", Barry confessed. "I need to protect a friend."

Later, the lair

Oliver, Barry, Sara, Thea and Diggle returned, and were talking, as inside, Strider, Cisco and Kendra were already there with Felicity.

"So, you're from a medieval world?" Felicity asked Strider again, in total disbelief.

"I have been told that is what Middle-earth is, so I would say I am", Strider simply said, Felicity still shocked.

She then saw Barry and went to hug him.

"Good to see you, Felicity."

They parted as Felicity smacked his chest. "How come you didn't tell me Zoom broke your back? And you met a cool medieval warrior?"

Barry was dumbfounded as Felicity hugged him. "I'm so glad you're okay, but you're not forgiven for not telling me about Strider."

Oliver noticed Strider and walked to him. "So you must be Strider."

"I am", Strider confirmed. "You are Oliver Queen, are you not?"

"I am", Oliver confirmed.

"Barry told me you were the one who inspired him, and taught him as well", Strider noted. "You are why Barry is the noble warrior he is today."

"Well, from what I know, you've made him even better and stronger", Oliver complimented, before holding out his hand.

After a moment, Strider grasped it, the two sharing a nod. Oliver was quite amazed to meet a medieval man himself, but he could hide his shock well, as could Sara.

"Hi, I'm Thea, its nice to meet you", Thea held out her hand to Strider, that he grasped as well.

"It is an honor to meet you, Thea", Strider simply told her, as Diggle just stared in disbelief.

"This day is getting weirder", he muttered to himself.

"Be polite", Sara whacked his arm.

"I made some friends from other worlds too, but they left, or I'd have introduced them", Oliver told Barry, before gesturing to Sara and Diggle. "This is Sara Lance", he looked at Strider and Kendra regarding Dig, "and John Diggle."

They just waved and nodded respectively, as Kendra shook his hand. "And you're Oliver Queen."

"Hi."

"I'm Kendra, I am Cisco's…" she trailed off.

"She is…uhh, my new beautiful friend, who uhh..kisses me occasionally", Cisco said lamely, as the rest shared weird looks.

Kendra looked at Cisco. "So, first I meet the Flash, then a Man from another world", she turned to Oliver, "and now I meet the Green Arrow." She looked back at Cisco. "Do you've any other surprises for me?"

Cisco chuckled. "Please, no more surprises."

"Barry said that you need our help", Oliver got into business mode as he looked at Kendra. "Somebody very dangerous is after you."

"Yeah, and I have no idea why", Kendra said.

"What does this guy even look like?" Thea inquired.

"Hold on." Barry walked to a pad and pen, and opening the pad, drew a sketch of the man's face at superspeed, before showing it to everyone. "Okay, this is him."

Diggle quipped. "Yeah, see, that's something I would never think of."

Felicity took the pad. "Let's see if facial recognition can find a match." After some typing, they found a photo of the man.

"Is this the one who tried to slay you?" Strider inquired to Kendra.

"That's him", Kendra confirmed.

"Yeah, strange", Felicity had to say. "This picture's from 1975."

"Which would make him about 80 years old right now", Barry noted.

So it seemed races such as Elves, Dwarves and Hobbits were not in this world, as Elves were immortal, and Dwarves and Hobbits could live long too, Strider noted in his mind.

He was descended from the Men of Númenór, so he could live longer too. But not all Men could. And this world did not have any race of this manner.

So to them, this was unheard of.

"Okay, what else can you tell us?" Oliver asked Kendra.

Kendra revealed. "He said we've known each other for ages, but I've never met the man before."

"There has to be some kind of connection", Sara said.

"Not one I can think of", Kendra commented. "I just moved to Central City six months ago."

"Why'd you move there?" Oliver asked.

Kendra sighed. "I just felt drawn to the city, I guess."

"Maybe there's a connection, which you can't think of yet", Oliver noted.

"Okay, I think I know someone who can help", Barry said as he walked away. "I'm gonna call him and ask him about this."

Taking out a phone, Barry dialed, then put the phone to his ear as the person on the other end picked up.

"Hello? Yeah, I needed your help with something."

Earth-199999

Nate, Sophie, Eliot, Parker, Hardison, Hunt, Luther and Benji were all sitting together, celebrating their successful return from Earth-1 at last, and discussing their adventures on that Earth.

"Its still hard to believe that pop song by Trish Walker managed to be of use", Nate had to say, as the rest chuckled.

"Come on, its not that bad!" Hardison defended it.

"That's a hot take if I've ever heard one", Luther quipped, Hardison sighing.

"Senator Cray must have had quite a breakdown", Sophie commented.

"I think it was worse than any we've seen over here", Parker told them, mentally laughing over the image still.

"That says a lot", Hunt commented, as he'd seen videos of some of the breakdowns by the people the Leverage crew took down.

"So, now that you're back, what are you going to do?" Benji inquired.

"Pretty much the same thing", Eliot shrugged. "These people don't really stop, unless we stop them."

Nate nodded in agreement, as Hunt said. "And our organization, as well as others, will be looking the other way, like usual."

"Much appreciated there", Hardison smirked.

"Either way, it is good to have you back, Eliot", Sophie said to him, clearly having been worried for him, alongside Nate.

"I'm not going anywhere now", Eliot assured the both of them. "Not unless I've a way to come back already."

That made the group chuckle, while Eliot asked incredulously. "And, the Avengers and some others fought a giant watermelon?"

"How would the watermelon be?" Parker wondered. "Would it taste like a regular one, or-"

"They did", Sophie said, interrupting Parker.

"Here I thought the serial killer in a doll's body was weird", Eliot groaned.

"All the worlds get stranger day by day it seems", Nate commented.

"And we have these mutants again, and a new team?" Hardison asked. "These 'New Avengers'?"

"Already made a headline alongside the Avengers and two mutants too", Nate commented, which was when there was a knock on the door.

Eliot and Hunt shared a look, the latter getting up, a gun in hand, as he walked to the door, and opened it quickly, aiming the gun, only to see it was Melinda May.

Relaxing, he lowered the gun. "Hey May."

"Hello", Melinda greeted him, as he stepped aside, letting her walk in, and she saw the rest of them, including Eliot. "It is good to have you back, Eliot."

"May." Eliot stood up and walked to her, not having seen her since their 'rendezvous' after she'd first joined Coulson's team. "How've you been?"

"With Hydra having been part of SHIELD for so many years, I'm sure you can tell", Melinda shrugged, as Eliot sighed.

"Yeah, that's correct", he nodded. "So, you wanna join?"

"Actually, no", Melinda said while shaking her head. "But like I said, it is good to have you back here."

"Thanks", Eliot said with a smile.

"Now", Melinda looked at the rest of them. "I needed to borrow Eliot."

"Why is that?" Parker asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Its important", Melinda said, looking back at Eliot. "Can you please come with me?"

"What is it?" Eliot inquired.

"I'll tell you when we reach there, but you need to know this", Melinda said in a voice that made it clear that whatever this was really concerned him.

"All right, okay", Eliot nodded. "I'll come."

"Thank you."

Eliot looked at the rest of them, and said. "I'll be back when this is done."

"Just be careful man", Hardison said to him.

"You lot be careful", Eliot quipped, making them chuckle, before Melinda walked out, and he walked out after her, the two leaving the place.

"I wonder what its about", Hunt had to say.

New York City, Avengers Tower

Thor had taken Piotr and Ben to the lower levels of the Tower, where a training room made by Tony could for the Avengers was located, but they were just testing Ben's strength here. A flat slab of metal was lowered over Ben, his arms raised up as the pressure and weight only got higher. "What's it at now?"

Thor and Piotr checked the level. "Two hundred tons." The Mutant said, impressed.

"I ain't even feeling it, boost it up some more. Make it a challenge."

Thor chuckled. "At least he's moved past his hate for his new form. For now that is."

"It's gonna haunt him for a long time." Piotr said, knowing from his own experience, and other Mutants who can't hide who they are. "Things will be hard, he will go to dark places, but with good people, he can move past the fear and pain, and accept who he is, what he is, and what he can do."

Humming, Thor patted the slightly taller mortal on the shoulder. "Wise words, my friend." He looked back at Grimm, and smiled in amusement at the rocky man holding up the weight with one arm.

"How much now?"

Johnny was near a window of the Tower, about to fly out, hoping no one was watching him, when he bumped into an invisible wall and fell down with a groan. "What in the…?"

"I won't be your sister if I didn't know you were gonna try to fly out and do your usual nonsense", Susan shrugged, walking off as Johnny continued to groan on the ground. "Don't try this again."

Universe-208, Umbara

"How does the hammer work again?"

Steve sighed. This was the third time Hardcase asked that question. "I told you, I don't know, just something Thor said about being arrogant caused his father to strip him of his power and tie it to the hammer, and he could only get them back if he was worthy."

"No, I get that part, but how does the whole "worthy" thing work?"

Opening his mouth again, Steve was prepared to answer, but stopped before he could speak the first word. Honestly, he had no idea how it worked. He simply shrugged. "Don't really know, we've got along since he came back to Earth, but half the things he tells me I still find hard to understand."

"Like being over a thousand years old", Jesse muttered in disbelief.

"I heard Yoda was over nine hundred or something."

"And I thought you were old", Jesse said to Steve.

"Yeah, but Yoda actually looks his age." Fives pointed out. "And he was never worshiped as some kind of deity."

"How would you know?" Hardcase rebuked.

Steve had to smile at the small argument between the Clones. With their hands cuffed behind their backs, they couldn't sit comfortably, so they each took a corner and leaned as best they could. Despite the grimness of their situation, the Captain of the Howling Commandos took the chance to get to know the Clones better and share some of his experiences to bring some levity. So far, it was working like a charm.

"I wanna know more about this armor guy, Stark, right?"

"Tony." Steve answered Jesse.

"Yeah, how did he even make that thing? I mean, it's a pretty low-tech civilization on your world."

Steve shrugged again. "He's just that smart. Uses an energy source, an Arc Reactor, to power the suit to fly, fight, shoot lasers, fire missiles."

Hardcase looked delighted at the prospect. "Oh I need to get me one of those. Imagine the clankers getting a load of me in that baby!"

"No offense, Hardcase, but I think we've all had enough of your flying." Fives teased him. Jesse snorted.

"It's not just his flying, giving Hardcase a weapon with more punch to it than a tank, he's likely to blow us up in the process."

Fives and Steve could not resist their chuckles, while a sore Hardcase puffed his chest. "I would not!...maybe."

"I stand corrected." Jesse said with heavy sarcasm.

Whatever comeback Hardcase was about to throw at Jesse was stopped when the platform lowered to their level, the three Clones and one super soldier gathering near the ray shield to find Rex approaching. One look at his crestfallen face told Steve everything he needed to know.

"I'm sorry." The first words to come out of his mouth hit the men like a sucker punch. "General Krell has ordered your execution immediately."

"What?! But how?!" Jesse was the only one not taken aback by the shock. "He can't do this!"

"He has the authority to render punishment during combat." Rex's expression showed pain.

"Court-martial is one thing, the brig is another, but Captain, he's gonna kill us? For saving the battalion?" Hardcase's shock and anger were clear as day.

Rex lowered his head in defeat. "I tried everything I could. I started a petition, I contacted the Admiral, sent reports and pleas for your case, but they won't get back in time. When I tried to tell him the consequences, he brushed me aside."

The ARC Trooper stepped forward to face his brother. "Rex, you have to see it, he's abusing his command. Has been since the day he arrived."

Stepping back, Rex allowed the other Clones Appo sent to escort the four out. "I won't let him get away with this.."

"It's not your fault, Rex." Steve spoke for the first time since his arrival, and his blue eyes showed the truth of his words, he didn't blame the Clone Captain.

That made it hurt worse in Rex's mind.

Sighing, Fives nodded his head in resignation. "Ah, don't beat yourself up about it. We made our choice. We knew what the price was."

"Yeah, speak for yourself." Jesse shot back, to Fives' amusement.

"Heh. Still got your sense of humor, I see."

"Yeah, who said I was joking?"

"Ah come on, dying might not be too bad." Hardcase tried to raise their spirits. "Who knows, after death, I could come back as a Jedi."

"Well…" Breathing in and out, Fives resigned himself to his fate. "I guess this is it."

"It's been an honor, gentlemen." Steve told them all.

Rex looked at all of them with pain. This was not right.

Steve, Fives, Jesse, and Hardcase, along with Rex and their escort, finally saw the line of Clones with rifles at the ready. A firing squad. This was not how Steve pictured himself going out, he thought grimly. It only got worse when he saw Tup and Kix in the squad, with Appo and Dogma seemingly in charge. The entire base seemed to be cleared of any other soldier, Steve wondered if that was done purposely.

Rex turned his head to look up at Krell watching from the tower and glared at the Besalisk.

"Well, I've officially lost my sense of humor." Jesse admitted.

"Now I can die a happy man." Hardcase threw one last joke before losing any cheer he had left in him.

They were arranged against the from left to right, it was Jesse, Steve, Fives, and Hardcase. Dogma walked from the firing squad with his hands behind his back, an air of superiority to him. "Would the prisoners request to be blindfolded?" None of them said a word, only stared forward. "I'll take that as a no." Dogma said with little care to the men he had fought and bled beside. His brothers. Steve could only stare at the man sadly, he won't even realize what he's done until it's too late.

"I hope you can live with yourself, Dogma." Fives spat at the blindly loyal Clone. Dogma took his place beside Sergeant Appo, Rex next to him.

"Ready weapons."

The sound of the guns clicking was all could be heard.

"Never thought we'd go out this way." Jesse lamented, before turning to Steve. "You could try to escape, you know? Save yourself."

"I refuse to leave any man behind, even if it means dying." He could try to escape, but there would be no point. That would put the men in danger. He still had faith in Rex, the men.

"Aim."

The Clones shouldered their rifles, their eyes aiming down the sights at the brothers who fought with them, saved them. Tup gritted his teeth in anger.

"Wait!" Fives shouted. "This is wrong, and we all know it. The general is making a mistake, and he needs to be called on it. No Clone should have to go out this way! We are loyal soldiers. We follow orders, but we are not a bunch of unthinking droids! We are men! We must be trusted to make the right decision, especially when the orders we are given are wrong! Look at this man," Fives jerked his head to Steve, to his own surprise, "he didn't have to fight with us, he could have left with General Skywalker and found a way home, but no, he chose to stay. Captain Rogers chose us over his own safety! How many of us are alive because of him? If not for Steve, who knows how many would have died because of General Krell. He stayed in the rear while this man with no ties to the Clones or the Republic was on the frontlines, putting his life on the line to pull out our brothers to safety. In the days since he joined the 501st, Steve Rogers has done more for all Clones than Krell has the entire campaign, and now, Krell tries to name him a spy, a traitor? If this is how we treat our own, then kill me now! I refuse to be in an army where a man I would call brother is executed for being a hero to us all!"

"As would I!"

"And me!"

Steve looked between the Clones, barely able to contain his shock. An overwhelming wave of emotions threatened to hit him. He'd known these men for nearly a week, but the things they'd gone through in those few days, it formed a bond only those in war could understand.

He just wished he could have done more for them.

"Fire!"

Steve's eyes turned forward and saw the incoming blue flash. He closed his eyes and waited.

…

Nothing happened. No pain, no burning.

Steve opened his eyes, turning to see Jesse, then to Fives and Hardcase, all alive, then to the wall behind them. A dozen markings where blaster bolts hit.

"What…what happened?" Dogma stuttered in panic. That was when the firing squad all dropped their rifles, and more Clones began to emerge. From the barracks and other parts of the base, nearly the entirety of the 501st gathered around the would-be execution, standing in solidarity.

"We refuse to kill our brothers." Kix spoke up for all the Clones.

Walking past Appo with a look to keep him silent, Rex stood beside Dogma, the naïve Clone unable to understand. "They're doing the right thing, Dogma, because if this is how soldiers are rewarded for their heroic actions, then one day, every man in this battalion may face a similar fate." Rex turned to the escort. "Take off their binders."

Dogma, however, could not allow it. "No, we have orders. We have to go through with this." He told them all. They all glared at him.

"Good luck finding anyone to do it." Rex pitied the Clone.

Dogma turned to the only other man who understood the value of orders. "Sergeant?"

Appo looked between the Captain, the prisoners, the firing squad, and the 501st Legion gathered around them. Good soldiers follow orders, but smart soldiers stay alive. He shook his head at the tattooed Clone.

With their restraints off, the four prisoners rubbed their irritated wrists with relief. Steve smiled at the men around him and nodded gratefully to Fives, Jesse, and Hardcase. "Thank you," then he turned to address the 501st, "All of you."

"We meant every word."

Earth-199999, New York City, Avengers Tower

In the kitchen, Ben tried to get a coffee mug, but it shattered in his hand. He sighed before a big, reinforced mug made of metal with a large handle was placed in front of him, courtesy of Banner. "Tony had the idea of having mugs, utensils, and coaches made in case the Hulk ever felt like sticking around. Thought it was ridiculous, but," Banner gestured to the mug after Ben took it, "seems he was on to something."

"Thanks, Bruce." Ben raised it to his rocky lips, and savored the caffeine going down his throat. He exhaled happily, before glancing down at his hand, the same hand that shattered the cup. "This is gonna take some gettin' used to."

"Try making sure you never cut yourself off for fear of people getting sick from the radiation." Even with the rocky face, Banner could make out the scrunched-up brows in confusion. "It happened before."

"Remind me never to share a bathroom with you." Ben joked before lowering his head. "If I can even use a bathroom."

"We're still learning about the change every day, we can find a way to make life easier."

"Including a cure?" Ben prayed.

Banner nodded before shifting his feet. "I understand your want, your need, to be normal again. Being on the run, all my attempts to fix myself and get rid of the other guy failing, always having to look over my shoulder, it was exhausting, and I had enough. I tried to end it all..."

"Bruce...are you tellin' me...?" There was no good way to finish that sentence.

The scientist waved off the question. "I found out that the Hulk can have a purpose, do good. You saw it yourself when the monsters attacked. A lot of people would be hurt if you didn't step in, including that woman-"

"Alicia." Ben suddenly said. Banner blinked in surprise before Ben sheepishly rubbed his bald, stone-like head. "She said her name was Alicia."

"Well," Banner's lip quirked, "Alicia is alive because of you." Inhaling and exhaling, Banner told him, "I know you're eager to get back to normal, but sometimes, even curses can become gifts." Banner patted Ben's arm before leaving the kitchen. "Just a thought."

Now Johnny was on top of the Avengers Tower. "Let's see them try to stop me here." He prepared to run to the rooftop and fly from there, when water from a hose hit him from behind, making him gasp and fall down on his face, the fire around him extinguishing for now, as he rolled to see Natasha holding a hose.

"Your sister told us what you were trying to do", Natasha said with a shrug. "But your kind of fun isn't really to any of our liking until you get a handle on this."

"WHY?" Johnny groaned.

Natasha just gave him a scary grin, and walked off.

Earth-1, Star City, Thea's loft

Barry had just been told by Cisco of his vibes of Kendra with wings, flying like a bird. Oliver was standing with him as the he said. "Sorry, to lay this on you, but I hope you don't mind."

"I don't mind, Barry", Oliver assured him, while seeing Strider talk with Sara. "Your new friend….he looks so…I don't know, older than he is. Its in his eyes."

"Well, he might as well be", Barry shrugged, neither realizing how old he truly was. "Him and Batman exposed Zoom, with Harry's help. I can't thank them enough. And now, I won't make the same mistake a third time."

"Good, at least now you learnt", Oliver said, looking ahead. "We should not stop trusting everyone, but we need to be careful."

"I agree, I've learnt that now", Barry sighed. "So, what happened with your friends from other worlds?"

"They were good, they helped me find the balance I've needed for years", Oliver confessed. "I guess, even if we didn't know each other for too long, they helped me a lot. I hope to get a chance to meet them again soon."

"I'd love to meet them too", Barry said.

"How was Batman?" Oliver then asked.

"Worse than you last year", Barry groaned, making Oliver chuckle.

"So, you've travelled all over this Middle-earth?" Sara asked Strider, who was looking at his clothing, which was a brown jacket over a black shirt, and trousers of the same shade.

"I have, my lady", Strider told her.

"And fought in wars too?"

"Yes", Strider confirmed, before telling her. "Men do not let their Women take part in battles in Middle-earth, but the Elves do. I believe this world does not have Elves, but Men who think in that manner."

"There's Elves on your world?" Sara asked in shock. Women not fighting was no shock, he was from a medieval world.

"I believe there are no Elves, Dwarves and Hobbits here", Strider noted, looking around.

"Wait what? You never told us you know Elves and Dwarves!" Cisco gasped.

"You never inquired that of me", Strider pointed out.

"Okay, wow! Now this is even cooler!" Barry said. "Elves and Dwarves are real! Don't know about Hobbits though."

"Right", Oliver muttered. "Now I know how Dig feels."

"Me too!" Thea raised her hand.

"This day just keeps getting better and better", Felicity muttered.

"And weirder", Kendra had to say.

"So, your world is more mystical and fantastical then", Sara realized. "Of course, to you its normal."

Strider simply nodded, not totally understanding her due to her modern Earth slang, while he looked at his clothing. "This clothing is stranger than what I have seen until now."

"In a good or a bad way?" Sara asked.

"Good way", Strider confirmed.

"Well, it looks good on you."

"You have my thanks, my lady."

"Oh its fine", Sara shrugged.

"Cisco!" Oliver called out.

"Yeah?" Cisco walked to him.

"Since you're here, I need you to do something for me", Oliver said, then began telling Cisco.

"I think I could use a favor from you too", Sara added, walking up to them as she told Cisco what she wanted as well.

When they were done, the two of them, Strider and Thea all sensed something due to their warrior instinct, as Kendra pointed at the window. "Look!"

The glass shattered as the man who'd attacked her landed in the middle of the glass shards.

"You cannot hide from me, Chay-Ara", the man gloated to her. "I shall always find you…and kill you."

Barry quickly ran, and then returned with Oliver's and Strider's bows and quivers, as well as Strider's sword.

They took their weapons, aiming their arrows the man while Sara took a pair of knives.

"Don't move!" Oliver commanded.

"Then how will I kill you all?" The man asked cruelly. "Besides, I'm hungry once more."

All of them felt disgusted as they figured out what he meant, Barry's and Cisco's eyes widening in horror due to realizing why the captain's heart had been ripped out.

"You are viler than Orcs", Strider said, as Kendra hid behind Cisco, Thea backing a little too.

The man threw his knives at all of them as Oliver and Strider fired their arrows.

Barry rushed forth, using his speed as he caught all the knives, but while he was making towards Thea, the man threw another knife.

As Barry caught the knife thrown at Thea, the new knife hit his shoulder, making him fall as he cried out in pain.

The man had caught both arrows fired at him, as he dropped them before catching another arrow fired by Oliver.

He threw it down as Sara rushed him, trying to strike at him with her knives. He dodged two blows before getting a punch to the face, and then she tried to strike again but he grasped her wrist and kicked her side, before kicking her chest, sending her falling down.

Strider and Oliver continued to fire, but he pulled out a Japanese metal fan, deflecting them all, before throwing a knife at Barry which he caught while getting up.

"Yeah, I can do that too."

As the man briefly paused, Oliver used the chance to fire at his shoulder, staggering him back, and then Strider rushed him with his sword, swinging it and giving the man a precise cut across his chest, before kicking his abdomen.

The man stumbled back, falling out of the broken window.

Strider, Oliver, Barry and Sara rushed to the window's side but found no sign of the man.

"Where'd he go?" Barry asked, alarmed.

"Don't think he just walked off", Sara commented.

"Looks like he is not an ordinary human after all", Oliver noted grimly.

"We need to find out why he is hunting Kendra", Strider said matter-of-fact.

Earth-199999, New York City, Avengers Tower

Johnny was now on a random floor of the building, deciding to get out of this window, as he doubted anyone would catch him here.

Before he could open the window, a blast from a fire extinguisher hit him, making him scream and groan as the fire was put out, and he fell down again, seeing Clint standing over him with a fire extinguisher.

"I know kids like you, kid, figured you'd try to do it again", Clint said with a smirk. "But let this be a lesson to you."

He walked off as Johnny sighed.

Universe-208, Umbara

There was no turning back. Krell would not let this slide, not when the entire battalion showed up in defiance of his orders. That didn't matter though.

Rex was done placating Krell.

The ride up to the top of the tower was silent and tense, with Dogma's failed attempt to hide his glare of contempt being the only thing to pass the time. Doors slid open, and Rex marched out to meet the Besalisk general, his back still to Clones.

"You wanted us, sir?"

"I ordered those traitors destroyed." Krell finally turned, laying a strong hand on Rex' arm. "You are making a mistake crossing me, Clone." He warned lowly with a sneer at the word.

No more.

Rex stepped closer to the General and kept his gaze. "It's Captain, sir."

Krell growled at the defiance, but Rex did not cow, he met Krell's eyes and never wavered, just like Steve did before him.

"General, there's an incoming transmission."

A Clone at the monitors broke their stare off so they could look at him. "Put it through." Krell ordered, both him and the soldiers turning as the floating cubes created a holographic reconstruction of a Clone kneeling.

"General, the Umbarans have stepped up their offensive. We're holding them off, but their squadrons have ambushed one of our platoons, seizing weapons and uniforms. We believe they may be planning to launch a massive attack."

The hologram dissipated. Rex met the General once again, but the hostility lessened, for now. Other matters were more important. "Looks like you have your stay of execution for now." Krell made for the lift, with Rex and Dogma right behind him. "Lock the traitors in the brig, and prepare your platoons to move out immediately. We need to pre-empt the enemy by hitting them now with everything we got. We're finally going to take the capital." The doors closed when the general addressed the veteran of the 501st directly. "And Captain, make sure the troops are aware that the enemy may disguise themselves as Clones to try to trick us."

"I will, sir." Feelings aside, they were under attack, that took precedent. But even as he shared a look with Dogma, something felt wrong with Rex. Someone like Krell, overcome with pride and stubbornness, let go of all the Clones refusing to follow orders and show up in strength in defiance to the execution? He didn't know what was running through the Jedi's head, but he had no time, he trusted the Clones staying behind to look after Steve, Fives, Jesse, and Hardcase.

Rex had Umbarans to hunt down.

Earth-1, Star City, the lair

"Okay. Thanks daddy", Sara said before cutting the call. "All right, my dad is gonna call if he gets any information on... whoever that is."

"I know where we can get some info", Barry said, looking at Cisco, causing Strider to realize something was going on.

"What happened?" Strider inquired of Cisco.

"Kendra, I have powers", Cisco confessed to Kendra. "I can sense other worlds and open portals to them if I try hard, and, I also get these vibes from people. They're visions of meta-humans, and I had one of you."

Felicity quipped. "So, A, you're saying you're a meta-human, and, B, she's a meta-human?"

"I don't know", Cisco sighed, telling Kendra. "In these visions, you could fly. It was like you were a bird of some sort."

"A bird?"

"Yeah."

"What else did you see?"

"That's it... just you with wings", Cisco told her.

"Oh, I did not see that one coming", Felicity muttered.

The lights turned off and then on as a voice said. "Oh, I think there's a lot you didn't see coming."

They all turned to see a middle-aged handsome man in a medieval looking suit with a bow and a quiver of arrows, with more people in a similar suit behind him, carrying similar bows and quivers, though their faces were masked, unlike his.

Oliver, Diggle and Sara immediately aimed at him while the others behind the man aimed their arrows, as Cisco muttered. "Great. More surprises. Who the hell is this?"

"You bastard!" Thea roared at him, and made to walk towards him, but Oliver held her back, shaking his head in a manner that said 'not yet'.

"Are you here to kill me again?" Sara asked with a sneer. "You won't be succeeding this time."

"I am the one who agreed to bring you back", he shrugged.

"Doesn't change anything."

"I know", he turned to Strider. "I have heard about you from some associates. My name is Malcolm Merlyn. I am Ra's al Ghul, the head of the League of Assassins. It's an honor to meet you."

Seeing how much everyone else seemed to hate this Man, and Sara saying he'd seemingly tried to kill her, Strider knew not to trust him. And he was feeling something wrong with him anyways.

"I do not feel honored", Strider replied to him.

"Why are you here?" Oliver inquired as he, Sara and Diggle lowered their weapons, as did the League of Assassins.

"The man you're looking for is Vandal Savage." Malcolm finally told them their adversary's name.

"Vandal Savage?" Diggle asked. "Never heard of him."

"Well, who is he?" Barry inquired.

"Some say he was the most trusted adviser to Genghis Khan", Malcolm said as Barry shared a weird look with Cisco. "Others say he guided Julius Caesar through the Gallic Wars. But one thing the League knows for sure... He was there for all of it."

"So what are you saying?" Cisco was curious. "He's like a Vampire or something?"

"There were Vampires in the other world I went, he didn't look like one", Oliver confessed.

"Not a Vampire, an Immortal."

"Okay, we've officially stepped into crazy town." Kendra was getting nervous. "Immortality?"

"The Elves in Middle-earth are immortal", Strider pointed out to her and the rest. "Though this is the first I have heard of a Man being immortal."

"This makes sense", Sara added as Oliver and Barry nodded. "This explains why he looks the same as he did in 1975."

"This can't be possible", Kendra said in disbelief.

"There's nothing you can do to save her now", Malcolm told them all.

Barry looked at her. "Kendra, do not listen to him."

"I... I just need some air."

Kendra walked out, as Cisco walked after her, while Barry looked at Malcolm. "Hey, we're gonna do whatever we have to, to keep Kendra safe, whether you think we can or not."

"We shall face his evil and stop his hunt for Kendra", Strider added.

Thea then walked to Malcolm, her face stoic, and then, she landed a solid punch on his face, turning it the other way.

"Why?" Malcolm asked, holding his face.

"You….you brainwashed me into killing my friend", Thea said with tears in her eyes. "And you killed Robert."

"You knew that when you came with me", Malcolm sneered.

"And I never should have!" Thea declared. "You are nothing but a terrorist, a murderer, a monster!"

"Thea", Malcolm tried to placate her. "You'd never turn your back on your father."

"My father? No. You? Yes."

Malcolm's eyes widened as he realized his hold over her was gone, while Thea continued. "You know, sometimes, I lay awake at night, and I wonder what Robert would think about our relationship. He raised me, he loved me, and I threw that all away the moment I became your daughter."

"Yes." Malcolm tried to make it her fault. "Yes, you did, and it was your choice."

"And I wish I never did", Thea muttered.

"Don't you dare speak to me like that", Malcolm declared, trying to manipulate her into accepting him in the same way an abuser in an abusive relationship (of any kind) would to do their victim. "You would be dead 10 times over if not for me. I taught you how to fight, how to be strong. I turned you from a delicate, spoiled brat into a warrior, and all I've ever gotten from you in return is your venomous spite!"

"For a very good reason!" Thea was beyond his manipulative games now. "You…are not my father. Robert Queen was my father, and you killed him. Now….you stay the fuck away from me."

Malcolm glared at her, then said. "As you wish, Thea. If you do not want to be my daughter, you will be my enemy."

"We'll be prepared", Oliver added, as Malcolm walked off along with his League followers.

Thea sighed, wiping some sweat off her forehead, as Oliver smiled at her with pride, and Sara told her. "That was a brave thing you did."

"He killed you", Thea told Sara guiltily. "I see things clearly now. I'll never trust him again." She looked at Oliver. "Especially over my true family."

They shared a smile as Barry got a call, and seeing it was Cisco, picked up. "Hello? Cisco..slow down, man….All right, we're coming!"

Barry cut the call and told the rest. "A man with wings took Kendra."

"Let us find her", Strider said, Oliver nodding.

"Yeah, come on."

Later

Oliver was on his bike, Strider sitting behind him, the two looking for Kendra. Oliver was in his Green Arrow suit now, with Strider also dressed in his Ranger garb.

"This is the first time I have been on a chariot of this sort", Strider told Oliver. "This one with two wheels gives me the same sensation as being on a horse, but much faster."

"Yeah, that sounds about right", Oliver said. "Of course, with Barry around, you wouldn't have needed to be on any of these until now."

As they looked up, they saw the man with wings coming towards them, wearing a helmet and carrying a mace.

"We have eyes on him", Oliver said over the comms as he began firing at the winged man, who deflected the arrows with his mace before throwing it at the bike.

Oliver and Strider both leapt off the bike in time as it fell down, while they landed on their feet.

The winged man landed, picking up his mace.

"Give us the girl", Oliver told him.

"Yeah, I can't do that", the winged man told them.

"Then we shall battle", Strider said as he charged him with his sword. The man blocked with his mace, before spinning and trying to strike as Strider ducked and swung, cutting his wrist, making him grunt in pain as Strider swung again but this time, he flew up in the air to avoid it.

Barry then sped up next to them, Barry asking. "So, what do we do?"

"We need to expose his wings", Oliver said, Barry nodding.

"On it."

As the man swung at them, Barry twirled his arms at superspeed, causing miniature cyclones that pushed the winged man back. Oliver then fired, getting the man's shoulder as he fell down.

Barry then ran around him in circles, and as the man pulled out the arrow while trying to get up, Barry hurled a lightning bolt at him, the bolt striking him and knocking him out cold.

Oliver and Strider walked up next to him, Oliver noting. "That's new."

"He did that the first time I met him", Strider revealed.

"Comes in handy", Barry smiled.

Earth-199999, New York City, Avengers Tower

Tony and Reed were looking at a screen. "You think this will work."

"I ran through the numbers. Everything we've experienced from the breach that you created for your friends, to the Singularity itself. Taking what we know of the composition of the breach, or at least how it's formed and opens up to other universes, this formula should open up a portal while Dr. Banner's radiation theory will locate Captain Rogers' unique signature to wherever he may be in the Multiverse, without the need to utilize the same breach he went through."

"So we create the door before the hall." Tony summed up, agreeing to the plan.

"Now we just need to figure out the way back, I'm not so sure on leaving the breach open for too long. The integrity of the machine or breach itself could fluctuate."

"Way ahead of you, Stretchy." Reed made a face at the name before Tony grabbed a hologram and pushed his hand through it, wearing a gauntlet-like device on his arm. "When we find Steve, this baby can reopen the door and bring him home."

"That's gonna take time to calibrate it to the same frequency of the IDIOT."

"Steve's been waiting for us long enough." Tony told him seriously, Reed almost taken aback. "We're getting him back." He said with absolute certainty.

Johnny was now on the ground floor of the building, hoping Sue, Natasha or Clint weren't gonna catch him here, and prepared to run and fly off, only for ice to appear underneath his feet as he slipped and rolled away, Bobby now standing over him.

"Going somewhere?"

"Uhhh….out?"

"For?"

"Some fun?"

"What kind?"

"Ummmm….."

"No going out for you today."

With that, Bobby walked off as Johnny groaned again. This was not his day.

Earth-1, Star City, the lair

The group watched as the man, now chained, woke up, and rattled his chains, startling Felicity, before he asked them all. "Where is she?"

"What's your name?" Oliver inquired.

"You're putting her in danger, and I'm the only one capable of saving her", the man snarled.

Thea commented. "You have a very interesting perspective on what the word "saving" means."

"She's the love of my lifetime, sweetheart. I was not gonna hurt her", the man revealed.

"Right, just kidnap her", Sara shrugged.

"I found out Savage attacked her, and I didn't think, just acted", the man told them. "You need to let me go."

Kendra then appeared on the scene, the man staring at her like she was a vision. "Chay-Ara."

Kendra was confused. "My name is Kendra Saunders."

"In this life", the man said. "And I am... was Carter Hall, an archaeologist in Egypt, but that is not who we are."

"What does that mean?" Kendra asked in confusion.

"You're Priestess Chay-Ara. I'm Prince Khufu", Carter Hall explained to her. "And we're lovers. Soul mates. We've been partners for 4,000 years. We're drawn to each other in each life, and after we die, we reincarnate to find each other again and again and again. And now that I've found you, we need to go." He rattled the chains again.

Cisco obviously did not like how Carter was talking. "Okay, Romeo, why don't you pump the brakes?"

"These people cannot protect you from Savage any longer", Carter said while gesturing to the rest of them.

"Tell us about this Vandal Savage", Strider demanded.

Carter told them. "In every lifetime, he hunts us down and kills us. He's done it 206 times, and I'm not planning to make it 207."

"Why does he kill you?" Diggle asked.

Carter revealed. "His life force is tethered to ours. Every time he kills us, he becomes more powerful. You do the math."

Cisco pointed out. "You're 0 for 206, and you still think you're her best bet, hmm?"

Barry noted. "Okay, so what we need to do is just find Savage and get rid of him."

Carter told him. "Well, you can't get rid of him, my friend."

"Oh, yeah?" Barry challenged him. "Watch us."

That was when Barry got a call and went to the side, picking it up. "Hello, you got anything?"

Barry listened to everything, then asked. "How'd you lose him?" He nodded again. "Got it, thank you. I'll tell the rest."

He cut the call and walked back to the rest of them. "So, my friend who was looking into Savage, he found out Savage left Star City a while ago. He is looking for something called the Staff of Horus in Central City. It was consecrated eight months ago at St. Mark's."

"We need to go", Oliver immediately said.

"The Staff of Horus is a relic from our past", Carter revealed to them. "If Savage gets his hands on it, its gonna be nearly impossible to stop him." He looked at Kendra. "We're running out of time, and you need to emerge now." Seeing her expression of disbelief, Carter asked. "Come on, what's it gonna take for you to believe me? You saw my wings, I know you know this is true. Please, just let me show you how."

"We have to stop Savage from taking the Staff", Strider pointed out. "However, if we are to stop him, Kendra does need to regain her powers from these previous lives of hers."

"You all go", Sara said to Strider, Oliver and Barry. "I'll keep an eye on him if he is up to no good."

"All right, let's go", Oliver agreed as he, Barry and Strider walked off.

Later

Sara, Cisco, Carter and Kendra were on the rooftop as Kendra looked down from the ledge. "So, you just want me to jump?"

"Jump, fall, swan-dive, whatever works for you", Carter shrugged.

"Hey, this isn't the X-games!" Cisco snapped.

"So, this is how she emerges? She just…falls to her death?" Sara asked skeptically.

"That is how it has happened for the both of us", Carter told her.

"Come on, shouldn't you be asking questions?" Cisco asked Sara.

"Look, I would, but then…I was dead and came back to life a few weeks ago, so its obvious there are things we don't understand", Sara pointed out to Cisco. "We do need to see if it works."

Kendra suddenly climbed onto the ledge, to Cisco's shock. "Hey!"

"I need to do this", Kendra said.

"Carter", Sara said, causing Carter to turn to her. "If you really think this works, fine, but I need you to help out here. Just because she could do it easily in a previous life doesn't mean this one is the same, so, keep that in mind."

Carter nodded, then looked back at Kendra. "Look, sorry for kidnapping you like that before." He took a deep breath, then told her. "I was in Egypt, I was drawn there, like you were to Central City. I haven't been able to recall it exactly, but I believe that's where we first died. I was an archaeologist, and I was doing an archaeological dig there. It happened at night time, I was at a ledge, and I fell from there. And then my wings appeared, and it came back to me in a flash."

He continued. "I looked for you after that, for months. Then I felt you in Central City, and came upon Savage's massacre. It scared me that he'd reach you, and that was when I found you here. I didn't think it through when I took you. That was wrong. But I also thought I was going to die before, and then too, I didn't think. I just…I let it go, as what I believed I'd find there, I hadn't found it yet. And you, Kendra, you need to let it go for a moment, and your wings, they will come, I promise."

Kendra sighed. "There were moments in my life where I felt different, like something was wrong with me. Now I know why."

"Its gonna be all right, Kendra", Cisco assured her. "I know what its like to have your life suddenly change. I can help you through this."

"I don't know if you can, any of you", Kendra sighed. "There are hundreds of lives inside of me I need to know about. I have to do it by myself and…embrace my destiny. I have to believe."

Universe-208, Umbara

Hours after the failed execution, Steve and the others waited in their cells. The only relief came from no longer being bound by the cuffs. Still, one thought remained with Steve: how the men gathered in support of them and defy their General. It was humbling, and showed exactly what Steve already knew, that these were good men.

His musings were broken when the platform lowered, and there stood Rex with a squad of men.

Holding his shield.

Confusion rose in the Avenger when the ray shield dissipated, and the captain offered back the Vibranium shield. "I should have listened to you." Kix offered rifles to Jesse and Fives, while Tup carried the Z-6 to a now very excited Hardcase who happily took it.

"Oh I missed you, baby."

"What's wrong?"

Rex told them.

The message. The ambush. The truth. The plan.

Steve had never been more eager to kill someone his entire life. He was ashamed to have such thoughts, but what Krell did, there were no words.

They reached the top of the tower, the imprisoned Clones and super soldier were returned all their equipment, and they would need it. Doors opening, the men of the 501st and the white/yellow coloured armor of the 212th's soldiers flooded the room and surrounded the Besalisk with his back to them, like always. It took a lot of willpower for Steve not to give way to his base desires and beat Krell bloody, but Rex was in command, and he'd follow his orders.

"General Krell, you're being relieved of duty."

Krell turned to them, his arms behind his back, not phased in the slightest. Steve's fist clenched harder until he could feel the knuckles pop. "It's treason, then."

Rex drew his blasters, Steve joining him in the action as the rest of the Clones levelled their blasters at the fallen Jedi. "Surrender, General."

"You're committing mutiny, Captain." Krell walked forward until he was at the center of the room.

"Explain your actions." Rex ordered while more troops moved behind the traitor.

"My actions?" The Besalisk asked in fake confusion, it made the blood of every soldier in that room boil.

"For ordering your troops against one another."

"Oh, that." Krell said casually as he stroked his chin, an action that made Steve tense. Something was happening. "I'm surprised you were able to figure it out…for a Clone." He said the word mockingly, never twitching even as Fives signalled for them to move in.

"Dead or alive, you're coming with us." Steve said lowly, almost like a growl. It made Krell narrow his eyes, the most he's shown outside of casualness so far.

"Surrender, General. You're outnumbered." Rex warned for the last time. He wanted nothing more than to riddle Krell with plasma bolts for what he did, but they needed answers.

Krell's face finally turned to anger, and in a movement only Steve could follow, the Jedi thrusted his four hands outwards, the Force pushing all soldiers against the walls and dazing them. All except one.

As soon as his back hit the wall, Steve pushed off and rushed the now surprised general and launched himself at the Besalisk, tackling him around the chest and forcing both through the window.

During the free fall, Steve grabbed Krell by the throat and bashed his shield into his face, but the alien grabbed both his arms with the lower limbs and gave an uppercut to Steve with his upper right fist, only for Steve to force his helmeted head against Krell's face like he did before the arrest. The blow made Krell release his hold, allowing Steve to raise his knee under the Jedi's chin before the alien turned them around, making Steve closer to the ground before a hard fist to his cheek had him spitting blood and separating the two in the fall. Seeing the ground get closer, Steve raised his shield to soften the blow, but still felt the force of his descent coming to a halt.

Groaning, Steve pushed himself up, only to see Krell, lightsabers drawn, throwing the body of a dead Clone at a group before running for it. Pushing himself up, Steve stumbled in his first steps but quickly sprinted after the Besalisk, who telekinetically pushed the army of 501st and 212th Clones out of the way. There was no stopping the super soldier, his eyes fixed on Krell, but when someone moved in his way with a blaster, Steve took a second to see Dogma, his eyes were crazed and shouting something. His heart was pumping so loud, Steve did not hear him, or care to, only smacking his shield, sending the tattooed Clone out of his way while he ran after the fleeing Jedi ahead of him.

It did not take them long to leave the base behind them, but Steve did not realize how much the Force could enhance an individual, or if it was the natural physiology of a Besalisk. Either way, he sprinted after Krell deep into the forest of Umbara before he finally lost track of the Jedi, slowing to a halt. Breathing steadily, Steve stepped forth. There were no mistakes to be made this time. The Clones were too far away to rely on backup, the captain knew he was overpowered, but it did not stop his resolve.

"I will admit, Captain Rogers, I am impressed." The voice of the traitor echoed around the super soldier. Steve whipped his head around, drawing his blaster but with no idea where to aim. "You suspected me from the beginning, how astute of you."

"I knew you were a murderer; I just didn't know you were a traitor, too." Steve spat at Krell, where he was. Only the red glow of the planet's plant life gave any kind of light. "It's over, Krell."

"Is it?" Steve whirled around and aimed. There was nothing. "A whole army of creatures born in a laboratory haven't had a hope to match the might of a Jedi! What can another laboratory experiment do to stop me!" Tony called him those same words, but whatever anger Steve felt, he focused it on his senses.

"Come out and see for yourself." Steve challenged, before he heard the hum of a lightsaber and rolled away. Krell descended from above, the green blade of his weapon plunged into the ground, but without its target beneath him.

Drawing his other lightsaber, unfolding the weapon to allow the two blue blades to spring forth, Krell twirled the weapons with skill not seen on the battlefields of Umbara. "I have been waiting a long time for this." The Jedi Master grinned savagely.

"That makes two of us." Steve opened fire, but the blue bolts were easily deflected back, impacting harmlessly against Vibranium. There was no stopping the invisible push that sent Steve crashing against a tree, with only a second to widen his eyes as two lightsabers swung at his head, causing him to duck and try to shoot for Krell's chest.

A lower limb grabbed the blaster while Krell's foot push-kicked Steve to his back, making him lose the gun. Captain America rolled away and lashed his foot at Krell's leg, sending the alien to his knee, not stopping though to stab the lightsaber downward, meeting the shield, causing the blade to fall to the side. Taking the chance, Steve's right arm enveloped Krell's upper right while his shield struck his face, sending the Jedi reeling while the super soldier kicked with both feet against Krell's chest. It gave Steve space to leap up with his knee striking under Krell's chin, but he recovered enough to grab a stunned Captain and slam his back to the ground, making him gasp before he was raised up over the alien's head.

Throwing his shield, Steve heard the tell-tale sound of the ricochet as Krell made to slam him down on his knee, only to have Vibranium strike his face, followed by an elbow that loosened his grip, letting Steve go with his shield recalled to his hand, until he felt himself grabbed again, spun, and thrown. Steve could only brace himself as he met the harsh, unforgiven ground of Umbara, rolling for nearly ten feet before his back hit a root. Panting and bleeding, the volunteer used the root to pull himself up and watch as Krell walked purposely slow, the glow of the lightsabers giving a haunting image combined with the natural light of Umbara.

"Any last words?" Krell growled as he spun the lightsabers between his upper and lower limbs.

The response was the super soldier standing tall, breathing heavily as he tightened the strap of the shield, before raising his fists. "I can do this all day."

Krell grinned with pure malice, before rushing forward.

Waiting a moment until he was close enough, Steve counted the seconds before drawing his long forgotten P14 at his other waist and fired. Krell did not think anything of the second weapon and twirled the lightsabers to deflect. Only, they did not deflect, the slugs were vaporized on contact, melting the metal and sending the molten shrapnel into a shocked Krell's chest and shoulders. "ARRGGHH!"

Without wasting the chance, Steve ran forward while Krell stumbled from the pain, and launched a two-punch combo into his chest, ending with an uppercut by the shield before pushing the pistol against the Krell's center. A large hand from a lower limb made to grab the gun, but Steve already pulled the trigger. The hammer sent the bullet loose, the only protection for Krell were his fingers, and the bullet sailed forth and blew through the hand, sending three fingers and blood flying to the ground. Krell's screams turned to a roar, the bullet lodged into his chest but did not penetrate deep enough, knocking him off his feet but finding the strength to swing his green lightsaber. Raising his only protection, Steve let the plasma weapon swipe against the shield, but recoiled when the green blade cut through the gun in his hand. He couldn't move before he felt himself raised into the air, much like the moment before he was imprisoned, only, this time Steve was not choking, but Krell slammed his hand down, bringing Steve to the ground like he was hit by a hammer, then he was raised up and slammed down again, this time feeling bones break from the much stronger crash.

Once more, Steve was lifted by an invisible hand, crashing against a tree, before hitting the one next to it. Pain blinded him before his senses screamed at him to move, and he did just in time, twisting away and raising his shield as a barrage of heavy, uncoordinated strikes slammed against the Vibranium.

Rage was fueling Krell, making whatever power he used stronger, forcing Steve back with each attack. However, rage coursed through Steve as well, and he focused it to concentrate as he saw one lightsaber rear back as another was brought down. Timing it right, the shield's edge struck Krell's wrist hard, making the hand release the blue lightsaber, before Steve shifted his feet, waiting as the green lightsaber was brought down, Steve catching the arm and throwing the massive alien over his shoulder. Krell rolled around in time for a boot kick across his face, sending a tooth free from his mouth from the sheer strength of the kick. That was not all, the human grabbed Krell by the throat, raising him over the ground before slamming him down like he did to the captain. From that moment on, Steve poured all the hate, the rage, and grief into his fist and down into Krell's face while the shield kept the lightsaber wielding hand restrained.

The faces of the Clones flashed in his eyes at every strike, teeth were sent flying, just like the bodies of the men who died by the command of this murderer! Steve gave into the anger, blinding him to everything else before raising up his shield to end it!

But then, he stopped.

Panting with that rate, and exhaustion, and pain, Steve wanted nothing more than to kill him, for everything Krell did to the men! But he stayed his hand, staring at the bloodied face of a being he detested.

It was not him who decided this butcher's fate.

"Your fate belongs to the Clones." Steve growled at the Besalisk, whose eyes were shut after a dozen of Steve's strongest punches.

Then the yellow orbs snapped open.

Steve couldn't react in time before Krell's hand raised up and plunged into his abdomen.

Gasping with blinding pain, he felt the massive heat and unbearable burning as everything in the blade's way melted and burnt. That same agony remained when the lightsaber retracted while an invisible grip tightened around Steve's throat before being replaced by a large, rough hand, only getting tighter as he was raised to eye level with the seven feet seven-inch-tall alien.

"If you think I will ever let that happen," Steve gagged as Krell raised him higher while using the lower limb with all digits intact to throw away the shield, "you are more a fool than all of those insects put together. I could have killed you a hundred different ways, but I wanted to have the satisfaction of killing you slowly. There was never any hope, for you, for those Clones, not even for the Republic."

Dark spots were at the corner of Steve's vision, his right arm was held tight by Krell's other arm while his left futility grabbed at the hand on his throat. The world began to fade, and Steve was losing his strength, and the last thing he would see was Krell's eyes boring into him, the anger, the smugness radiating from those yellow eyes.

Something inside him snapped.

Steve's hand went for a surprised Krell's face, and his thumb buried itself into one of those damned eyes.

"AARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Krell's screams of surprise and pain engulfed the area, the same hand that was robbing Steve of oxygen releasing its grip to clutch at the new wound, letting the body of the super soldier crumble to the ground, coughing harshly until blood escaped his lips. Those screams continued as Steve looked up, Krell pulling his hand away to show the eye was destroyed. Hand reaching for his waist, Steve grabbed the wire launcher, and fired, the line going around Krell's legs, tying them up before the super soldier pulled hard, the legs taken from under the Besalisk, but it didn't end there. The First Avenger swung the body at the end of the cord with all his remaining strength into a tree, giving him a taste of his own medicine, but there was no satisfaction, not when his enemy's hand raised again, and Steve felt his ribs break apart.

Steve's own screams of pain filled the air, sending him to the dirt, sheer agony making it impossible to keep his eyes open let alone stand. It took all he had to crawl forward to find anything to help him. His blaster, his shield, the wire launcher that was dropped when he felt his ribcage break under Krell's command of the Force. There was no reprieve, as Steve felt his head grabbed and then pushed against the bark of a tree, before being turned around forcefully, only to receive a fist to his cheek, and another, and another. The Besalisk's punches were an unrelenting flurry of fury, breaking apart part of helmet to free a section of his hair, ending with one strong punch that drove Steve's skull against the bark, and allowed his body to fall.

"Is that all?!" Krell shouted down at him before his foot kicked Steve's body away, sending him rolling across the ground. Looking to the ground, Krell's only remaining eye sought his lightsaber before he found it, using the Force to recall the weapon to his hand, and letting the green glow illuminate his ruined right eye. "Is that all you got, civilian?!" Marching forward with death in his remaining eye, Krell snarled while feeling the missing teeth that only made his fury grow stronger. The soldier pushed himself to his hands and knees, and it was like that when Krell finally reached him, "IS THAT ALL?!" He swung the green blade down…

Only to be met by the blue blade of Krell's other lightsaber.

"Volunteer." Rogers gritted his teeth and pushed forward, making the surprised Krell stumble back before watching the captain twirl the hilt, and let the other blade spring to life.

And cut off Krell's hand.

Shock gave way to pain; pain gave way to rage. Krell turned that rage into a roar, using the Dark Side to call the lightsaber to his other hand and swing down the middle, cutting the hilt in half while the tip of the green blade cut through the star on the uniform, sending smoke and pain through the super soldier's body as he was forced down to his knees. Krell made to swing again, which was when Steve launched his shoulder against the chest of the Besalisk, knocking the Jedi off balance while getting around the alien, the Avenger wrapping his arms around his waist, lifting him up, and slamming the body down in a Supplex. The lightsaber fell from Krell's grip, and that was when Steve moved to the arm, securing a grip around the elbow, a foot against the shoulder, and pushed up.

SNAP!

A hoarse cry escaped the fallen general, turning into snarls, whipping himself around, his feet sweeping Steve's legs and landing painfully on his side, the broken bones and other injuries taking their toll, as he could not stop the foot kicking him to his back and planted that same foot on his smoking chest.

Through his bleeding and swollen face, Steve could only quirk his lip, the once mighty General Krell, reduced to a ruined shell.

With his one remaining usable arm, the right lower limb summoned the lightsaber, its green glow appearing fuzzy in Steve's eye as he found it harder to keep them open. Krell said something, but it sounded too distant, and he reared his arm back to stab down. Steve tried to budge the foot on his chest, but there was no strength in him to match the Jedi's Force power.

Thoughts filled his mind, wishes, regrets. He regretted not being able to see his team one more time. He regretted not being able to bring back Bucky. He regretted not talking to that one dame, but that was the one thing even after the serum that hasn't changed. He regretted not being able to help the Clones more, his new brothers.

Steve could only wait for the end.

But it never came.

Krell stabbed his lightsaber down to finally end the wretched soldier, all his hate and anger fueled into this one strike to rid the galaxy of this vermin!

Only for the blade to stop.

A hand grabbed the plasma, hissing coming from the contact.

"Not. My. Friend."

Krell's one eye turned in shock to see another man, taller and bulkier than even the super soldier, metal armor and a red cape with a hammer in his other hand. The stranger, still holding the lightsaber by the plasma blade, flicked it to the side, breaking it from Krell's grip before the hammer thrust forward into his chest, and felt lightning course through his body in an unbelievable wave of pain that he could not even cry out as he was launched from his place atop the soldier to crashing through a tree and crumbling against the Umbaran ground.

Thor looked from the alien of a race he'd never seen before, to his injured friend. "Rogers?" He called to him in concern. The wounds were brutal, a line down his chest and through the star, as well as a stab wound no doubt made by that plasma sword, his face bore the brunt of an unyielding attack by that beast, and the way he was breathing, and the sound of the bones shifting beneath the skin had Thor worry.

He made to lay a hand on his shoulder when movement to his side made the God of Thunder turn his head as a small army of men in blue/white and yellow/white armor burst forth.

"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" One of them shouted as they raised their weapons and surrounded Thor. Some held different markings on the armor, but two stepped forth wielding guns most definitely not from Earth.

"Don't make another move." He warned the Asgardian, and under normal circumstances, Thor would laugh, but he was in no laughing mood.

"He needs a healer."

"Th-Thor…"

A small, weak voice had the Odinson kneel beside the super soldier, smiling up at him. "Feeling sleepy, captain?" He joked, remembering their banter during the Battle of New York. Steve smiled again before his head went limb.

One of the soldiers with a red marking on his armor knelt next to Steve's other side while others hovered near, having lowered their weapons away from Thor upon learning of his connection to the super soldier. "Not good, he's in bad shape Rex."

"Can you do anything for him?" One of the men with a helmet different from the others asked.

"He's been stabbed by a lightsaber and not dead, that alone warrants a dip in the bacta, but his skull is likely fractured, and I don't like how he's breathing." The healer confessed. "We need to get him to the base, now!"

"Sir, it's Krell!" Men yelled over from where Thor sent the alien crashing. The one in charge looked over at them before returning to Steve.

"Get him ready to move."

"I can get him there faster." Thor told them, standing to his full height. Some made to raise their blasters, but another soldier in a different styled armor stepped forward.

"Wait, you're Thor, aren't you?" He asked, and Thor nodded. He then turned to the one in charge. "Rex, he's from Steve's world."

The leader, Rex, looked between Fives, and Thor, before glancing at the injured man at their feet, before back to the Asgardian. "Alright, get him back to the base infirmary, it's southwest from here."

"Understood." Thor gently raised the First Avenger with one arm before holding him close before spinning his hammer and shooting upwards.

The Clones could only watch in shock at seeing the man fly, no fighter, no jetpack.

"What kind of world does Steve come from?" Rex wondered aloud.

Tatooine

Quinlan turned between each of the blasters, the guy he was sent after, then to the head man himself. "You know, considering I helped you guys out, would think the reception would be a little more, oh I don't know, friendly."

"You're surrounded, Jedi."

"And you got rundown by Dooku." Quinlan countered. The Mandalorians narrowed their gazes at him, well, those without helmets on that is. "Look, I only came because I sensed him." Quinlan pointed to the dark-skinned fighter.

"Me?"

"Not from around here, are you?" Blade's confusion was clear and told Quinlan everything. "Listen, man, wherever you think you are, it's a lot more-"

"I've had enough of Jedi and Sith for one day!" Vizsla shouted.

"Hey," Quinlan whirled on the Death Watch leader, "I don't like being surrounded by terrorists and murderers, but you don't hear me complaining." Blade whipped his head to look at him, and the Mandalorian leader, the head of Clan Vizsla did not react, and his heartbeat did not accelerate. It was the truth. Vizsla opened his mouth, but Quinlan held up his hand. "Save it, I don't need to hear the whole "restore Mandalore" thing, I got the idea."

"So maybe I should just kill you and be done with it."

Vizsla drew his blaster and aimed but stopped when Blade stepped in the way. "You owe me."

That caused the man to narrow his eyes and aim at Blade instead. "You attacked me!"

"After you lied about what was on the train." Blade countered. Bo-Katan managed to stand on her own two feet, nervously looking between the two men to have wielded the Darksaber. "We had a deal, not only did I stop the train and got your fucking drugs, but I helped fight that old bastard. If you were actually being honest when referring to yourselves as warriors, you'd understand honor."

Vizsla scoffed at him but holstered his WESTAR. "What would an outsider know of honor?"

"More than terrorists and murderers." An angry murmur spread through the ranks of the Mandalorians. Not far, the ships containing their reinforcements finally landed.

Blade and Pre Vizsla's eyes met in a battle of wills, neither of the men waivered. The Mandalorians and Jedi looked between the two and expected them come to blows again, before a surprise speaker broke the deadlock.

"He's right, Pre Vizsla." Vizsla stared at the redheaded warrior with shock, but she did not turn away. "A promise was made, lies of omission are still lies, and he fought off Count Dooku with the Jedi. We owe him."

"You would side with him, after what he said of our cause?!" Vizsla shouted at her.

Bo-Katan looked unsure, turning back to the warrior who remained as impassive as ever, his stance never changing despite the odds. It reaffirmed her strength when she faced Vizsla again. "Regardless of what he said, his character speaks for itself." She addressed the crowd of Mandalorians that grew larger by the second. "Blade fought one of our own and won. He showed his honor when he stopped Gar Saxon from harming our reputation. And when we fought the Pykes, it was Blade who cut through them like a Beskar sword through flesh." The Death Watch army murmured again. Bo-Katan gestured to Vizsla himself. "He even defeated our own leader, Pre Vizsla." She knew the consequences of what she just said, but it needed to be done, even as she felt the rage in the head of clan Vizsla's eyes. "We may not agree with him on everything, but Blade has shown he is a warrior worthy of respect. Who would we be if we did not honor his request? No better than pirates." Using Vizsla's own words caused a ripple in the Mandalorians, and she saw their weapons lower.

Finding Blade, the golden eyes of the stranger were steady as always, but he nodded to her, one that she returned. Vizsla himself was fuming with an unbridled anger that threatened to break out, but he found the strength to restrain himself. Had he not, he would lose the respect of the warriors around him. "What is your request?" He asked through gritted teeth.

"Dreadlocks and I leave. You don't shoot us when we do." Simple and purposeful.

His eyes narrowed, but the Mandalorian leader nodded his consent.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Quinlan chuckled. "For a second there, I almost thought we should worry." His joke was met with silence, making the Jedi drop the humor. "I'll just be waiting over there." Quinlan pointed away from the crowd of Mandalorians, which he walked past, despite getting angry glares from everyone he passed, or angry helmets. Seriously, do they ever take those things off? He made it outside the mass of armor wearing mercenaries when something reflected off the sun, catching his attention. Quinlan walked forward, pushing away the sand that partially obscured it, or its. It was two pieces of a sword, cut in half by a lightsaber. Blade's sword.

Quinlan picked up both the pieces…and saw the sword's past.

Blade, uncaring of what the Jedi was doing, continued to lock eyes with the man who lied to him. Still, he was no thief. He readjusted the handle in his hand and tossed it to the Death Watch leader, who caught it easily. "It ain't mine."

The rage in Vizsla's eyes changed into a snarl on his face, glancing at his people surrounding him, before, with great reluctance, he threw it back at the Daywalker, who caught it with similar ease, but his brows raised in confusion. "You beat me in fair combat. You…earned the Darksaber."

"It's our way, Blade." Bo-Katan told him.

Eyes shifting from the hilt, to Vizsla, the Mandalorians, and finally the Kryze woman, there was an unsurety in the hunter. He was honestly confused on how to continue. He didn't want the sword, but he needed it if that old man came back. Reluctantly, he attached the hilt at his waist, before turning on his heel and walking away.

"Blade!"

He stopped at the sound of her voice. Bo-Katan limbed over to the Daywalker, pain on her face but mixed with determination, before offering something in her hand that he hadn't noticed until now. His shades.

"I wish you luck in getting home." Her heart was steady, she meant it. Blade slowly took the shades back before putting them on.

"Thanks." He said without looking at her, and made to turn to leave, but stopped himself. She was the most decent of this crew, he owed her some decency, which as why he turned back to her, and said sincerely. "Take care of yourself."

An amused huff escaped the redhead. "That has to be the nicest thing you ever said to me."

The amusement spread to Blade, before he turned on his heel and walked away. The crowd of Mandalorians parted for him, watching his every move, but he did not care. Once he got to where the guy with the dreadlocks was, he continued on walking, making the man rush after him.

He wanted off this ugly, sandy dustball.

Earth-1, Central City, St. Mark's

Strider, Oliver and Barry walked into the church as Barry exhaled, Oliver asking Barry. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. I just like to speed into rooms, usually", Barry told him.

"Uh-huh", Oliver noted. "Where do you think we find this thing? I haven't been in one of these places in a while."

"I believe it should have been there", Strider gestured to the top of a coffin that looked empty.

"We're too late", Barry realized in horror.

"Something you're not used to saying very often, I'd imagine", Vandal Savage said as he stepped forth, holding the Staff of Horus.

Oliver nocked an arrow and fired, only for Savage to catch it with one hand.

"Robin of Locksley." Savage waved the arrow in their faces. "I taught him how to use a bow. He taught me how to not feel pain. You cannot defeat me."

"Leave Kendra alone", Barry snarled.

"I can't do that", Savage shrugged. "While my destiny is to live forever, Chay-Ara's and Khufu's is to die, as is yours now."

"Why do you believe you are meant to live forever?" Strider inquired, nocking an arrow, as Oliver nocked another one.

"When this cycle was created, I was the one who was to live every time, and they were to die, while giving me their power", Savage told them why he believed he needed to live. "And so, I realized, that I am the one with the strength. I was chosen, to lead the people of this world one day, and every life of theirs was a sacrifice for my eventual rise."

The three realized that due to his immortality and the circumstances around it, Savage believed himself destined to rule humanity, and whatever plans he had, they would help him rise to the top one day, years from now, maybe even centuries (or Life Ages, in Strider's mind) from now.

But a world like that, would be cruel and merciless, where the strong shall always subdue the weak.

They had to stop him.

With that, Savage lifted the Staff of Horus, which glowed blue with energy, and he started firing energy beams at them. Barry ran around to dodge, while Strider and Oliver backed off, firing arrow after arrow at Savage that he destroyed with the beams.

Barry and Oliver took cover as Savage fired at a pew near Oliver, destroying it.

Taking the opportunity, Strider charged Savage, who tried to strike with his staff but he blocked a few times before backing to avoid another strike, and lifted his sword to block another.

"Who do you think taught Miyamoto Musahi how to wield a sword?" Savage taunted, not that Strider understood what he was talking about.

Savage swung his staff but Strider ducked and tried to hit Savage's feet but he backed at the last moment as both glared at each other.

Savage then charged again, spinning his staff, as Strider blocked with his sword and tried to strike Savage's foot but he lifted it up to avoid.

As Savage struck again, Strider blocked and grabbing his hand, pushed him to the other side.

Savage tried to strike again but Strider blocked a few times and leaping into the air, got behind him and sliced him on the back of the neck, making him fall down as he groaned.

Savage tried to get up, glaring at Strider, who swung and sliced his throat, making him gasp and choke as held it.

Using the opportunity, Barry rushed at Savage and grabbed the staff, but it caused a shockwave that made him fly back and hit a pew, and Strider and Oliver were thrown back too.

Star City

Kendra stood on the ledge still. "I guess something is holding me back. Maybe it's Central City or you", she looked at Cisco, "or what I thought my life was gonna be, but I'm never gonna become who I really am unless I let go. I have to do this."

Central City, St. Mark's

Even with his bleeding throat, Savage managed to speak in Egyptian Arabic, before he said. "In all my countless years, I've never encountered anybody with your capabilities. Astonishing! You might not be on my side, but you are still strong. So I shall not go beyond killing you."

Star City

Kendra jumped off as Cisco cried out. "No!"

Central City, St. Mark's

The staff glowed as Savage was about to slam it to the ground.

Star City

Kendra closed her eyes, not thinking. She was going to die. Her life, whatever she thought it'd be, it didn't matter anymore.

She let go.

And then, her wings emerged as she began to fly, Cisco cheering.

Central City, St. Mark's

"Chay-Ara", Savage muttered, the glow stopping, as he'd sensed her emerging.

Star City

"Oh, my God!" Cisco laughed. "Whoo-hoo!"

"Chay-Ara", Carter smiled.

"She is here", Sara shrugged.

Central City, St. Mark's

"I used to enjoy slow deaths. Now I just find them boring", Savage said as he raised his staff and it glowed again. He slammed it to the ground as Barry grabbed Oliver and Strider and sped out, the three avoiding the explosion and falling out.

Star City

Cisco continued to cheer as Kendra flew around with her wings, then reached the rooftop, her wings disappearing while she fell with a roll, Cisco reaching her first. "Hey. You okay?"

"I'm gonna have to learn how to use these things", Kendra had to say.

"I'm here for that", Carter assured her.

"You'll get the hang of it, Hawkgirl", Cisco added, as Kendra smiled and laughed at the name.

"Carter", Sara put a hand to his shoulder. "A word?"

"Sure", Carter said as she led him to a corner. "What is it?"

"I know you used to know her as Chay-Ara once upon a time", Sara told him. "And she still is Chay-Ara. But she is also Kendra Saunders."

As Carter listened, Sara continued. "She still has people and things in this life she loves. You love Chay-Ara, but, try to treat Kendra like Kendra, all right?"

After some thinking, Carter nodded. "I'll keep that in mind, thanks."

Central City

Strider, Oliver and Barry looked at the blown-up church as Barry asked. "Any chance he blew himself up in there?"

"Considering he is an immortal, and knows how to use that Staff, I don't think so."

The three turned to see Batman standing there, Strider and Oliver having sensed his presence, while Barry said. "You got to stop doing that, man!"

"He is the friend you called?" Oliver asked Barry, who nodded.

"I looked up Savage from the sketch and the picture", Batman told them all. "Then I tried to use a satellite of mine to track his movements, but he managed to evade it eventually, though from the tracks, I figured he was off here to Central City. After you told me a bit more about him, Barry, I researched some more, and found out about the Staff of Horus."

"And that's how you realized Savage was after it", Oliver noted, looking Batman up and down. "I know about you."

"I know about you too", Batman shrugged.

"We meet again, Batman", Strider said, grasping his shoulder with a smile, Batman looking at the hand, feeling this sensation to be…new.

And then, he grasped Strider's shoulder as well. "Yes, we do, Strider."

"What do we do now?" Barry wondered.

"I shall be around to lend a hand", Batman said as he walked off. "Keep me updated."

"You're not staying?" Barry asked in shock.

"I'm not big on crowds", Batman said. "Once was enough."

And with that, he used his grapple gun to swing away, Barry turning to Oliver. "Like I said, he is worse than you were last year."

"I can see that", Oliver muttered.

"Let us wait for the rest", Strider said.

Star City, the lair

"That was Oliver", Diggle said as he put the phone down. "Savage has the Staff of Horus. He wants us all in Central City as soon as possible."

"Okay, well, Laurel's already there visiting mom, so I'll call her and let her know we're coming by", Sara said, before realizing something. "Mom's a history professor, she might know something about Savage."

"You sure you want to meet her?" Thea asked gently.

"Whatever is needed", Sara said with a sigh.

"If Savage is in Central City, then why are we going back there?" Kendra asked.

"So we can end this", Cisco said, putting on his coat. "And if anybody's gonna take down Savage, it's going to be Barry, Strider and Oliver."

"Plus, you've emerged", Carter told Kendra. "It's going to be much harder for him now. And together, all of us, we can take him down once and for all."

"So, let's go", Sara said.

"Ray has lent us a jet", Felicity added. "So, let's go."

Earth-199999

Melinda noticed how quiet Eliot was while she was flying him, and not just normal quiet.

"What happened to you in the other world?" She asked.

"Worlds." He corrected, he didn't go into detail even though she was surprised by the fact, as her face showed, but he did say, "I did my best to do what I always do. Try to do better."

"Eliot, you've been trying to make up for the past for years, even when you went by Paladin, you've done a lot of good."

Part of him knew she was right, but that didn't stop the loathing he still felt inside. "I got to do more, Melinda. I need to do more."

"...do you still see them?"

Eliot stared out across the sky, before looking to one of his few friends with the hurt in his eyes. "Every time I close my eyes."

Universe-208, Umbara

The sky was a bright blue, clear, cloudless, warm. Steve was reluctant to rise up, enjoying the feeling of the grass beneath him, the light breeze grazing over his face.

He felt so much peace. Tranquility. Harmony.

Steve did not think he could ever get up.

That was when he heard the thunder.

Finally raising himself, Steve sat up and saw in the distance, storm clouds, thunder rumbling over the wide open, grassy plain.

A drive to go forward made the WWII veteran stand up, taking slowly steps with his bare feet to the thunder.

"Hey, Cap."

Steve froze, turning his head over his shoulder before finding the face of a man long dead.

"Dugan?"

The man with his ever-present bowler hat and distinctive red moustache stood there smiling like the gentle giant he was. "It's good to see you, Cap."

"Dugan…" What is this? Dugan was dead. Steve stepped closer to his fellow Commando, and then noticed the sky get brighter behind him, making the soldier pause. "I don't understand."

"You've fought for a long time, Cap." The corporal laid a hand on Steve's shoulder, gesturing to the bright light engulfing the plains far from the thunderclouds behind them. "Now, you have the chance to rest. We're all waiting for you."

Just then, he could see shapes in the distance, bathed in the glow from above, and Steve could not help but stare.

Monty. Gabe. Frenchie. Jim. More shapes took form behind them, but Steve could not see their faces, yet what he could see, all were smiling at him. Waiting.

There was an urge deep inside him, telling the captain to walk to his friends. Steve took one step before he stopped.

"Is this…the end of the line?"

"It's what you deserve." Dugan told him, but Steve lowered his head to stare down at the grass. Does this mean that he…

Thunder broke him from thoughts and made him turn back to the dark clouds. Something was there, in the storm. He turned back to Dugan. "Do I have a choice?"

"I can't make you choose, everything rests on you."

Those words repeated in Steve's mind. He had a choice.

Be at peace? Or keep on fighting?

Part of him always knew the answer.

"I can't leave. Not yet."

Dum Dum Dugan only smiled at his old friend before making towards the light. "We'll be waiting for you, Cap. Be sure to make us wait a long time."

Steve watched him go, watching as the shapes, including the Howling Commandos, began to disappear, Dugan being the last. Inhaling through his nose, Steve exhaled and braced himself as he marched toward the storm, not stopping until the winds blew strong against his body, making him raise his arms to shield his face. The thunder got louder to the point it was deafening, yet Steve pushed on, until his eyes found the clouds beginning to part. Captain America looked up, and witnessed as a lightning bolt descended toward him.

Darkness consumed him.

Steve's eyes snapped open. He thrashed wildly as he felt himself submerged in some kind of liquid, his mouth and nose covered by a mask that let him breath. Reassessing everything, Steve stopped his thrashing and focused, through the liquid, he could make out more shapes, but more importantly, armor, a cape, and a hammer.

Feeling himself pulled upward, two sets of hands lifted Steve out of the liquid, whatever it was blinded him briefly before someone removed the mask, letting him breath by himself before a towel was put in his hands, which he quickly used to dry his face to see properly for the first time.

"Welcome back to the world of the living, brother." Kix smiled down at him, with Jesse on the other side.

"Had us worried there for a moment."

"What, me? The super soldier?" Steve chuckled at Jesse's exaggerated groan.

"There he goes again." The two Clones helped Steve to his feet, finding himself wearing only a set of briefs to cover himself, bringing him down the steps around the tank to the ground, where the familiar faces of Rex, Fives, Hardcase, Tup, and to his great surprise, Thor, waited.

"It's good to see you're alright, Steve." Rex walked up to him. The Avenger nodded at the two Clones to let him go, finding his strength again allowing him to stand tall. "We feared the worst when you went after Krell by yourself."

"The worst nearly happened." Steve admitted. The image of Dugan in the field flashed in his mind. He never felt himself so close to death before, so overpowered, it was a miracle he was still alive. If Krell was just one Jedi, he'd hate to be on the wrong side of the whole Order. He looked at the hammer-wielding Asgardian and smiled. "If not for Thor, I wouldn't be alive."

"I am thankful to the Norns that Stark and Banner brought me here in time. We feared the worst after your absence for so long." Thor said. The suspicions of the men with the same face was understandable, and he was thankful for it, it meant their intentions for Steve and his wellbeing were true.

Steve shrugged and looked at the men. "I was in good company." They smiled back at him. "For the most part, that is."

"Yes, by the condition I found you in, that battle was hard fought."

Hardcase started laughing. "Nothing good ol' Steve couldn't handle, right brother?" Hardcase elbowed his ribs, and Steve struggled not to wince.

"Hardcase!"

"What?"

"His entire ribcage was broken! He only just healed!"

Realization hit Hardcase like a gunship, grasping his head in disbelief. "Oh for the love of-! Why can't I stop hurting you?!"

The pain faded and let Steve laugh, and laugh hard, his ribs, hell, his whole body felt sensitive, but if the liquid he was submerged in was bacta, then it was doing its job. He never felt in so much pain than he was during the fight with-

Steve froze and turned to the Clone Captain whose face was smirking in amusement, which dropped when he spoke. "Krell?"

And then, his face turning grim, Rex told Steve what had happened.

Krell was dead.

Nothing in Steve felt anything other than relief. The Besalisk was a traitor to what the Jedi were meant to represent, and more importantly, a traitor to the army. His callous and uncaring nature backed by his arrogance finally led to his end by the one person who followed Krell with absolute loyalty.

Dogma.

There was a poetic kind of justice that Dogma, the one man that listened to the Besalisk, and one of the Clones that he so despised, killed the monster. What was left of him that is. If he was there, despite everything he did, purposely sending men to their death in some ploy to weaken the Republic's army and join the Separatists, Steve still doesn't know if he could pull the trigger and execute anyone like that. He was thankful he didn't have to find out.

That line of thought was for another time. The capital city was taken, Umbara was under Republic control.

Now, it was time to go home.

Earth-1, Central City, CC Jitters

Strider, Oliver and Barry were in Jitters, as Oliver saw 'The Flash' coffee above in the list. "Since when is that a thing?"

"About eight months", Barry said, then joked. "Maybe if you save Star City, you might get one too." He turned grim. "By the way, we still need to get Savage."

"The rest are on their way, and with them, we shall slay him", Strider assured Barry.

Suddenly, a kid, about 8 or 9, bumped into Oliver and Barry, passing between them, dropping something.

"Watch yourself, buddy", Oliver said while picking up what was dropped, and shared a chuckle with Barry on seeing it was a Flash action figure. Even Strider had to chuckle at this toy, while Oliver handed the action figure back to the boy. "You don't want to lose this guy."

"Thanks, Mister."

"Yeah."

The boy ran to his mother, Oliver frowning as he noticed her. It was….her. The boy was around 8 or 9, and they'd their thing around 10 years ago.

Strider and Barry noticed Oliver watching the kid and his mother intently, as he kept thinking to himself.

It couldn't be, could it?

Earth-199999, Bowie, Arizona

Melinda set down in Arizona, the Quinjet opening up for them to walk out of it.

Melinda got out of the pilot's seat, and started walking out, Eliot walking out after her.

There was a house at the end of a long driveway.

Melinda explained as they walked to the ranch. "During your absence, breach activity has only increased. Some of our otherworldly guests are friendly, most aren't. There was an incident in the Navajo Nation. Something was killing animals, people, skinning them or worse. From the description, it seemed to be an extraterrestrial hunter. By the time we sent a team to follow up, someone else was called in and killed it, severely injuring himself in the process, but not before the extraterrestrial blew itself up, and left a hole in the area."

"Not sure how this concerns-" Eliot paused when he saw the letter box they were coming up to, more specifically, the name.

Rambo.

A horse neighing drew their attention to a man astride a bay stallion with a white face, but it was the rider that Eliot focused on. Denim jacket, flannel shirt, cowboy hat, but that didn't matter, it was the person who wore them.

When he got close enough, Eliot softly spoke in awe. "You're John Rambo."

The man glanced at the other man before looking at the woman he was familiar with. "What do you want?"

"Mr. Rambo, this is Eliot Spencer."

"It's an honor, sir." Eliot spoke honestly.

Rambo looked closer at the man, Eliot, he thought he recognized him, or at least, someone like him. His stance however, his eyes, he knew them. He had the same. "Army?"

"Yes, sir."

"Berets?"

"Yes, then Ranger, then the Unit, sir. How-"

"Your face, your walk, it's quite distinctive."

Eliot nodded, muttering, "So that's what that feels like." Meanwhile, Melinda did everything she could not to smirk.

"Mr. Rambo was the one to handle the extraterrestrial." She turned from her friend to the man dismounting. "While receiving medical treatment, we were analyzing your blood for any foreign elements possibly left by the alien." This next part, Melinda braced herself. "That's when we discovered something...surprising."

Eliot and Rambo were silent as they urged her to answer with their looks alone. Melinda took a deep breath, which concerned Eliot, Melinda rarely got nervous, before finally speaking. "We ran your blood through every type of scanner we had to be sure there were no side effects from your battle. What popped up was a familial match in the D.O.D. DNA database."

"Familial?" Rambo repeated, his face scrunching up in confusion before it dawned on him, and he looked at the other man, who was looking back at him at the same time.

"Eliot, this is your father."

Universe-208, Umbara

Staring into the slimy liquid that saved his life, Steve dressed in his ruined suit, blood stains from Umbarans and Banshees and whatever else sprayed on him, scorch marks from when he was shot by bolts and the lightsabers that marked it, the star essentially cut in half and a hole in his abdomen, along with his arm, shoulder, and back, his DC-17 back by his side, and his trusty shield on his back. The paintjob was another story, nearly every stroke of red, white, and blue was gone, only patches remained, and one point of the star left. The helmet was broken beyond repair, causing Steve to discard it completely. He was thankful that the Clone armor on his right arm remained mostly intact, it meant a lot to him.

Six hours. Six hours Steve spent in that tank where he fought for his life. He could have ended it all, if what he saw was true. Steve Rogers could have stopped fighting and rested for the first time since he was that punk kid from Brooklyn. No more war, no more pain, and all those he lost waiting to greet him.

But he couldn't make that choice. Steve Rogers never stopped fighting when there's a fight to be had, especially when he would be leaving people behind. He could never abandon his friends like that. They were part of the reason why he fought the good fight, and he refused to let them down.

The sound of the doors had the captain turn to face his Asgardian teammate waiting for him. "It's that time, huh?"

"When you're ready, Captain." Thor said respectfully, offering no rush to the mortal he respected more than any other. He had clearly gone through much with these men, bonds between them ran deep, Thor had seen it in their care of Steve, and he for them. He had risked his life battling that four-armed, or three he should say, beast, and while Rogers would risk his life for anyone, this battle was personal by the looks of it, the captain held nothing back.

Steve was silent for a second, still staring at the bacta tank with pondering eyes. "You know, after a week or so of being stuck on this planet, now that I can leave, it feels difficult to say goodbye."

"It always is when leaving such cherished friends." Thor tried to ease his worries.

"It's not that." Steve turned around walked to his fellow Avenger. "When we leave, their war will only go on, and spread to another planet, to another part in Space. This isn't my fight, but I made it mine when I joined the 501st. They never got the choice."

That made Thor ponder. What Steve described; it was truly a dilemma for such a man. The warrior who dislikes war but is willing to fight it to do as much as he can to end it. "I cannot say I truly understand this Universe's ways, but I know that whether you stay or leave, this fight will go on with or without you. But trust in these men that they can see it through to the end and meet you again after attaining victory."

Steve knew Thor was right. "I just wish I could do more."

A deep chuckle escaped the Asgardian's throat as he walked beside the super soldier. "You are a good man, Steven Rogers." And he meant it, he was everything that Thor himself wished he could be. If he was more like Captain America, many of his faults could have been avoided.

Smiling humbly at the praise, he could only nod. "Thank you, Thor."

"Think nothing of it, my friend." Thor then sighed as he admitted to Steve, "I sense a power in the air, an ancient force binding everything in this universe together. Even us. It is something I have only began to feel in our own reality."

"The Force is entering our universe?"

"No, not truly, it has always been there, merely dormant, but since the borders between worlds have started to fade, this "Force" as you call it, has begun to awaken once more."

"So, should we be expecting Jedi and Sith anytime soon?"

"...I do not understand the reference."

"I'll tell you later." Steve laughed to himself, to Thor's confusion, before sighing. "Hard to believe I'm finally going back. It feels longer than a week."

"The other Avengers felt the same way. Stark and Banner worked tirelessly with their allies to craft the device to bring you home. The rest of us remained on our patrols regarding more portals, but we always held hope you would return. Romanov was most adamant that you would be well."

"…she did?" That surprised Steve but made him tug his lips upwards slightly.

"Aye."

Moving the topic to something else, he asked the question he'd been wondering since he fell through that breach. "How will this work, exactly?"

Thor raised his arm that didn't hold Mjolnir, revealing a black gauntlet over his usual armor. "Stark made it, to open the portal to bring us back to our Universe once you were found and ready. They are probably concerned at how long it was taking."

"Best not keep them waiting." Steve said before the doors leading to the outside of the base opened, and his eyes went wide. Thor smirked; he was waiting for this reaction.

On both sides of him, the entirety of the 501st Legion lined up, forming a tunnel made of Clones.

"PRESENT ARMS!" A voice commanded, and each man held their rifles vertically, saluting their volunteer.

Overwhelming did not begin to describe the emotions welling up inside him. The only thing Steve could think to do was walk.

Every man had their helmet off, allowing Steve to see their faces, the tiny differences to the vast, the super soldier saw them all. Every one of them looked to Steve with a smile, a nod, an appreciative gesture by Oz, Greer, Jester, all of them, for everything he did for them, from carrying some out of a firefight, to standing up against Krell in their defense. In their eyes, as Captain Rogers made it closer to the end of the tunnel, he was one of them, their brother, a man who sacrificed just to fight for them.

He was their volunteer, and they would never forget it.

When Steve finally made it to the end, he found Rex there waiting, along with Fives. The end of the lines was composed of Tup and Hardcase on one side, and Jesse and Kix on the other.

"You didn't think you were leaving us without saying goodbye?" Rex joked.

Steve felt himself struggle to speak. "All of this, you shouldn't-"

"After everything you did for us, an honor guard is the least we can do." Fives told him with a smile. Steve returned it, seeing the offered hand and clasped it. He made to take off his blaster, but Fives stopped him. "Keep it, as a reminder that you're one of the 501st." With reluctance, Steve nodded, accepting the gift.

Next, he faced the commanding officer, and saluted.

"Captain Rex."

"Captain Rogers, I relieve you of duty. Go home, soldier. You deserve it." Rex ordered him with one final pat on the shoulder.

"Sir yes sir." Keeping himself together, Steve walked forward to see Thor, waiting there for him, a gentle expression on his face.

Hardcase sniffed, rubbing his nose with the back of his hand. "What is wrong with you?" Tup asked in annoyance.

"I always hate saying goodbye." The usually overly enthusiastic Clone held back a sob while his brothers rolled their eyes.

"You ready, Captain?" Thor asked, and looking back once more, Steve memorized the faces of the Clones.

"I think I am."

Thor nodded, raising up the gauntlet and opening the palm, letting the machine give out a high-pitched whine like Tony's repulsors before letting loose a stream of energy that struck the air, and seconds later, a breach was formed.

Steve turned back to the army, the men, the 501st, one last time, before walking through the breach with Thor.

Earth-199999, New York City, Avengers Tower

It had been hours since the upgraded IDIOT sent Thor to whichever world Cap landed in, and the anticipation was killing them, the Avengers, Mutants, and "new Avengers" all waiting in or around the lab.

"How long has it been?" Bobby asked, his knee bouncing up and down rapidly. He wanted to be here when they brought back Captain America, both him and Piotr. They were there when he disappeared, they felt partly responsible for what happened. Maybe if they did more, they could have saved him.

"Six hours and forty-seven minutes." The Black Widow answered. Not moving from the lab since Thor disappeared, remaining next to the eggheads who made the machine.

"Could the gauntlet have malfunctioned?"

Reed shook his head at Ben's question. "Not possible. We triple checked everything under every variable."

"Look, wherever Cap ended up, he could have gotten himself into shit, and Thor is helping bail him out." Clint theorized.

"Captain America, the original Mr. Rogers, got himself in shit?" Johnny asked with skepticism.

Tony shrugged. "He was probably helping someone, and the bad guys didn't take kindly to it."

"Sounds like Steve alright." Natasha smiled in amusement, but it was hard to maintain.

"It's in his nature to help people." Banner thought fondly to the times Cap tried to support him due to his "condition". The man did not see a monster, but a man in crisis, and another entity whose actions were based on reactions. Hulk was part of the team, as was Banner, Steve said as much.

Sighing, Tony ran a hand through his hair, and he swore, if he was going grey because Cap and Thor were making him wait, he would kill them. "J, I think we're gonna need some more pick-me-ups."

"The usual, sir?"

"You know me so well."

Reed walked over to Tony, looking at him over the IDIOT. "What should we do?"

"Maybe we should try open the portal again."

"We have no way of bringing anyone back." Reed reasoned, before he saw the look in Tony's eyes, and shook his head. "No."

"Something could have happened to the gauntlet."

"Tony, we don't know what could come through the breach, it might not even be them."

Scoffing, the genius billionaire checked the diagnostics for the machine. "You don't know Cap and Thor if you think anything would get in their way." He wasn't gonna stop until they got home. If it took some safety precautions being thrown away, so be it.

Tony lifted his gaze from the pad to find Reed's head extended over to look him in the eye. "I can't let you do this."

"Then stretch that head of yours out of here and look away." Tony coolly told him. Reed looked taken aback before Sue stepped in.

"Yes, we're worried, and we've been up for hours, but you really think Captain Rogers or Thor would appreciate you guys brawling before they got back?" Tony and Reed stayed in their staring contest. Groaning, the only woman who recently gained powers reached her hands out and smacked them behind their heads.

"Ow!"

"Sue!"

"Oooooooh, it's nice to finally see it happen to someone less handsome than me." Johnny grinned, before noticing the tall presence next to him, and nervously he turned his head to find Ben, smirking. Already knowing what he was thinking, the newly christened Human Torch raised a flaming finger. "Don't even think about it."

"Johnny, shut it!" Her brother flinched and lowered his head.

"Yes, Sue."

"Now," Susan turned he head back to the two geniuses rubbing their heads, "I feel any heat coming off anyone but Johnny, I'm throwing the both of you out the balcony. Am I understood?" Tony and Reed quickly nodded their heads.

Natasha leaned over to Clint. "I like her."

"Really? Thought you were into someone else." Clint teased, earning the famous Romanov death glare, which hasn't worked on him in years, only making him grin wider.

Bobby looked to the taller Russian Mutant. "Remind you of anyone?"

"Like a blonde Storm." Piotr shuddered. When the weather manipulating Mutant was angry, everyone felt her wrath.

Whatever else they were going to say was halted by the breach that opened in the same space in front of the IDIOT at the center of the lab. Spies, Mutants, scientists, and pilots watched anxiously, hoping for a friendly face to come through, and they finally did. First was Thor, his signature armor and cape with the hammer in hand walked through confidently with a smile on his face, stepping into the Tower's lab before looking back, and what they saw took them aback.

It was Steve, healthy, and smiling. His suit, on the other hand, was a different story. The entire right sleeve was gone, replaced by some kind of blue/white armor pieces, and the torso was darkened by splotches of what could be blood, the star was cut in half, a dark scorch mark running down from the collar to the right side of his ribs. A burned black hole was in his abdomen, with smaller, similar holes on his shoulder and arm. On his leg was a new holster, with a new gun that definitely wasn't the pistol he left with.

"Steve…" Tony spoke but was too stunned by the man's appearance. What the hell happened to him?

"It's good to see you, Tony." Steve said sincerely as he clasped the man's shoulder. That seemed to knock the Iron Man from his daze and he gave a smile back at him.

"You know, next time you decide to step out, you could leave a note. A man of your age could get in a lot of trouble: broken hip, lost in a mall." Steve rolled his eyes, same old Tony.

"I'll be sure to do that." He walked by Stark to see the team's other genius, which allowed the others to see the condition of his shield, causing a series of stunned staring. "Bruce."

"Steve." The Hulk's calmer side walked up and hugged the soldier, clapping him on the back as they separated. "We were starting to get worried."

"What, about me?" Steve joked, making the doctor chuckle, before finding the marksman approaching.

"Good to have you back, Cap." They clasped hands and patted each other's shoulder in familiar affection.

"Good to be back, Clint." Then he saw the Avengers' sole woman, his partner from his days with SHIELD. Her lip quirked and head tilted.

"Rogers."

"Romanov." Steve did not restrain his smile back at her, which threatened to shake her composure. It was all they needed, their own dynamic. That was when he saw the two Mutants from before, the ones who'd helped him fight the ape monster. "Bobby, Colossus."

"It's Piotr, actually, sir." The Mutant with organic metal skin corrected.

Steve nodded. "Piotr." He amended.

"Captain, sir," Bobby started, "we're sorry we couldn't stop you from-"

"It's okay, son." Steve stopped the cryokinetic Mutant, laying a hand on both their shoulders. "If it wasn't for you, that thing could have killed me, I was lucky you were there to save my ass."

"It was an honor, sir."

"The honor was mine." Steve told Colossus. It was then he turned to face the room again, and finally addressed the strangers, especially the tall man covered in rocks. "Did we expand our ranks while I was gone?"

"No."

"Yes!" The whole team and three of the strangers denied it at once while the youngest of the newcomers said otherwise.

"Sorry about him, he's…Johnny." A man with brown hair and around Steve's height told him before walking around the machine that resembled the IDIOT. "My name is Dr. Reed Richards, Captain, it's a pleasure." Steve's brow rose when the man's hand stretched out to shake his hand, as in literally stretched, by about two feet. The man, Reed, turned sheepish. "Sorry." The arm retracted and Reed offered a normal arm, which Steve took. "Still getting the hang of the powers."

"Steve. How did it happen?" He asked when the young man waved a flaming hand.

"Oh you know, just tried to get your prehistoric ass out of whatever hell hole you fell into. Didn't work out but got these badass powers." The young boy, barely twenty years in age bragged, before a smack to the back of his head by the beautiful blonde woman beside him shut him up.

"Ignore him, it's the only way he's halfway tolerable. I'm Susan, call me Sue, and this is my brother, Johnny." The woman introduced herself and her sibling, a hand waving at him, before said hand turned invisible. She noticed his odd look, causing Sue to check her hand, before quickly hiding it back behind her back.

However, he didn't focus on the powers, but on what they said. Then he turned to the man encased in rocks. "This happened because of me?"

"Hey, don't sweat it." The large man waved him off with a four-digit hand. "We were tryin' to rescue Captain America; no way we're passin' that chance by."

"If this happened because of me…I am so sorry." Steve meant it. these people's lives were changed trying to save him, the guilt already started to fill up in him again.

The rocky man looked down at his body and shrugged. "Not your fault, no need to beat yourself up about it." He then offered his large hand, and while hesitant over what he said, not about the hand, Steve took it. "Ben Grimm, sir."

"Grimm?" Steve's eyes lit up. "From the 422nd?"

Ben's brows scrunched up. "How did you-"

"Sam Wilson called you the best pilot he's ever seen." Steve told him, making Ben smile.

"Good man, that Sam." He said to himself before turning to Tony. "You hear that, Stark? Next time you see that asshole Rhodes-"

"I am sooooo not getting in the middle of this." Tony pinched the bridge of his nose.

Steve chuckled, as he looked at the pair of spies, doctor, and God while the billionaire argued back with the man Sam called "the Grimm Reaper". "Nothing really changed, has it?"

"Nope."

"No."

"Not Tony."

"He only seems to talk more."

Steve smiled to himself. It was nice to be back, though it will take some getting used to calm down from what he went through, but he can never forget the brothers he made on Umbara.

"What the hell happened over there, Cap?" He heard Clint and felt his smile fade away.

The sounds of explosions, the sight of Clones dying or getting disintegrated, blue and green blaster bolts filling the air, aerial combat the likes of which he's never seen before, and Krell, all of it flushed to his mind in those three seconds.

"War."

Earth-21, Metropolis, LexCorp Tower

Zoom opened his eyes, scanning what was around before sitting up at speed and running. Only, when he tried to phase through the glass wall, a current ran through him, shocking the unmasked speedster and throwing him to the back of his cell. Snarling, the crazed speedster paid closer attention to his cage. Four walls all of which made from the same glass-like material, the only light being shone down on him, everything else was as black as his suit.

Hunter raised his right hand to try to gather lightning, when he paused. His hand was gone, cut off by that raggedy bastard. Yet that doesn't explain the prosthetic limb and hook.

"Not what you were expecting?"

Blue lightning coursed around his body before he flashed against the cage to glare at…not who he was expecting.

"Who are you?" Hunter hissed.

Zemo did not flinch. As expected, the man was like a caged animal, lashing out at whatever he could, the Baron had little to fear, and from what Lex had told him, the box could contain beings of incredible speed. There was a dark pleasure at having the powered at his mercy.

"You may call me Zemo, but that does not matter." The Sokovian began to walk around the cage, not even glancing at the speedster that followed him with his eyes. "What matters is why is it you are here?"

"I…" Zoom despised the words he had to speak, but upon looking down at his missing hand, he had no choice. "I need Lex Luthor's help."

"Why is that exactly?" Zemo stopped his walking to lean against the glass. "We both know this is not your Earth. There are no records of your existence, facial recognition was met with nothing, and we both know you are in no way powerful enough to exist here."

The speedster crashed against the wall Zemo continued to lean against, only now, the eyes turned a pitch black. "Say that again when there's nothing to stop me from ripping your heart out."

A soft chuckle left Zemo. "All that electricity must have degraded your mind." He clapped his hands, next thing that happened was electricity surging from the floor, shocking Zoom with tens of thousands of volts, making him convulse before a wave of the hand made the current stop, and the smoking body crash to the floor. "Do I have your attention now?" Zoom tried to push himself up, only to topple over to his side. Hunter hated weakness, and right now, he glared at the weakness of his right limb. "Do you need a hand?"

"I'm not talking to a lackey!" Zoom rose to unsteady feet and growled down at the man with the infuriating smirk. "Bring me Lex Luthor!"

"You clearly have not been paying attention." Zemo said in boredom before Zoom was shocked again, returning to the floor. Walking around once more, Zemo was casual as he was when the speedster woke up. "Why do you need Lex?

"I need his help!"

"If you're just going to repeat yourself, this will be a long day."

"I want revenge!" Zoom screamed at him. Zemo's only reaction was a raised brow. "I want to make the people who beat me, took my arm, ruined my plans, to SUFFER!"

Zemo returned to the position he originally started in, in front of Zoom's box. He was infuriatingly calm, it angered Zoom to new heights, being at the mercy of someone inferior in every way. It was a painful reminder of how he ended up here in the first place.

"Frankly I see no point in this conversation." The Sokovian's face became cold. "I see no point in letting you live either."

"Now now, Zemo, I always have time for my fans." Zoom turned his gaze to another man who walked out of the shadows to stand with the strange, normal human. His bald head was a dead giveaway, as was the mocking smirk. "Morning, sunshine. Nice nap?"

"Luthor-"

"Now, while I am tempted to let my colleague," Lex gestured to his partner, "continue his work, I am curious to know who you are."

Swallowing his pride, Zoom bowed his head. "My name is Hunter Zolomon. They call me Zoom on my Earth."

"Yes, that's what I'm curious about, how is it you were able to travel to this world with no cellular decay?" Lex inquired, both him and Zemo paying attention for future plans.

"The Speed Force, the source of a speedster's power, it allows them to vibrate at the same frequency as other Universes to travel. I was trying to find ways to enhance my speed, and one of the Earths I discovered was yours."

"Couldn't make the weight, could you?" Lex teased, earning a laugh from the man beside him. Zoom's face twitched but said nothing on that matter.

"I found another Earth with another speedster whose speed I was going to take, but there was…interference."

"So, you failed, and now want me to hold your hand to badmouth the bullies that beat you?"

"I am starting to gain an idea as to why he failed." Zemo joked with Lex, the bald man biting his tongue from laughing with him.

A fist against the glass had them turn to the caged speedster, anger cackling off him, as was lightning. "With your help and my speed, I can get payback on the Flash and his allies, in return," Zoom growled to himself before continuing, "I will help you."

"Very full of himself."

"By the looks of things, he could barely help himself." Zemo and Lex bantered, while it was fun for them, it helped gauge the unhinged speedster in front of them and show who was in control. "So, what you are asking is for a helping "hand"?"

Lex lightly smacked his arm. "Zemo, you're better than that."

"Are you saying that you don't have a dozen hand jokes in your mind?"

"Of course not." Lex scoffed at the Baron, before adding, "I have fifteen."

"WILL YOU HELP ME OR NOT?!" Zoom screamed at them. The way they just ignored him, saw him as nothing to fear, it made his instincts to want to break out of the box and run them against the ground at superspeed stronger. However, he needed Luthor's help. The other man though, Hunter saw no reason for him to live.

A look passed between the Baron and the businessman, before the latter nodded. There was reluctance still within Zemo over the idea, but he could not deny the merits.

"Alright, Zolomon, we will provide you with assistance." Zoom began to smirk with joy and insanity. "Only, I'm afraid what you want will have to come later." Zoom's smirk dropped.

"What?"

"You see," Lex walked to the wall separating the man and the monster, "The Baron and I have begun a little venture, one I think you would be well suited for you."

The anger in Zoom faded, marginally, leaving him wondering on what he was proposing. If it meant destroying Wells, Allen, Strider, and that cape clad bastard, Zoom would do anything. "What venture?"

Lex smirked. He had him. The Luthor nodded toward Zemo, who pressed a button in his pocket, causing a light to shine down on their latest creation. Hunter stared at what was unveiled.

It was a prosthetic arm, made of a sleek, black metal, the fingers were sharp to resemble claws. It looked no different from what a regular arm would look like besides it being made of metal and the claws.

"How does wiping out all superheroes sound to you?"

And another one ends finally. Thanks a lot to Brainstorm Sorcerer and gussygus28 for all of their help once more.

Vandal Savage is here, and he is already more terrifying than he was in the Arrowverse. In some of the comic runs its implied Savage started cannibalism, but since this Savage was an ancient Egyptian priest rather than a Neanderthal (due to being an amalgam between comics Savage and Hath-Set), I just had him be a cannibal instead of the one who started it.

And I'm trying to improve the personalities of the Hawks too, since the Arrowverse Hawks and Savage were all huge disappointments, but I'm gonna make them worthy adaptations of these characters.

While its not my favorite crossover, I do have nostalgic memories of watching it back in 2015.

Batman is back too finally, hell yes!

Some of the bits here are inspired by Stand with Ward and Queen's 'A new age for the League of Assassins' so thank you to him.

I found it pretty stupid the bomb Damien and HIVE were trying to steal was forgotten about once Barry saved Team Arrow, so I added that bit of Damien and HIVE being forced to retreat first.

The Fantastic Four won't be called the 'New Avengers', the newspapers just called them that since they debuted by fighting alongside the Avengers. When they do it by themselves, they'll be the Fantastic Four.

Meanwhile, Krell has finally gotten his just desserts, and this fight might be even more brutal than Cap's second fight with Winter Soldier in TWS (I believe their first fight in TWS is still the best fight in any MCU film, though the 2nd one is much more brutal). Now, how the Clones captured Krell, that was amazing, and a very genius tactic by them, and showed how resourceful they are, plus their great teamwork.

So I hated cutting that out, but I feel outside of the humiliation of being captured by 'lowly Clones', Krell got off easy, even his death was too quick. This way, he got the pain he deserved from Cap, and then Thor gave him a nice dose of lightning too.

The scene where Steve sees the Howling Commandos was meant to show who he is now, and honor his character arc, which the ending of 'Endgame' utterly failed to do. Now, Steve has bid farewell to the Clones, and is back home at long last.

Blade and Quinlan leave together, and Blade now has his shades back, and the Darksaber!

Meanwhile, Zoom now ends up joining Lex and Zemo at last, after being bullied by them.

Yes, Rambo is Eliot Spencer's biological father, and that's what the SHIELD Team found in Rambo's blood in the last chapter. Thanks a lot to Brainstorm Sorcerer for this idea, the entire idea of Rambo fighting Predator and being knocked out, followed by the SHIELD Team testing his blood and finding out he is Eliot's father, was born because we first had the idea of Rambo being Eliot's father.

And it also ends up being parallel to Oliver finding out about his own son.

Anyways, hope all enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter.

This is the last update before Christmas, so have a Merry Christmas.