*** Three Weeks Ago ***

The smell of bacon and biscuits fill the air. A cow moos in the distance and the air still smells fresh as the chill of the morning starts to warm away. A light trail of smoke floats from the small chimney attached to the homestead.

A small but old truck sputters down the road not far away, and stops for a moment. A large muscular man jumps out the back, thanks, and waves off the driver, who waves back before sputtering away. Gilgamesh turns toward Ajak's home just as a few rays of sun start to peek over the hill. The trail of smoke is promising. He starts to make his way up the driveway.

He does not get very far before seeing the door open, and someone comes strolling out. Ajack, who is carrying a bucket, turns toward the sound of the cow and begins to make her way around the house. She stops when she spots Gilgamesh approaching. He is allowed to get close before they both stop and take a quiet moment to study one another.

"I was expecting you." Ajak says. "I thought Thena would be with you."

"No," Gilgamesh responds. "That's why I am here."

"Has she told you?" Ajak asks.

"No, she hasn't told me anything." Gilgamesh tells her.

Ajak takes in a deep breath and holds it for a long moment. She looks to the cow, then downward in deep thought.

"Ajak..." Gilgamesh calls out. "Thena's mahd wy'ry. It has gotten worse, much worse. The snap... It affected her, and the changes seem to have affected her mind greatly."

"It's not that." Ajak tells Gilgamesh. She sets the bucket down, deciding the cow can wait.

"It's not?" Gilgamesh asks, confused. A loud creek comes from the front door to the house. Gilgamesh turns to see a young looking dark complected man walking out. "I'm sorry," Gilgamesh says, "I didn't realize you had company."

The young man steps forward into a better view. His outfit looks very familiar to Gilgamesh. "Makkari?" Gilgamesh asks. Despite knowing this might happen, the changes still surprise him. He notices Makkari's eyes are red. "Have you been crying?" He asks.

"Yes." Makkari gestures with his hands.

"What's going on?" Gilgamesh asks. Makkari gestures and looks back toward Ajak. He turns to look at Ajak.

"Gilgamesh, I'm sure some or all of the others will come soon." Ajak says in a concerned tone. "There is something very important I need to tell you... All of you."

"It would seem, this "something important" is long overdue." Druig says, as he comes approaching from behind. It surprises Gilgamesh as he did not see him coming.

"Druig!" Gilgamesh says. "When did you get here?"

"Just now." He responds before turning toward the house. "I was not far behind you. Looking good Makkari!"

"Thank you." Makkari signs with what looks like a forced smile.

"I came when I sensed the others." Druig says. "They should probably be here within the hour... and Ikaris."

"Everyone's coming?" Gilgamesh asks.

"Everyone except Kingo." Druig tells him. "I don't think he knows something is off, and I don't have a phone to call him." He turns toward Gilgamesh and shrugs.

Gilgamesh turns toward Ajak. "Should we send someone to go get him?"

Ajak thinks about it for a moment then nods.

They all turn toward Makkari. "I suppose that job is up to you." Druig tells Makkari. Makkari tries to smile but can't, so he nods. He does not wait any longer before speeding away.

"I'm sure suddenly being dragged to this meeting is going to be awkward for him." Druig says, referring to Kingo.

Gilgamesh shrugs his shoulders in response. He turns toward Ajak next. "Shall we go inside?"

"Yes, let's." She responds.

*** Nearly an hour later ***

"So, you're telling me, our job this entire time has been to farm these people?" Gilgamesh asks.

"No..." Ajak replies. "And yes."

"That's what it really sounds like to me." Druig says, with a hand resting on Makkari's right shoulder.

Makkari still looks upset, but has stopped crying. "It's true." Makkari signs. "I remember it now. All of it."

"I don't get it." Kingo replies. "How is it you remember this?"

"When the snap occurred," Ajak answers, "half the planet swapped genders, but it also had another side effect."

Kingo looks at Ajak questioningly before asking, "Which is?"

"The snap healed anyone who swapped genders." Ajak says. "If you had any scars, they're gone now. If you had cancer or tumors, it's cured. Lost limbs and organs regrew..."

"And erased memories," Druig says leaning in, "were restored." He does an open hand gesture toward Makkari.

"Erased memories?" Kingo asks. "What erased memories? Makkari has never had mahd wy'ry."

"No she hasn't." Ajak tells them. "Not yet, but she has had her memory erased. As have you all."

"As have you all?" Kingo asks.

"So it's true?" Gilgamesh asks. "Thena was on Centuri-Six?"

Ajak locks eyes with Gilgamesh and worries about answering. "We were all there..."

"Geez!" Gilgamesh exclaims, thumping the table while looking away. "So we've all had our memories erased?'

"Yes." Ajak tells him. "Some of us more times than others."

"This doesn't make any sense." Kingo says. "I was sitting down for dinner, having drinks with Karun..."

"You can worry about your girlfriends later." Druig tells Kingo.

"Karun is not my girlfriend!" Kingo responds. "Although now it may look that way, but that's not what this is about. Why aren't the others here?"

"They are coming as we speak." Ajak responds.

"And from what I am sensing, they're coming together." Druig adds. "I get the feeling they're angry."

"So we wait for them." Kingo says. "Decide our next move together."

"That may not be so simple." Gilgamesh responds. "Thena was more than just mad. She erupted into rage like I've never seen her before. She's out for blood. Maybe worse, if that's possible."

"Judging by the fact that the others are traveling with her, we can only assume more have changed." Ajak says. "They may be angry as well."

"Are you saying, we may have to fight them?" Kingo asks.

"If it comes down to it." Ajak responds. She looks at Gilgamesh, and he has a look of conflict on his face.

"But they're family." Kingo responds. He looks between Druig, Makkari, and Gilgamesh. "I'm a lover, not a fighter."

Druig can't help but chuckle and shake his head.

"Well, we'll have to decide what to do soon, because they're here." Druig says.

"They're here?" Kingo asks. Druig gives a fake smile and nods.

Ajak looks at Gilgamesh hoping for an idea. "We'd better go out and meet them." He says. Ajak replies with a worried nod.

Gilgamesh is the first to rise and is followed by Ajak. Kingo tries to hesitate but sees Druig and Makkari rising slowly. He starts to go on ahead, but stops just short of the door. "Wait a second," Kingo says. "If Makkari was healed, how come she... or he still can't talk?"

Druig glares at Kingo angrily. "Because she was not born that way." Kingo takes a moment to try to process the answer. Druig frowns even more. "She doesn't need to talk." Druig tells Kingo. "She's already perfect."

Kingo raises his eyebrows in response. "Okay, Lady Gaga." He turns away to avoid more angry glares, but not before taking one more backward glance. "That was pretty smooth by the way."

Druig looks toward Makkari to make sure he is okay. Makkari gives a genuine smile this time, then gestures for them to go on ahead.

The sun outside has already risen quite a bit, even looking away the light reflecting off the ground is almost blinding. Druig and Makkari follow Kingo closely as he walks around Gilgamesh.

There is a large, broad shouldered man standing in the field. He is clean shaven and extremely muscular. He is glaring studiously at everyone as they walk into view. His bright golden hair slowly sways in the wind. Despite looking in the direction of the sun, it does not seem to bother him one bit.

"Is that Thor?" Kingo asks, before turning toward Druig. "You didn't tell me Thor was coming. Are we going to have to fight him?"

"That's not Thor!" Druig grumbles, unsure if Kingo is joking.

"It's not?" Kingo asks.

"No." Gilgamesh responds. "That's Thena."

Kingo looks up toward Thena in legit shock. The changes were more than he had expected. It felt to him like he was looking at an ideal specimen from the Sovereign.

"Thena," Ajak calls out, "I know why you're here."

Thena does not answer but glares at Ajak, angrily.

"I am sure you seek answers." Ajak says.

"I don't need answers." Thena replies in an extremely deep voice. "I already know all I need to know. I'm here for you." Thena uses his energy to generate a spear. "You've betrayed us... Time and time again."

"I had no choice, Thena." Ajak responds.

"Okay," Kingo comments, before stepping back and hiding behind Gilgamesh. "I am legitimately terrified."

"Now is not the time for joking." Druig says as he approaches.

"Who's joking?" Kingo asks. "Look at him! He could rip Gilgamesh in half with his teeth."

Druig glares at Kingo angrily before proceeding forward around Gilgamesh. "Thena." He calls, getting Thena's attention. "Where are Sersi, Sprite, and Phastos? I know they came with you." He finds Thena's glare actually is truly intimidating. He has to resist taking a step back also.

Thena watches Druig for a moment before turning to his side. The air beginss to shimmer as Sprite steps forward followed by a long black haired man and a dark complected short curly haired woman. The dark haired man steps forward and addresses Ajak.

"Is it true?" He asks, already knowing the answer.

"I'm sorry, Sersi." Ajak responds to him.

"Why?" Sersi asks. "Our friends? Our families?"

"All those times you watched me," the short haired woman says, "Over and over, not just on this planet, but on so many others. Leading them all to destruction." She starts to tear up.

"I'm sorry Phastos." Ajak says.

"No!" Phastos snaps back. "No, you're not sorry!" She steps forward. "You stood there, with me! You watched me cry for all the lives lost in Hiroshima. You led me to believe that I had reached my lowest moment in life! All the while knowing..." She paused to take a deep breath. "Knowing the death I caused was like a grain of sand in an ocean that I would one day fill. It was all pointless."

"It wasn't pointless, Phastos." Ajak responds.

"Yes it is!" Phastos responds angrily. "You led me to care for these people. You led all of us to care for them. Not to mention, countless other planets..."

Ajak looks down ashamed. Sprite continues to remain silent and confused.

"But why?" Sersi asks aloud. "Why didn't you tell us? Why did you let us go on, every time?"

Ajak looks back up toward Sersi. "Because of this..." Ajak says, gesturing toward Thena. "Because of mahd wy'ry." She looks softly toward Thena. "Sersi, do you know how many times you have all tried to stop this..? To fight the inevitable?"

"So it's really true?" Sprite finally speaks up. "This has all happened before?"

Ajak looks at Sprite, then at the others. "Well, not exactly this."

"But this isn't our first planet?" Sprite asks. "The deviants, the wars, the heroism, it was all just to let them die?"

"It's much bigger than that, Sprite." Ajak protests.

"I knew something was wrong!" Sprite interrupts. "It didn't make any sense. You never wanted us getting attached."

The reality of Sprite's comment suddenly sets in for everyone.

Kingo, who is still hiding behind Gilgamesh, falls to his knees, then sits on the ground. "So, what do we do then?" He asks, thinking about Karun, his friends, his career, and all his fans. "How do we stop this?" He turns toward Ajak. "Can we stop this?"

Ajak turns toward Kingo and sees a tear rolling down his cheek. "I..." She says. "I don't think we can stop it." She tells him. "In all the eons we have been doing this, I don't think it has ever been stopped."

"Has anyone ever tried?" Kingo asks.

"I've tried!" Thena answers. "Many times." Ajak looks down, now more ashamed, as Thena approaches even closer before continuing. "And every time, someone has always stopped me."

"Is this true Ajak?" Gilgamesh asks.

Ajak continues to look down. "It's my job." She says. "Not only to lead you, but to make sure you don't interfere." She now looks up toward Gilgamesh. "After every planet, your memories are erased, but there is always something deep within that won't forget. When the burden becomes too much, it can drive you insane. Hence mahd wy'ry. Thena is the oldest of you, therefore she's more susceptible."

"Then what?" Gilgamesh asks. "You just erase our memories, again and again?"

Ajak nods. "I have no choice."

"But you did have a choice." Phastos says. "You chose to leave Thena with mahd wy'ry. Why is that?"

Ajak finally looks Thena in the eyes. "Because she wasn't a threat... yet." Thena glares angrily at Ajak and her weapon begins to glow vibrantly as she grips it harder.

"She's lying!" Druig shouts aloud, over the tension. Ajak turns to Druig, surprised he can read her so well now. They all turn to him as he looks toward Ajak. "Tell 'em the truth."

Ajak studies Druig with concern for a long moment before turning to the others. "Because..." she says, "because, for the first time, I see something good in this planet. Something special, not like all the others."

"For the first time? This isn't really the first time, is it?" Druig asks.

"No!" Ajak answers without thinking. She looks at Druig, thrown off by her honesty. She is afraid to say more.

"You've had your memory erased also?" Druig asks.

Ajak juggles the question for a moment before answering. "Yes. Of that I am sure." She starts looking between the others again. "I am not sure if it was the first time, but I know it has happened. Which means I have also very likely turned on Arishem, at least once before."

"So you're saying, you want to help us?" Sersi asks.

"Help us?" Kingo asks. "Help us do what? Stop a Celestial? This is insane! Is that even possible?"

"I don't know..." Ajak responds. "It's never been done... at least not that I know of."

"There has to be a way!" Sersi says.

"I don't think there is!" Ajak replies, with concern. "You have to understand. They make the stars, solar systems, whole galaxies, even gods! We are far less than a speck of dust to them."

"But there has to be a way." Sersi pleads.

"There isn't." Ajak responds. "Not that I know of... Not that I can think of"

"Let's not also forget, she still can't be trusted!" Thena says aloud, finally breaking his silence. Several of the others actually jump at the volume of his voice. "She fears him!" He refers to Arisham. "She knows what he is capable of, and he still has his hold on her."

"What do you propose we do?" Sprite asks. "We can't just kill her."

"That's exactly what I am proposing." Thena says with a smile.

"Thena," Sersi calls out, "we can't. Just listen to reason."

"Reason!" Thena shouts, pointing his spear at Ajak. "Did she listen to reason when we protested all those other times? Did she listen to reason, when she convinced us we had mahd wy'ry, and took our memories, time and time again." Thena starts approaching Ajak with murderous intent. "Did she listen to reason, when billions," Thena turns his head partially to look at Sersi, "sometimes trillions, of sentient life forms cried out in fear and pain? Confused and terrified as their life force was stolen from them?"

Thena turns back toward Ajak. "Saying there is blood on your hands would be an understatement." A tear rolls down Thena's cheek. "You hold oceans that could drown the sun and flow all the way back to this planet."

Ajak is now crying also.

"Even if you have changed." Thena says. " There is too much at stake. You stopped us too many times." Thena raises his spear. "You're too dangerous." He pulls his arm backward to impale Ajak.

"Thena NO!" Sersi shouts as several of the others try to move quick enough to step in.

A burst of blinding energy hits Thena, pushing him several meters away from Ajack. He is quick enough to generate a shield and avoid getting injured. He stops just short of reaching Sersi and Sprite. The energy slows down and dissipates.

"I can't let you harm her." Ikaris says, as he comes floating downward.

"Ikaris?" Thena calls out. "The loyal follower."

"Ikaris? How long have you been here?" Ajak asks.

"Long enough." Ikaris responds.

"How much did you hear?" Gilgamesh asks.

"Enough to get the gist of the subject." Ikaris answers.

"Ikaris, I'm sorry." Ajak says.

"No need to apologize." He tells her. "You were only doing your job." He turns halfway to look at her. "Our job." He clarifies.

"Ikaris," Phastos calls, "you don't know the full story..."

"I know enough." Ikaris interrupts her. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't suspect as much."

"Wait..." Sersi says, looking at Ikaris in surprise. "You knew?"

"I had my suspicions." Ikaris responds. "After nearly 5,000 years it was starting to seem fairly obvious."

Sersi's eyes widen in surprise. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"You weren't ready." Ikaris replies without looking at him. "You wouldn't accept it."

"And you're okay with this?" Phastos asks.

"Of course." Ikaris tells her. "It's our purpose, after all."

"This is insane." Kingo says aloud, while gripping his head and still sitting on the ground.

"Ikaris, we can't let this happen." Sersi pleads.

"Why not?" Ikaris asks him. "It is why we were put here."

"We were sent here to protect these people." Sersi says.

"For this!" Ikaris snaps back. "It was always for this!"

"Ikaris..." Sersi calls.

"Enough!" Ikaris shouts. "They're just humans. They don't serve any other purpose than to accomplish Arisham's goals."

Unexpectedly, Thena steps forward and swings at Ikaris, who catches her projected spear. He frowns at him.

"You've never had to fight me." He tells Thena, his eyes glowing.

"But I've always wanted to." Thena replies with a smirk.

"That's enough, you two!" Druig says, as he approaches Ikaris and Thena. They both make an attempt to move but realize he has a mental hold on them. Ikaris' eyes continue to glow while Thena's spear warps. Druig has to stop walking to concentrate on holding them, but he is clearly not strong enough.

"Stop." Ajak says, as she steps between them. "We don't have to do this." She tells them. "We still have time."

Ikaris looks at Ajak with confusion, while Thena seems to take interest.

"The emergence is still some time away." Ajak tells them.

"What are you saying?" Sersi interrupts.

Ajak looks toward Sersi. "I'm sure you can remember, there are telltale signs of the emergence. Earthquakes, rapid evolution, a population boom, and many other things." Sersi takes a moment to think about it. "The energy released from the infinity stones seems to have shortened that time limit, but it still wasn't enough to cause a significant difference." Ajak continues. "The way I see it, we still have quite a bit of time."

"Time for what exactly?" Sersi asks.

"Can I let you two go?" Druig asks Thena and Ikaris. They both try to glance at him, and he takes it as a yes. In the next instant they are able to move again. Ikaris relaxes a bit while Thena puts away his weapon. "You two are exhausting sometimes." Druig says, taking a deep breath. Makkari approaches him and rubs his back.

"We may have time for a plan." Ajak continues her earlier conversation. "I don't know how much time, but maybe we can evacuate the planet, or find a way to stop all this. Worst case, we'll just slow it down."

"We can't stop it." Thena replies. "They need energy. As soon as there are enough life forms, the Celestial will sap it all away, killing them all."

"We'll figure something out." Ajak tells Thena. "Trust me."

Thena looks at Ajak both angrily and skeptical.

"I trust her." Druig says unexpectedly. Both Ikaris and Thena look at him surprised. He takes a moment to study both of their faces, before continuing. "Either way, we can't kill her. Arishem will realize something is wrong," He tells Thena, "and you'd have to get through all of us to kill her." When Druig says this, he actually looks at Ikaris, who seems to be the only one to have gotten the hidden message.

"So that's it then?" Phastos responds. "We either continue to do what we're doing, or turn against our purpose and save the world."

"I refuse!" Ikaris says angrily. "This isn't why we were sent here."

"Then you will continue to follow your purpose alone." Gilgamesh tells Ikaris.

Ikaris looks at Gilgamesh, then back and forth toward the others. "Am I really alone?" He asks.

No one seems willing to make eye contact with him except Sprite. She stares into his eyes for a long moment before looking down and away.

"Very well," Ikaris tells them. "You can expect no help from me."

"Ikaris..." Sersi calls out, stepping forward. He did not wait to listen before flying off with a loud boom. Several of them watch him zoom off and quickly disappear into the distance.

Everyone is left standing quiet and lost in their own thoughts.

"Are Eternals required to submit a two week notice when they quit their job?" Kingo asks aloud.

"Shut up!" Sprite says before stomping past everyone toward Ajak's front door.