In the distant reaches of the universe, far, far from Planet Earth, an uninhabited, spiral galaxy turns its everlasting pirouette in magnificent splendour, unseen by living eyes.
Then, suddenly, a huge colossal structure, like a giant metal ring, appeared in the middle of the black vastness of space, projecting a powerful forcefield around it like a round transparent bubble. In the centre of the vast construct was a circular platform, suspended in place by some unknown power. And standing in the centre of the platform were a myriad of colourfully dress individuals, who stared about their surroundings in understandable shock and disbelief.
"Oh... my... stars!" exclaimed Monica Rambeau, the current individual to bear the moniker of Captain Marvel.
Eyes wide behind the lenses of her mask, Gwen Stacy, the Sensational Spider-Woman, stared about her surroundings in utter bewilderment. What seemed to her like just a few seconds ago, she had been checking out some strange alien structure in Central Park, and now, she was in the middle of deep space, surrounded by a mixture of superheroes, all looking as taken aback as she was feeling!
"Uh, I take it we're not in Manhattan anymore?" Spider-Woman gulped, as she tried to take in all that was happening. She recognised some of her companions immediately, the assembled group including some of the Avengers, the three male members of the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men, all apparently transported to this strange place like she was. As Spider-Woman looked over the crowd of superhumans, she eyes widened in further shock as she spotted a familiar face among them.
"Mary Jane! What are you doing here?" exclaimed Gwen in surprise, as she bounded over to her understandably confused and frightened-looking friend.
"I've no idea!" cried MJ, as she hugged Gwen, glad to find that her best friend was with her. "Last I remember, I was in my flat, and the next thing, I'm right here! What the heck is this place?"
"Yeah, and how did we get here?" joined in Captain Marvel. "I mean, one minute we're checking out this giant whatchamacallit in Central Park, then 'poof!', the Final Frontier!"
Reed Richards, the Fantastic Four leader known as Mr Fantastic, stretched his body upwards to get a better view of their strange prison in space, a look of both worry and fascination on his face.
"This much I can tell you, Captain Marvel," he said. "This device apparently caused sub-atomic particle dissociation, reducing us, as we entered, to protomatter, which it stored until it teleported us here, to pre-set coordinates in space, where it reassembled us inside a self-generated life-support environment!"
"That's obvious, Richards," muttered the green muscular giant that the people of Earth knew as the Incredible Hulk.
"Obvious? What'd he say?" exclaimed 'Rhodey' Rhodes, the man clad in the red-and-gold armour of the Invincible Iron Man.
"He's basically saying we've been transported here like we're in a real-life version of 'Star Trek'," translated Spider-Woman, sympathising with anyone confused by the way Richards had explained the situation.
"Thanks, Spidey, that's a big help," said MJ, who was trying her best not to accidentally give away Gwen's true identity, since she was unsure how many, if any, of these costumed heroes knew who Spider-Woman really was.
As the group got over their shock and straightened themselves a bit, they began to divide up a bit so they could identify more clearly who each hero was.
"I suggest that first we find out something easier, like who is here," suggested Janet van Dyne, current leader of the Avengers, whom she gestured to. "I'll start! Everybody knows us, because we're the mighty Avengers, and we're famous! But, just in case, I'm the Wasp, and with me are the She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, Captain America, Thor, Hawkeye, and Iron Man, who's really on leave, but is with us anyway!"
Charles Xavier, currently sitting in a wheelchair, spoke up next. "I'm Professor X, and these are my X-Men. Storm, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Cyclops, Wolverine, and Colossus!"
"And Lockheed, the Dragon!" added Colossus, indicating to a small purple dragon resting on his large metal soldier.
"I am, or course, the Hulk!" chimed in Bruce Banner.
It was Gwen's turn for introductions. "I'm the Sensational Spider-Woman, and this is my friend, Mary Jane Watson."
MJ gave the heroes a friendly wave. "Pleased to meet you all. Though why I've been brought here escapes me!"
Finally, it was the turn of Ben Grimm, the Thing, to introduce himself and his two teammates. "We're the Fantastic Four minus the Invisible Girl. Stretcho calls himself Mister Fantastic, if you can believe that! This crumb's the Human Torch, and I'm the Easter Bunny!"
"Well, now we've established who's here, any clues as to why we're here?" asked Spider-Woman.
Just then, Captain America, clutching his familiar disc-shaped vibranium shield with one hand, pointed upwards with a finger on the other. "Heads up! Look! At four o'clock high!"
As all heads turned to look in the direction that Cap was indicating, they could see that another futuristic construct had appeared in space, hovering a short distance away from their own floating prison.
"Yikes! Don't tell me more heroes have been kidnapped!" cried Mary Jane.
"Unfortunately, the inhabitants of that construct are not friends, Ms Watson," said Professor X, his brow creased in concentration. "I'm mentally scanning the individuals over there to establish their identities, though the aura of evil within that construct makes mental probing almost painful."
"Why? Who is in there, Professor?" asked Cyclops.
"As best as I can tell, the individuals there consist of the Asgardian Enchantress; Ultron; the Absorbing Man; the Wrecker and his wrecking crew, Thunderball, Piledriver and Bulldozer; Kang the Conqueror; the Lizard; the Molecule Man; the Hobgoblin; the planet-devouring Galactus; and most dangerous of all, Doctor Doom himself!"
"So, we've got a who's who of heroes, plus one civilian, over here, and a who's who of bad guys over there, huh?" remarked the Thing, before he gestured to a helmeted figure in a red-and-purple costume with a cape, who had been standing so silently, that a lot of the heroes had almost missed that he was among them. "Well, then what's this slime-ball Magneto doin' here? Besides slinkin' around in the background, that is."
"That's a good point," remarked Spider-Woman. "Didn't I hear that he's a wanted criminal himself?"
"Yeah! What about it, murderer?" said Captain Marvel, as she gave Magneto a challengingly glare.
Magneto seemed offended by Marvel's accusation. "I am many things... A mutant, Master of Magnetism, and an avowed enemy of humankind. But a murderer? A slayer of innocents? Never! I fight in defence of my race! My cause is just. Though even the X-Men, who like me are Homo Superior, fail to understand that! I know not what power transported me here from my secret lair, nor why I was placed among you, but I find it more appropriate to ask why such as you were judged fit to be placed in my presence!"
"Careful, Magneto!" Professor X warned his former friend-turned-nemesis. "Your arrogance may be your undoing!"
"Well, I'm more puzzled why this gorgeous redhead is with us," cut across the Human Torch, gesturing to Mary Jane. "I mean, she's cute and all, but not exactly someone you'd want hanging around in a fight!"
"Thanks a bunch," said Mary Jane dryly, casting Johnny Storm a sour look.
Suddenly, the She-Hulk gestured urgently at the the stars hanging outside their protective bubble. "Hold it everyone! Something's happening out there!"
All heads turned to look at the cosmic scenery outside, and what they saw was a horrific scene that they would never forget. A huge wave of blackness had appeared and begun to sweep across every star and planet in its path, causing them all to disintegrate into nothingness!
"That... that entire galaxy...!" gasped Mr Fantastic in fascinated horror.
"It's being destroyed!" cried Hawkeye, as the stars was snuffed out like candles, until all that was left was one lone star, shining brightly in the vast blackness.
"Swept away... like dust before some unseen, giant hand!" said Thor.
"Unbelievable..." breathed Iron Man in disbelief.
"It's like something out of a nightmare!" exclaimed Spider-Woman.
"What kind of power can do such a thing?" wondered the Hulk.
As they all tried to comprehend this frightful scene, they sensed, rather than felt, that the construct they were in had begun to move at an incredible speed, as had the other construct holding the super-villains. The lone remaining star began to loam larger and larger, and as the two constructs flew through the darkness, their respective prisoners could see that a planet was forming in orbit around that star. It was like a jigsaw planet, formed from various pieces of rock and landmasses that seemed to have been torn from other worlds and dragged to this point in space, flying past the two constructs at impossible speeds and joining together, until the strange patchwork world was complete.
"Ah just don't believe it," said Rogue almost in a whisper.
"I think Spider-Woman is right," said Nightcrawler grimly. "It is like a nightmare, one we cannot wake up from!"
As the planet finished forming and settled into orbit around the lone sun, the two constructs hovered near the strange world, as though waiting for something to happen.
"I wonder what our enemies in the other construct are making of all this," commented Cyclops.
"I imagine Doom at least will be as fascinated by all this as we are," replied Mr Fantastic seriously.
Suddenly, some kind of rift opened up in the fabric of the engulfing blackness, and a vast beam of light shot out, so intense that it made the star seem dim by comparison. From out of this dazzling rift, a strange echoing voice spoke, its words clear enough for all to hear:
"I am from beyond. Slay your enemies and all you desire shall be yours! Nothing you dream of is impossible for me to accomplish!"
Dumbstruck, the group of heroes looked at one another, unsure how to respond to this simple statement.
"This 'Beyonder' guy," said Spider-Woman at last. "He's brought us here... to fight one another?"
"So it would seem," said Captain America grimly.
Just then, another voice boomed, this time coming from the neighbouring construct, almost as staggering as the voice of the Beyonder:
"You! Beyonder! Hear me! Hear Galactus! I sense that you are truly a being from beyond this universe... This multiverse! I sense the energies you wield... And I know... I know! You can take from Galactus, devourer of worlds, his hunger! You can end his ceaseless, monstrous craving for the very essence of living worlds! Let it be done! I will not wait! I will not let some petty charade delay my respite! The torment must end NOW!"
And with that, the giant purple-coloured form of Galactus could be seen bursting right through the protective field of the villains' prison, as he sent himself flying straight towards the rift! Spider-Woman thought she saw a little figure following close behind, but she could not be certain of that, as they were too far away to be seen clearly.
"Stop!" warned the voice of the Beyonder. "You cannot approach me! The barriers will repulse you!"
"No!" cried Galactus as he approached the rift. "I will not, I must not, be denied!"
As Galactus disappeared into the rift, all those watching held their breath, waiting to see what happened next. There came a blinding flare of inferno-like light, and when it cleared, the limp form of Galactus could be seen tumbling back out like a broken doll, before falling towards the planet below, along with the 'speck' that Gwen had spotted following the planet-eater.
"He was swatted back like a fly!" said an astonished Captain America.
"To the Beyonder, even Galactus is less than a fly, Captain!" said an equally shocked Professor X.
Her face white with terror, Mary Jane turned to Spider-Woman and whispered in her ear. "Gwen, I don't mind telling you... I'm really scared stiff!"
"So am I, MJ," Gwen Stacy whispered back, her wide-eyed and fearful expression hidden by her mask. "But we can't let all this unnerve us too much, or we may not get out of this alive!"
Strong words, which Gwen said as much for her benefit as well as MJ's. The truth was that Gwen felt completely out of her depth, which was perfectly understandable given the circumstances, but she knew that she had to quickly learn to cope with the situation, especially if she was going to keep her best friend safe from all this madness.
Once again, the two space prisons began to move, this time down towards the patchwork planet. As they passed through the atmosphere and the surface of the world appeared, the two constructs separated and headed off in different directions. When the construct containing the heroes reached one particular part of the planet, there another blinding flash of light, and suddenly, they found themselves on the strange rocky surface of the planet, beamed down from the construct in the blink of an eye.
"Be ready for anything!" called Captain America, his years of training and experience as a soldier kicking in immediately. "Form a circle! I've got the twelve o'clock position. I want an Avenger at two, four, six, eight and ten with eyes peeled! Move! Iron Man! Keep your radar working!"
"Good at giving orders, ain't he?" commented Wolverine, as the various heroes worked to follow Cap's instructions.
"Yes, he is! Maybe the best!" said the Hulk.
"That's good, cause we'll someone level-headed to get us out of this in one piece," said Spider-Woman, who was decidedly impressed by how calmly and decisively Captain America was handling the situation.
As the various Avengers secured the perimeter, Steve Rogers turned to Reed Richards. "Richards, can you...?
"Take a look from up here? Certainly!" replied Mr Fantastic, who had already anticipated Captain America's suggestion and stretched himself upwards, enabling him to get a better view of the surrounding area.
"Not a villain in sight!" he reported.
"What are you talking about? There's one right there!" snapped the Wasp, as she pointed an accusing finger at Magneto.
"The Wasp's right! Maggie sure qualifies," agreed Hawkeye.
Magneto snorted. "Fools! Was I not chosen by the Beyonder to be among you?"
"No murderer belongs on our side!" said the Wasp bitterly. "Or have you just forgotten about that submarine you sank with all hands aboard?"
"They fired upon me!" stated Magneto in regard to the Russian submarine that, a short while ago, had attacked him, and he subsequently destroyed in retaliation. "An act of war! Extremism in defence of one's race is no evil! Humans are the oppressors! My kind are the persecuted! The victims! Yet, you champion their cause! You bear the shame of their dishonour!"
Professor X tried to calm the situation, which rapidly looked set to turn ugly. "Everyone, here me! This is not the time or place to try this man! He has been placed among us, and we may need his power."
"Nobody has had more run-ins with him than the X-Men," added Cyclops in support. "We know him best! We don't approve of his methods, but..."
"But you mutants stick together, huh?" said Hawkeye accusingly, grabbing hold of Cyclops by his tunic and practically bellowing in his face. "Well, sticking to a blood-soaked maniac like him doesn't speak well of you, pal!"
"Hands off, Hawkeye!" snarled Wolverine, barring his claws. "Cyclops is a jerk, but he's our jerk!"
"Will you guys cut it out!"
Somewhat startled by the harsh voice, the arguing heroes turned to face Spider-Woman, who, despite being masked, managed to give an air of disapproval.
"Look, the situation is bad enough without you lot taking scrapes out of each other," Gwen said more calmly. "The way you're behaving, the bad guys won't need to take us out, cause we'll already have done their job for them!"
A little shamefaced, Hawkeye and Cyclops backed away from each other, while Spider-Woman turned to the Wasp.
"Janet, I don't like Magneto any more than you do," said Spider-Woman reasonably. "Frankly, the idea of having a murderous fanatic like him on our side sticks in my craw a bit. But Professor X is right, we do need all the help we can get. Besides, wouldn't you prefer to have him here where we can keep an eye on him, rather than have him hanging out with Doctor Doom's lot?"
Janet van Dyne sighed, as she very reluctantly had to concede to Spider-Woman's logic. "Fine. Magneto can be the X-Men's responsibility. But at the first sign of trouble from him, he's going down!"
Watching the scene, Captain America smiled a little, admiring Spider-Woman's diplomacy, and even Magneto was impressed by the way this young human handled things. Likewise, Mary Jane grinned, pleased at the way Gwen had diffused the situation.
"So, now what?" asked the Human Torch uncertainly.
"We obviously need leadership," said Professor X, turning to Mr Fantastic. "Richards?"
"Are you suggesting me?" said Reed, who did not seem that keen on the idea. "I don't think I can! Back on Earth, I have a wife who's expecting, and it seems likely that I may never see her again, or the baby! I don't think you want a leader whose thoughts are a billion parsecs away! Perhaps Doctor Banner..."
The Human Torch immediately scoffed at the idea. "The Hulk? Hey, no offence, Doc, but... It wasn't so long ago that you were a dumb monster, and it's tough to shake that mental image!"
"I'd have guessed as much," grunted the Hulk. "Bah! I'm not interested in giving orders anyway! Let Winghead do it. He likes it!"
The Wasp seemed to agree with this suggestion. "I'm the leader of the Avengers, but I'll defer to Captain America."
"Why, Wasp?" asked She-Hulk.
"Because we're off in a strange land, up to our ears in a little Secret War that may decide the fate of the universe! Some people don't know me well. They might have doubts, and there's no room for that!"
"I also agree that Captain America is a logical choice," conceded Magneto. "We need someone well-versed in the art of battle to lead us."
Captain America turned to Professor X. "What about you, Professor? You read minds. That could come in handy."
"I'm also good at reading hearts," countered Xavier. "No man in existence equals your courage, Captain America!"
Only Wolverine seemed to object to this suggestion. "Wait a minute! He's the least of us! He can't do anything! I won't follow him!"
"I will!" boomed the Mighty Thor in support of Captain America. "I am a prince of the gods! I do not pledge my allegiance to many of mortal stature! This man I will follow through the gates of Hades!"
"Sounds like it's settled," said Professor X.
With Captain America now firmly elected as leader, the small army of heroes began to make their way through the strange alien landscape, in search of somewhere to make their base. They made good progress, with Professor X leaving his wheelchair behind. He did not need it, as these days he could walk again. The only reason he had it was because the Beyonder had included it, along with anything else that seemed to be 'wrong', or the very least missing, from each hero.
"I can't get over how weird this place is," said Mary Jane, glancing at some bizarrely shaped plants of varying colours. "It's like being in the land of Oz!"
"It's certainly a bizarre-looking world," agreed Spider-Woman, who was checking her utility belt and noted that the Beyonder had refilled her web-fluid cartridges, and also included a pair of spare web-shooters. "You know, so many people dream of going to alien planets, but between you and me, I'd prefer to be back on good old Earth!"
"But what if we don't get home?" asked Mary Jane dismally. "What if we'll be stuck here for the rest of our lives?"
"Hey, chill, ladies!" said the Human Torch confidently. "The Fantastic Four have been off on space missions quite a few times. We'll get back! Believe me!"
Mary Jane managed a small smile, but before she could respond, there came the sound of a tremendous and deafening explosion, startling everyone present.
"What was that?" asked Captain Marvel, as they all tensed for action.
"A ship, shot down!" replied Captain America, pointing towards over the ridge, where he along with a few others were looking just the right direction to bear witness to the sight of a small craft getting blasted out of the sky.
"That blast was like a nuke!" cried Wolverine, his claws already out and ready to deal with any danger.
"A large chuck of debris fell only a few miles away!" reported Mr Fantastic, gesturing to the distance spot where he had seen the remains of the ship crash-land.
"Let's check it out," suggested Iron Man.
Within seconds, they were all speeding towards the sight of the crash, with those heroes who can fly helping to carry those who could not. For their part, Spider-Woman and Mary Jane found themselves riding on the back of the leaping Hulk.
"Wheee!" cheered Mary Jane, who was actually enjoying the ride despite herself. "This is kinda fun!"
"Just keep still, MJ," cautioned Spider-Woman, who was using her webbing to anchor themselves to the Hulk as he bounded his way along. "Or you may find yourself falling off!"
As the flaming, twisted remains of the strange alien vessel came into view, the group could see a figure crawling out of the wreckage, clad in the unmistakeable silver armour and dark-green robes of:
"Look! It's Doctor Doom!" exclaimed Cyclops. "How could he have survived that blast?"
"His personal forcefield must have been working overtime!" said the Hulk, as Captain America raced towards the dazed figure.
"Cap! Stay back!" warned the Human Torch. "Don't go near him! He's dangerous!"
"No! He's hurt... Maybe badly!" stated Captain America, never one to abandon someone in distress, even someone as evil as Doctor Doom.
"Let me help, Cap!" called Spider-Woman, jumping off the Hulk's back and racing over to join the super-soldier. "I've some basic knowledge in first aid which might be of some use."
As they got closer to Doom, they could hear him muttering almost incoherently, "Richards... Must speak with Richards! Only he... might comprehend... Power so great... It humbles us! We are... bacteria... dust..."
Spider-Woman did not understand what Doom was talking about, and right now, it did not seem to matter. "I'll need to get his armour off if I'm going to check him over for any injuries, but it may be boobytrapped!"
"Let me handle that, toots!" said Wolverine, with an all too eager expression. "I'm going to enjoy slicing him out of that armour with my claws!"
"Back off, Wolverine," said Captain America, as he turned to Doom and offered his hand. "Let me help you, Doom."
For a moment, Doom regarded the Captain's outstretched hand, then, with a tone of utter contempt, he rasped:
"Doom... needs the aid... of no man!"
Getting to his feet, Doom regarded the group of heroes with disdain. "Is that pity I see in your eyes, Captain America? And yours, Richards? Pity yourselves! I was a fool to think such as you might comprehend what only Doom can know!"
Gwen's spider-sense began buzzing frantically, but before she could shout a warning, Doom stretched out his arms and fired powerful energy bolts from his gauntlets, causing the ground to explode and knock the heroes in front off their feet.
"You will rue this moment!" declared Doctor Doom angrily. "You, the others, the Beyonder... and the Universe! Soon, all will grovel at my feet!"
WHOOSH!
Before anyone could stop him, Doom activated his hidden jetpack and soared through the alien atmosphere, disappearing from view.
"Why couldn't he have just said goodbye?" groaned the Human Torch.
"Are you okay, Spidey?" asked Mary Jane, as she hurried over and helped Spider-Woman to her feet.
"Yeah, though I can't deny I'm fairly annoyed!" muttered Spider-Woman. "Sheesh, you try to show a guy some compassion, and what thanks do you get?"
Suddenly, Iron Man spoke up urgently. "Heads up! My radar's picking up bogies coming in fast! We're under attack!"
As everyone whirled around, they saw that the other villains, led by Kang the Conqueror, were charging right towards them, heavily armed and eager to slay their enemies.
The Secret Wars had well and truly begun!
NEXT TIME: FIRST BLOOD