Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel or DC
The Redeemer
Chapter 35: Tipped scales finale
Jonah Jameson sat in front of his type writer, wringing his wrists. He was wondering what on Earth he should write. And another part of him was wondering why he should? What the point of it was anymore. His fingers automatically typed numerous things.
Peter Parker commits unethical fraud over the years!
He yanked the paper out, and ripped it up. Sliding another into the rack.
City irreparably damage, world left in a state of hopelessness!
Again he yanked the paper out.
Avengers break promise to stay in shadows, they watch the world, who watches them?
And again he ripped paper out.
The day the Avengers couldn't save us!
Again, then again and again, until his empty and drab apartment was left with paper scattered across it. He slid another sheet of paper into the type writer and took a sip from his scotch glass. Jonah stood up and looked out of the window. He was slightly younger again, watching a kid in a red and blue costume swing past. He was slightly younger again, ranting about a group of mutant kids in blue and yellow. He was slightly younger, sceptically reporting on the 'rebirth' of Captain America.
"Having trouble knowing what to write?"
Jonah ignored his guest and looked at where his type writer was. He remembered a young journalist dedicated to the truth, a wife he loved. Then a day a masked man came into their lives, and destroyed it. After that came the righteous man, the man who had been wronged and was determined to show the world what could happen if trust was put in those with masks. He stomped towards his type writer and punched the keys, putting into them words he felt the world needed to see.
J Jonah Jameson was right!
"Well isn't that just the most arrogant thing you've ever seen?" his guest asked, touching his shoulder, turning him around and grinning. "Don't you agree dad," John Jameson said.
New York
It was a day unlike any other. When the skies opened and the Parademons of Apokolips, and the shadows of the dark universe emerged. Ben Grimm shielded a group of civilians, taking multiple shots against his rock hide. He grit his teeth together, enduring the hits for the sake of the people he needed to protect. Johnny flew over the Parademons, hitting them with fireballs. Living Lightning then flew over Johnny and hit the demons with a full electric blast.
"Get yourselves to safety, get off of this street now," Ben said.
The civilians ran, with Tommy in his red Turbo ranger form shooting down their pursuers. He quickly switched to his White Ranger form and swung his sword at the dark demons around him. Sasquatch landed behind him and smashed his fists into the other enemies. Rocket flew around them both, shooting his gun at all the Parademons that flew at them. Gamora and Spider-woman slammed their backs together, Jessica's cowl part torn from the battle and Gamora with her cloak abandoned. They ran, engaging their own enemies. Spider-woman kicked a Parademon before linking her legs around another's head and throwing it to the floor, finishing it with a venom blast for good measure. Gamora cut through two demons with her sword before splitting one down the middle. She shielded her eyes as explosions consumed some of the enemies in front of her. Above her, War Machine fired all of his weapons, launching more missiles from slots on his back. Vision flew through the fires, grabbing a Parademon and shooting it in the face, then passing his hand through another. He went intangible just as Cannonball crashed into the ground, leaving two crushed monsters in his wake. The X-man yelped when Etrigan landed behind him, sliding his sword out of two Parademons.
"I've got a bad feeling about this Captain," MVP said, bashing a Parademon across the face with is shield.
"I know, they're keeping us grouped together," Steve said.
"It could be worse, they aren't going after civilians now," Hawkeye drew back his bow and fired an arrow that released a flurry of missiles on the Parademons in its wake.
The arrow itself slid through the head of a Justifier. Thor pushed the body aside and cut through two Parademons with his axe. He raised his hand, bringing down a lightning bolt that fried the enemies around him.
"The Captains speak true friend Barton, this is something to draw our eye," the Asgardian yelled before embedding his weapon in another opponent.
A group of demons from the dark universe ran towards him, only for an optic blast to hit them. Smasher fired her eye beams, with Nightmask and Starbrand both firing their energy waves beside her. When they stopped shooting, Sunspot, Jack Flag and Mockingbird ran past Thor, engaging the remaining demons at close quarters. A pile of Parademons was suddenly burnt away by the hero they had ganged up on, Hyperion. He fired his eye beams, burning a group of dark dimension monsters that tried to attack Steve.
"I'm getting an uneasy feeling," Moondragon said.
"My own cosmic awareness is telling me that something terrible is about to happen," Warlock added.
"And as usual, the specifics are vague, it almost seemed like the writer wanted to make you two look like you contributed something," Deadpool huffed.
"What exactly are you contributing Wilson?" Havok asked, firing blast after blast at his enemies.
"My very presence, stories are bound to be successful with me in them, I'm on top of the world right now!"
"Your movie wasn't that great Deadpool," Domino said.
"I thought Marvel studies does quite good," Gorilla-man said.
Both were firing their automatic weapons. Solo suddenly appeared between them, firing a grenade launcher into Parademons approaching them.
"Actually, his movies were made by Fox, licensed by Marvel," he said.
"Oh, so it's like if Nickelback released Beatle songs," Domino said.
"Not this joke again," Deadpool groaned.
"I am Groot!"
"Did you just say 'its music but it still sucks'?" Deadpool asked the walking tree.
Groot nodded his head, before walking past Deadpool.
"That's going to become a running gag isn't it? Please Soldier-MS, don't make it a running gag!"
The masked man was thrown back by a Parademon blast. Stingray quickly slammed into the Parademon, holding it for Naja to finish off with her claws. Iso fired a blast of wind pressure, knocking through several Parademons.
"They may be attempting to trap us," Mainframe said, blowing off two heads with his repulsors.
Jameson's apartment
Jonah looked upon his son, famous astronaut, pilot and the light of his life. He had never been afraid to praise his son's achievements. Losing John's mother made him a very doting father. But looking at his son drew only anger from his face.
"Whatever you are get out," he growled.
"Dad come on, how can a guy like you be so smart, but also so dumb. A few of the people Deathblade used with the reanimation virus came back, why would I be one of them?" John asked.
"Because you aren't, because they didn't think you...mattered enough to come back," Jonah leant over his desk in defeat.
"You have to say it dad, how am I here?"
"You're, no you're just some mind game, some image that the Parker's must have projected into my mind, to make me doubt myself," Jonah said.
"You are really reaching for it dad, come on, Pete doesn't have access to a telepath like that, he's at least not the type of person to screw with a person's mind," John explained.
"That is exactly what he's been doing, since the day he came into my office and took the job, he has been screwing with my mind. Every time he listened to me rant about vigilantes, he must have been laughing ironically inside, every time he fraudulently handed in a photo of himself, he must have gotten a giggle from the money he was making from me," Jonah explained.
"Honestly dad if you did take him to court, I don't think you'd have gotten a lot from him, considering you're a cheap guy," John retorted.
"It doesn't matter, the point is he was proving me right every time," Jonah said.
"How? Seriously dad, get out of your own head and just look at things for a change, and then ask yourself how the heck was he proving you right?" John asked.
"They all proved me right. For years I talked about how the supposed heroes would create disaster. Well there it was every damn time, whenever a hero appeared, a villain rose up to challenge them. Their powers and actions create escalation, how many villains of Spider-man's only exist now because of him?"
"You were an investigative journalist dad, you know that quite a few of them started regardless of Peter's actions. Doctor Octopus became a villain when his experiments went wrong, fusing his tentacles to his spine. The Shocker was a safe cracker who just made a pair of shock gauntlets. Electro was an electrician struck by lightning, who then decides to commit crimes. The list goes on dad!"
"Kraven the Hunter," Jonah snarled and John stepped back, lowering the smile he had on before. "Kraven came to New York looking to hunt Spider-man, and he did, but then we had his entire stinking family come along and bring in their voodoo magic or whatever it is. They nearly killed Mattie," Jonah explained.
"And if she had died, it would not have been Peter's fault," John said.
"That isn't all, the heroes themselves have created disaster, Tony Stark, years of appalling behaviour from alcoholism, he saves the world once and all is forgiven again. The New Warriors tried to create a TV show of all things, and then Stamford happened," Jonah stated, throwing his arms up in anger and point to the devastating photos he had put on display. "Hundreds of people, including school children dead because super heroes thought they were above the law."
"Finally, finally we have the super hero registration act, but not every heroes gets behind it. Because Captain America, the shining beacon of hope for our county, says no, and then destroys a city block when he and Iron man fight. In the following year, Stark pushes his super hero army across the country, a super hero team in every state...except it turns out to be a ploy of the Skrulls. Again our country is devastated, and in a twist of irony a villain gets made a hero, the government and the people give Norman Osborn the most powerful position on the planet, and what happens then? It turns out he was using that position to further his own criminal dealings!"
"And in our darkest moment, the super heroes promise, they swear that they'll return to the shadows, that they won't interfere with our world again. But when it comes time to deliver on that promise, they lie to us, they rebuild their mansions and their towers, they send Iron men out across the world, they make schools for super heroes and space stations watching us from orbit. The super heroes have always lied to us."
John shook his head and smirked.
"And the government has always been transparent hasn't it dad? How many government officials created a mess that the super heroes later had to clean up?" he asked.
"Don't try to play the government card with me boy, the government is filled with people appointed by the people, they answer to us, super heroes do not," Jonah said.
He turned away from John, looking out at the window, seeing a few Initiative heroes flying to aid the heroes assembled in Times Square.
"They hide behind their masks, they lie..."
"Oh for god's sake Jonah, get your head out of your ass!"
Jonah widened his eyes, turning to who spoke. Instead of seeing his son, he saw his first wife. She stood there with her arms crossed, seemingly as real as the day they first met.
"I thought remarrying would mellow you out a bit, how disappointing," she shook her head and sighed.
He shook his head and fell onto his chair.
Carol blasted one Parademon after another, the creatures flying towards her in swarms. Below her, Guardian and Vindicator blasted and punched the ground based Parademons. Sasquatch ripped one in half and Puck bounced between two more, dodging another's claw swipe. A blast of flame slammed into the Parademon, burning it to ashes. Inferno joined with Sunfire and the Human Torch in burning a line through the Parademons. Northstar and Aurora shined brightly, hitting the ground with a bombardment of energy blasts. Crystal raised a platform out of the ground, giving Mockingbird a stepping stone to jump off of, throwing her grenades into the demons around her. Tommy jumped off of another, turning to White Ranger mode and swinging Saba through a demon's head.
"They're trying to overwhelm us," the ranger said.
He let out a scream as a Parademon slashed him across the back. Etrigan swung Century's axe through the demon, and helped Tommy off of the floor. MVP beheaded a demon with his shield, looking to see Steve running out of the crowds. He was on a direct path towards Godfrey. Hyperion came down from the sky, shaking the ground with his impact. His eyes flashed red, but several Parademons landed on top of him.
"Godfrey's up to something, we need to take him out now," Steve said.
"Working on it Captain," Tommy let out his battle cry, slicing through two demons before jumping out of the crowd.
He aimed for Godfrey, only for a Parademon to punch him into a wall. MVP threw his shield, intercepting two demons that tried to get to Steve. He ran towards his idol, grabbing the shield as it returned. Two more demons however came at Steve and grabbed him by his arms, pulling him back into the melee.
"End it Captain," Steve called out.
MVP ran at Godfrey, the man quickly drew his blaster and fired at his shield. Deflecting two blasts, Michael swung a hook that Godfrey dodged, and kicked him in the chest. Godfrey however punched Michael's shield, forcing him back a few steps. He continued manipulating buttons on his mother box, trading blows with the Captain. Hawkeye slid out of the melee, shooting two demons in the back.
"Having a little trouble kid?" he asked.
"He's no ordinary man Barton," Michael retorted.
"Then I'll get him," Carol said, narrowing his eyes at Godfrey.
Rogue charged through several demons, her 'Thing arms' shrinking as the power faded. She yelped in pain as a Parademon struck her in the side, throwing her into an alleyway. The Parademon towered over her, rearing its claws back for a killing stroke. Suddenly, an object slammed into its head, charring it. It took a step back, and a card landed at its feet, a glowing card. The resulting explosion threw the Parademon like a ragdoll.
"Having some trouble Cheri?"
Rogue got off of the floor and looked towards the new arrival. Gambit stepped out of the shadows, twirling his staff.
"Swamp rat, you have the worst timing," Rogue said.
Gambit smirked, throwing two more cards into Parademons that entered the alley. He jumped to Rogue's side, grabbing her by her waist and tilting her back, their faces inches. The move enabled them to dodge the claw swipe of a Parademon.
"Marry me," the Cajun said and Rogue blushed. "Now I have bad timing Non?"
Rogue slapped Gambit across the face, then touched the Parademon's armour, passing a charge with Gambit's abilities. The Parademon looked at its glowing armour as the X-men ran for cover. When it blew up, Rogue grabbed the collar of Gambit's shirt and kissed him.
"Don't ever pull something like that again, and the answer's yes," she grinned and Gambit smiled.
Further away, another, just as desperate battle was taking place. Perhaps even more desperate, for whilst the Avengers and other heroes fought for their survival, Peter Parker and his family were fighting for someone that linked their worlds together. The greatest joy of their life, Mayday was still berserk, slashing at her own mother. Even with the amount of strength and weaponry she gained from the iron spider costume, Mary Jane didn't have a spider sense. She took her daughter's slash marks and grabbed her.
"It's me baby, it's me, please wake up," she said to her.
Mayday however dug her spider arms into the ground and threw Mary Jane over her head. MJ landed, drawing out the three mechanical arms in her back. She stabbed Parademons around her in the head and used repulsors in her arms to blast others. Peter landed beside her, punching a Parademon so hard its neck was snapped back. Neither were holding back, both would be willing to do whatever it took to save their daughter, even kill. Harry threw a flurry of bombs, blowing a path. Kaine stabbed demons with his stingers and Otto smashed them into the ground. Goodness fired her meta-rod, creating an explosion that knocked both men back. Venom snapped his jaws over a Parademons head, roaring.
"Flash, is that you?" Betty asked.
"Sorry Brant," Venom said.
"Brock, where's Flash?"
A sad look crossed Venom's face. Realising the man she loved was dead, Betty picked up a Parademon's blaster. She screamed, shooting at the aliens. Peter and Mary Jane both made their way to their screaming daughter. She snapped her jaws at them, before they removed their masks.
"It's us baby girl, it's us," Peter whispered.
"Mayday," MJ cried.
The feral girl lowered her arms, her eyes widening with tears. Just when the two parents thought they had gotten through, Granny landed between them and their daughter, grinning like a mad woman. She fired her meta-rod, and MJ screamed as Peter shielded her. The force of the blast threw them both back, the heat burning away Peter's symbiote. They landed away from Mayday, her feral side returning. Granny grabbed her by her head and began walking towards an open boom tube.
Jonah shook his head, rubbing his eyes again to see if it would wipe the image of the dead away. But his wife still stood there, arms crossed with a look of disapproval that he both hated and adored.
"You are not real, neither was John, this is all just in my head," Jonah said.
"Finally you figure it out, we're all just aspects of your mind telling you, what you already know, that the world isn't as black and white as the ink on your papers Jonah," the image of his wife explained.
"I'm not listening," Jonah snarled.
"For god's sake Jonah, stop being a whiney shit and face reality, 'oh my wife was killed by a man in a mask,' get over yourself!"
"That is the point, the masks, they all wear the masks, the damn cowards."
"And why do you think they wear the masks Jonah?"
"Don't give me that protect my family crap, because there are men and whom stand for things, and they stand proud with their faces and names exposed, because that is how a real mark is made on the world," Jonah explained.
"Jonah, it was never about making a mark on the world, it was about the lives they saved, including their family. You always looked out of that window, but you never saw did you?"
Jonah turned to his type writer and sighed. He lowered his head in defeat.
"Every time he went out there, every time he came up with an excuse about being late for work, every time I criticised and wrote a bad article...he was out there saving someone's life. Sometimes out there saving the world, and that world is punishing him for it, I'm punishing him for it...that little girl!"
For the first time in a few years, tears rolled down Jonah's face.
"What are you doing here Jonah?" the voice was different this time.
It wasn't him talking in the form of his first wife, or his son, but his wife Martha. The former scientist and engineer touched her husband's shoulder and hugged him.
"They've asked for your help Jonah, you know why," she said.
"Yes, but they'll need more than that, I can't just stand back and let this happen to that poor girl," he said.
"Neither can I honey," Martha said.
Jonah kissed his wife and then walked over to the phone.
"What are you doing?"
"Making a call to Robbie, its time I put right the things I've done, please tell me you still have it honey," Jameson said and Martha nodded her head.
Mayday struggle under Goodness's grip, lashing out at her. Kaine tried to jump for Goodness, only to be hit in the back. Otto pinned two demons down, only for a third to grab one of his tentacles and throw him on top of Betty. Goodness neared the boom tube portal, looking over her shoulder and smirking as MJ and Peter were held down by demons. Harry's glider was shot down and he landed in a roll, blasting two demons with his gloves before his bag was knocked out of his hand.
"I'm almost touched by their efforts," Goodness cackled.
Suddenly, a metallic arm slammed on top of Goodness's imbedding her in the ground. She looked up and saw a metallic, box shaped robot. Multiple coils stretched out of its surface, and on a screen on its head was the face of Jonah Jameson.
"You get away from that girl you alien scumbag," Jonah snarled.
The Spider Slayer stretched its coils, impaling and crushing multiple Parademons. Those holding MJ and Peter were knocked aside, and the two parents jumped towards Goodness. Peter slammed his fist into Goodness's face, so hard he felt his hand break. But it didn't matter, he latched his other hand onto her face, and with all his strength ripped part of her skin off. MJ slashed Goodness across the back with her spider arms, and fired a repulsor blast point blank into the woman's hip. She delivered an uppercut that launched Goodness into the air. Peter fired a web at her, and then threw her towards the ground.
Goodness got off of the floor, and roared in anger, charging MJ and Peter. Mayday looked around, crying out in anger and fear. She was suddenly struck by a Parademon, rolling across the floor. The Parademon raised its staff, only for the Spider mobile to land on top of it. May climbed out of the car, pulling off her goggles and looking at the mutated girl. She crouched and opened her arms. Mayday snarled at her, then her eyes widened, seeing the tears in Aunt May's eyes.
"I'm here baby girl, I'm here," May whispered.
Mayday hesitantly shuffled forward, the mandibles on her head clicking slowly. She looked May up and down, raising her hands defensively as May shuffled forward herself.
"It's okay, everything's going to be all right now, everyone is here, our family is here, but it isn't complete without you," May explained.
She slowly wrapped her arms around Mayday, stroking her head.
"Because you baby girl, are our joy," she said.
The tears flowed out of Mayday's eyes as she hugged Aunt May. The spider legs fell off her back and her skin and face returned to normal.
"Oh how sweet...oh fuck it, I can't be bothered anymore," a masculine and ferocious voice spoke behind the pair.
Both Mays looked up at Granny Goodness, her face contorted in pure rage.
"I'm sick of all this...goodness, I'll JUST KILL YOU!" she yelled, throwing the battered MJ and Peter in front of the two Mays.
She raised her metarod, charging it with energy. May threw Mayday to cover and picked up a Parademon's blaster.
"Not my son you witch, NOT MY FAMILY!" May yelled.
"Maybe the girl will be Darkseid's when you're all dead," Goodness grinned.
Suddenly, the Metarod blew up in her hand, taking the appendage with it. Goodness screamed, looking at her stump in horror.
"Oh dear," a voice said above Goodness.
Black Cat was crouched on a lamp post, waving at Goodness.
"Looks like you had a spot of bad luck," she said.
A shock ran through Goodness's body and she turned, seeing Patrick and Miles. Together, the two junior spiders pulled their fists back, before punching Goodness back.
"Here's a little present for you to take back to your planet," Venom said, throwing the spider mobile into Goodness, throwing her back into the boom tube.
Landing in the wastelands of Apokolips, Goodness snarled, her hair burnt and blood flowing from her mouth. She stood, prepared to lead another wave of Parademons. But she heard a giggling sound, drawing her attention to the Spider-mobile's passenger seat. Her eyes widened in horror, seeing Harry's bag filled with armed pumpkin bombs.
"Oh shi..."
The Spider-man family shielded one another from the resulting explosive cloud shooting out of the boom tube. Peter and MJ shielded their daughter, knowing the fires would reach them. But much to their shock, they didn't burn. Each member of the Spider-man family looked to the closing boom tube. Standing in front of it, his sand form partly turning to glass, was Flint Marko.
"Sandman," Mayday whispered.
"Saw some people in need of help, thought I'd give it, I am, or at least I'd like to be an Avenger again," the Sandman grinned.
"He was an Avenger?" Miles asked and Patrick shrugged his shoulders.
Cyclops and the X-men stood on the roof, looking down at the Spider-man family. MJ and Peter stood close to their daughter as they looked up at the X-men leader.
"We just saved our daughter from an alien invasion Summers, if you don't think we can protect her after that...then what the hell is wrong with you?" Peter asked.
Scott was about to speak when he saw Kurt, Kitty, Piotr, Logan and even Jean standing with Spider-man. He nodded his head in defeat, Mayday Parker had the best protectors the world could ask for.
Robbie Robertson sat in front of his typewriter, looking at the simple instructions that Jonah had written for him.
"Tell the story, and whatever you do, don't give the Bugle to Dexter fucking Bennet!'
Robbie smiled, Jonah was officially retiring, not even bothering to write one last story. The new editor in chief of the Bugle was sitting on the story that would make the Bugle famous again. After so many years of hearing Peter's excuses, Robbie finally understood. Every time he missed a deadline, every time he couldn't make a meeting or was absent from work, he was out there saving someone's life. New York City would rejoice, knowing the face and true name of the person who saved them numerous times. But Robbie knew, perhaps better than Jonah the reason Peter wore a mask was to protect his family. He had always known and respected that. So Robbie typed out a very different story.
Avengers missing after climatic battle in New York
Members of the Avengers and Fantastic Four fought in Times Square against invaders confirmed to be known as Parademons. According to Avengers Academy head master and founding Avenger Hank Pym, the battle of Times Square was a trap concocted by these alien forces. Having drawn most of the Avengers into battle, the Parademon forces activated devices called Mother boxes above the battlefield. Every hero still in the area of effect was transported to an unknown location.
Confirmed heroes not taken by the boxes are Steve Rogers and the unidentified male now using the Captain America name, Colonel Carol Danvers, Colonel James Rhodes, Clint Barton, Thor, Ben Grimm, Rogue, the Stark Tech android Mainframe, Rocket Racoon and the demonic creature who was confirmed to be using deceased Avenger Century's axe and the man whose costumed alternated between red, green, black and white, neither seeming new Avenger has granted an interview at this moment in time.
"It is done," Onyx, looking at the aftermath of the battle in Times Square, the bulk of the Avengers and other super heroes on Earth 616 had been taken off of the field.
"Just as you had planned my love," Hela said.
"Yes, now, the next phase of the plan begins," Onyx walked across the Bifrost bridge and at the force assembled across from he and his lover.
Amora stood, smirking as her captured and corrupted soldiers marched behind her. They were all armoured green or grey and green, some bearing gold, others with long hair stretching out of the backs of their helmets. They were all Aeons, or Onyxs, but something new as well. Her creations, formed by spells she had cast on hundreds of Sven Reilly's across the Multiverse. Despite being outnumbered, Hela smirked. Enchantress, rather than creating an army to take the throne of the dark god, had created the means for her love to keep it.
Earth 616
Michael Van Patrick was out of his Captain America uniform, he felt unworthy of it after the disaster in Times Square. Steve was there beside him, both of them standing around a table with a hologram showing the 'casualty' list. Across from the two shield bearers was Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow. Michael's eyes widened when he saw the faces of Hardball and Komodo, two teammates from his time in the Iniative.
"It didn't just occur in Times Square, the Iniative, MI:13, the Big Hero 6 went missing before all this, half an hour ago Russia confirmed that the Winter Guard was taken by the Mother boxes too, China refuses to comment but we know the People's Defence Force was taken, all of the Les Heroes De Paris were taken too," Natasha explained.
"Who?" Carol asked, coming into the room.
"Little known super hero team from France," Wolverine said.
"How are the X-men doing?" Steve asked.
"Well it didn't take us long to get the Symbiotes off of us, but Summers is pissed, most of our student body has gone with Virgil," Logan smirked slightly.
"He didn't sanction them to join him did he?"
"Nope!"
Natasha pushed a few buttons, bringing up a few pictures of survivors from the international teams. At first glance, and a grey and black version of Vision appeared, though he was much more mechanical, the computer identified him as Vostok of the Winter Guard. Another image appeared of a white clothed British Muslim woman, identified as Dr Faiza Hussain/Excalibur. After her came an image of a Fillipino woman, codenamed Wave.
"Contacts in space confirmed the Shiar were hit too, all of the Imperial Guard, what's left of the old Hulk's buddies from Sakaar, heavy hitters, vigilantes, Wakanda is tight lipped but we haven't seen Shuri at all, so we can only assume they were hit too," Natasha continued.
"Damn it, we fell completely into their trap," Jason Blood said, walking with Tommy Oliver.
"What's with him?" Tommy asked, pointing to Thor, whom sat away from the group.
"He feels guilty," Rocket said, sitting against the wall. "Then again there's a lot of that going around."
Michael lowered his head and hit the side of the table.
"I'm supposed to be Captain America, I failed damn it," he said.
"None of us saw this coming kid, don't beat yourself up," a voice spoke from behind Natasha.
He walked past her until the lights of the table revealed his face. His signature eye patch, greying hair and S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform, Nick Fury.
"The important thing is what we do now, we need to plan for the next step," the former head of S.H.I.E.L.D. said.
"The next step, where do we go after this?" Carol asked.
"Best defence is a good offence," Logan muttered.
"Exactly, we take the fight out of our world and wherever these Dark Forces go next," Fury said.
"We don't have a lot to go on, Wanda and Aeon are trying to track down their son, and Spider-man and his family...it's too much to ask any of them to help after what they've been through," Steve said.
"I'm sorry Cap, but we need as many people as we can get," Natasha said.
"We can get people, but we'll need a plan!" Carol said, narrowing her eyes at the images of the Parademons. "Let's take the fight to them for a change!"
Earth 909
Once upon a time there was a kingdom, a kingdom of truth and Justice. Founded by the seven knights whom defended the world from the great darkness. From the capital city of crystals was the Super-Knight, whom became King Kal-El. In the dark citadel was the Knight of Bats, whom became King Wayne. On the flashing lightning plains was the Knight of Lightning, King Allen. Under the water was the city of Atlantis, protected by the Knight of Aqua, its king Arthur. Forming a city of green was the sorcerer knight, the Green Lantern, King Jordan. On the island of the Amazon's was their queen Diana, the Knight of Wonders. Within the old desert wastelands was the last of the knights, the wisest of them, the Knight of the Hunters, the Martian king Jonzz.
Together these seven knights founded their seven kingdoms and created a golden age, expanding the ranks of their armies, recruiting more knights and wizards to their cause. It was a golden age, which was soon threatened by the return of the darkness. Led by the son of the dark god, Kalibak was no true leader, but he had been gifted with technology that decimated the armies assembled by the seven Knights. Many fell in battle, hope only shining for a moment when the Seven Knights and their elite fighters joined the fray. They stood between the dark armies and their cities as they did decades before. But even that would not be enough. Victory was near for the darkness.
But then, a visitor arrived, a knight of sorts. Eyes glowing red, armour glowing and scythe stained with the blood of his enemies, the Blade of Death turned the tide in favour of the Seven knights. He led the army to victory, rallying the champions with two words.
"Avengers Assemble!"
Next Chapter 36: House of M part 1
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, Earth 909 was based on a idea often used in the Elseworlds comics, fantasy style Justice Leaguers. Originally I was going to have JJ killed off, but I surprisingly like the new direction he's taken in the comics knowing Peter's secret identity, thought I'd apply it to my Spider-man family storyline.
Next time, we finally return to Zack and the House of M, with Wanda and Aeon on their way to look for him.