Celestial Navigation

By Michael Weyer

She-Hulk leaned on a table, glancing at the side. She then paused and her face brightened. "Oh, hi! Good to see you again! I know, a while but writer's been really tied up on work, real-life stuff and such, more behind than he'd like on updates to things. And this is a little trickier thanks to how the movies have shifted things up a bit. Sooo, here goes..."

She began ticking off her fingers. "First, you want to see me as Tatiana Maslany, go ahead, that show really was fun, screw the haters. Either way, sticking to a bit of that although Bruce still prefers being more human around here than "Professor Hulk" type so not too much changed." Her voice dropped as she winked. "Although would love for Matt Murdock to show up, that's one bit I wouldn't mind replicating..."

She coughed. "Anyway, for Hercules, imagine a little 'reality shift' going so we've got him as Brett Goldstein that was good casting. Oh and don't worry Zeus isn't going to be as campy here.

Now, for Namor, yeah, Luke Evans a dream pick but Huerta was terrific so you can go with him, although some news around him may throw that off so up to you. Although stick to classic Atlantis more than the fictional place they cooked up. Also, read the 'Temporal Tete-a-Tete' tale and you can see how things have shifted. Sorta like Superboy punching the wall, ya know?"

She brushed back her hair. "So, yeah, we're advancing plots but also a bit of a subplot he figured fit in better here than a stand-alone tale. Just keep going, it'll make sense as it goes on, trust me." She heard a beeping sound and looked off. "Ah, that's my cue, check in with you later!"

She walked into the main room as the holographic table showed the image of a hulking figure, mostly in shadow, that appeared humanoid with a huge helmet, clad in some sort of form-fitting purple suit. Carol was standing before the table, her arms crossed and her expression somber as she spoke.

"No one knows who or what he is. One story is that he's the lone survivor of the universe that came before ours, somehow transformed by the Big Bang. No one is even sure of his appearance. The few that survived him keep coming up with different descriptions. It's as if every race sees him in their own image. All they agree on is the name." She took a deep breath. "Galactus."

The other Avengers took in her words as Starfox spoke up. "He feasts on entire planets. Their life energy somehow sustains him. Think of him like a giant space whale, only his food is far greater." He brushed at his chin. "My father spoke of him as being beyond good or evil, more a...cosmic necessity."

"Sure the folks on the planets he feeds on think otherwise," Tony muttered.

"True," Starfox allowed. "The point is, if he comes to Earth...it's the end of your world."

"We've faced that before."

"Not like this," Thor intoned, looking more serious than usual. "We heard of Galactus on Asgard. Even Odin seemed wary of ever facing him, compared his power to even greater than ours. We've seen him consume worlds of far more advanced technology, ones that could ravage Earth and they couldn't put up any fight against him."

"Well, he hasn't faced us yet," Tony stated. He looked toward Ajax. "I'm assuming Galactus and these Celestials aren't buddies?"

"A being that feasts on worlds targeting ones the Celestials wish to cultivate?" Ajax snorted. "Hardly. Of course, applying human emotions to beings like this is tricky but yes, Galactus has cost the Celestials several worlds they have seeded. Thus, the question of who get to a world first."

"So now he's targeting Earth," Cap noted.

"It's this guy we have to watch out for." Carol hit some keys as the hologram changed into a figure seemingly made out of pure silver on a strange board. "The Silver Surfer." She held up a hand. "Yes, I know it's a crazy name and no idea how the surfboard works but it does. He's Galactus' Herald, scouting worlds for him. He shows up, Galactus isn't far behind."

Tony nodded. "So we watch out for the crazy surfer guy on top of the Greek Gods and a possible huge alien hatching at any moment. Sounds like an easy week ahead."

A beeping sound cut through the air as Cap reached forward to hit a switch. The hologram changed to show an excited Bruce Banner's face. "Ah, if anyone's getting this, we can use a hand!" he called out. "We sort of have...an issue!"

The camera was turned around to show the exterior of the craft as a pack of figures led by a handsome man smashed his spear against the window of the craft. Cap's eyes widened as he recognized the figure. "Namor..."

"Your old war buddy?" Tony asked.

"It's complicated," Steve said as he turned toward the door. "We need to get there fast so I can talk Namor down."

"Sort of end of the world scenario here..."

"And Namor can help, once we get him on board," Steve replied.

Another beeping came through, this time from Carol's suit. She frowned as she touched one of the buttons of her gauntlets. "Maria? What is it?"

The voice that came through was stronger than usual and filled with worry. "Carol? It's Monica. I just got word from an old SWORD friend, she was on a mission and there was some sort of attack. I can't find out more but she's gone missing. I know you have your own shit but..."

"I'm on it," Carol said without hesitation. "Don't worry, Maria, I'll find her." She looked to Tony." Sorry but I owe Maria a lot. If her daughter is in danger..."

Tony sighed and nodded. "Fine, fine, just one of those days."

"I'll come with," Jane volunteered. "Another eye can help." Carol nodded as they moved to the nearest window to fly out. Tony just sighed as he rubbed his temples and wished for a very stiff drink ahead.

"You are a dolliphead."

Dane Whitman blinked at the odd insult coming from the seemingly normal man standing before him. He was still wrestling with the idea this was Merlin of King Arthur fame standing before him but somehow knew it was true. The fact said Merlin also appeared incredibly pissed off at him was adding to the uncertain feeling he had now.

Merlin paced before him, shaking his head. "The Ebony Blade...you just had to unsheathe it. Do you have the slightest conception of what you've done?"

"I do," Dane snapped. "I know the legends, I know the stories, I know..."

"You know nothing, Dane Whitman," Merlin snapped. He took a deep breath to calm himself. "You have just bound yourself to the blade. And the more it draws blood, the deeper the darkness creeps onto your own soul."

"Maybe," Dane said as he lifted it up. "But if it's the only way I can save Sersi...I have to try."

"Trying to use a dark weapon for good never works," Merlin barked. "All it does is corrupt you and turn you into a menace. I've seen it happen before." He rubbed his face. "Idiots, why am I plagued in this time with idiots?"

"Maybe if you didn't automatically consider everyone around you as that might help your attitude," Dane retorted. He glared as he stepped forward. "I am finding her, with or without you. Now, if you want to make sure I don't get corrupted as you feared, keep an eye on me. Train me with this, help me. Or is actually helping people by talking to them something you're not used to?"

Merlin gazed at him and the flicker of respect filled his eyes. "Fine. Let's discuss this later." He waved his hands with a cloud covering them both before they vanished.

The small Queens room was quiet except for the buzz of some computers and the sounds of an old-fashioned sewing machine at work. Peter Parker was by both, checking his work against a set of sketches he'd made earlier and the cloth before him. He tapped on the keys of the computer to show the costume he'd been working on, the spider design more prominent with some streamlined features. "Huh...maybe a bit more red to it...black? Nah, that doesn't fit."

There was a familiar roaring of jets from outside as Peter looked up to see the red and gold metal figure floating in the air by his window. "Hey, kid." Peter saw Tony in his Iron Man armor floating before him. "Missed the meeting. Sort of a big deal."

Peter was quiet for a long moment, tapping his fingers as he rose up from his worktable. "Mr. Stark..."

"We saved the universe, you can call me Tony."

"Tony..." Peter took a deep breath. "I've been...thinking on things and...I think...I need a step back."

Behind his armored mask, Tony frowned. "You're quitting?"

"Maybe more...just taking a break. From the Avengers, not from the hero thing." Seeing Tony staring, Peter took a deep breath. "I've been feeling lately that I'm just taking part in way too big a world. I've been in space, I've died and it's been crazy since. I just...I always wanted to help people, not save the whole damn world."

He looked back at Tony. "Being an Avenger is...amazing. But it's even more of a burden on me. I want to graduate high school...hell, I'd love to just attend prom. I want to help folks locally, the folks you guys are often too busy to. It got to me more seeing that Kate Bishop lady. She just seems ready to jump out of any normal life to be a hero without any powers. She doesn't seem to care of the impact it can have on any normal life. She's ready to give it all up to be an Avenger right on the spot and I just...don't feel that way about the team."

He waved at the suit on the table, the one from Tony that he'd been using for a while. "This...it's a cool suit, Tony it's just...it's not me. I feel more Iron Man Jr than myself."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Tony couldn't help but feel a tad put out although for once, he was reining in his ego.

"I'm just saying...I think I need a break from the team." He looked up at Tony. "I still admire you guys, all of you. You are the best and I hope to live up to your example. But you're also a lot older than me and I'm finally realizing I need a lot more time and training. To be honest, I've been pretty lucky so far but I can't count on that lasting forever."

Peter brushed back his hair. "The world is getting wilder, Tony. The stakes are getting bigger and the Avengers are needed for those. But there are a lot of people who need help every day that you guys can overlook. I know you don't intend to and you'd love to help but you can't be out there all the time. So maybe I can take up the slack there. Instead of saving the whole world, just helping on person avoid a terrible day can be enough."

Iron Man was quiet before speaking. "I get that. I really do. But trying to save everyone? That's pretty much impossible, Pete."

"That doesn't mean I can't try," Peter replied. "Again, this isn't for good. I hope to join full-time one day but when I'm older and more experienced. You've got enough folks to help as is with the world-threatening stuff.. I think it's time I got back to being a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man."

He lifted up the suit and extended it to Tony. "I'm already working on one of my own with some of the same designs. But I'm making it myself, just how I started out. I've always felt better a solo act, Mr. Stark. And I want to be myself again."

Tony cocked his head and chuckled. "Damn, kid. I always knew you had guts but this..." He nodded to Pete. "Keep the ID card, it can still access the Tower if you need it. And anytime you need help, you know where to call us."

"Thanks for understanding...Tony."

"If I can give you one piece of advice, from someone who's made way too many mistakes trying to fix the world? That line of yours, 'with great power comes great responsibility?' That doesn't mean taking on all the responsibility. In other words, don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it."

Peter chuckled. "Aunt May told me the same thing. Guess I do need to let that go a bit."

Not that long ago, Tony would have been arguing this, if not outright bribery to keep Peter on. But he realized this young man had a future before him and interfering with that wasn't right. He'd made too many mistakes trying to use and manipulate people in the past and that included dragging this kid across the world into a fight he barely understood. Hell, he'd seen Peter die in front of him because he was so intent on living up to some vision of Tony that Tony himself didn't think existed. After all that, how could Tony push him into something he didn't want to do?

Instead, he merely nodded and grinned behind his helmet. "Good luck, Pete. Just know whenever you're ready, there's a spot open for you."

Peter nodded as Tony lifted himself up, the suit in his hands and flew off. Peter watched him go before looking back at the suit on the table and got back to his work crafting a new look for himself.

It had been a while since Carol had been to a SWORD facility but it was still the usual high-tech setup utilizing some alien technology alongside the best cutting-edge equipment even Reed Richards would be impressed by. Carol was marching along with Jane and Jennifer behind, her expression stern as she saw a woman stepping up before her. The other woman was attractive and notable for green hair and a matching jumpsuit with green tinted glasses covering her eyes. "Colonel Danvers? Abigail Brand, site director."

"Ah, I get it," Jennifer intoned. "We're doing a spin on the Secret Invasion show and having you look more like comic counterpart."

Brand blinked. "What..."

"Ignore her," Carol said with a wave of her hand. "What's going on?"

Brand turned to lead them down the hallways. "Rambeau has been working on one of our advanced probe labs," she stated. "Remains of an alien probe that crashed here some weeks back, we're trying to figure out from who." She brought them to a room with a pair of guards standing before the door. They stepped aside for Brand to lead the Avengers inside. There were several technicians mingling in the lab in suits, scanning and checking the area. It was notable for a huge hole in the side of the wall not far from a shimmering crystal.

"We had safety protocols up," Brand told them. "But when Rambeau was examining the device, something happened and..." She waved at the wall. "It was some beam of light striking her and she vanished."

Carol looked at the crystal, frowning. "Huh...Looks like part of a Shi'ar jump drive. Funny, they usually stick to their side of the galaxy, not into expansion just yet."

"Oh, God, you're as bad as Thor not mentioning so much alien stuff," Jane complained.

"Sorry," Carol said as she studied the device. "Hmmm...It's possible this could be used for teleportation but not on its own without some kind of focusing program device."

"So someone else scooped up Monica?" She-Hulk asked.

"Looks that way," Carol mused. She held up her suit and tapped some of the wrist panel controls. "Maybe I can get a reading on the energy traces, send them to Tony..."

"You know, we do have a pretty advanced lab here," Brand dryly stated. "And I already knew this was Shi'ar, I'm half alien."

"Remember the days that would have seemed a weird line?" Jennifer asked Jane.

"Good times, I should have relished them more," the physicist agreed. She looked at the crystal, then to the hole in the wall. "Hmmmm...possible that the energy source here is linked to somewhere else and Monica got pulled along."

Carol took that in. "Okay, fine. So no clues yet?"

"We're working on it," Brand snapped.

"Meaning you have an idea and you're not telling us yet," Carol intoned. She continued to scan the area. "Huh...the energy readings here are familiar, know I've seen it before..."

Jane frowned herself as she felt a tingling from Mjolnir. She held the hammer up, seeing it shimmer. "Whoa...It senses something too."

"Does it do that often?" Jennifer asked.

"It does detect energy waves, including by teleportation," Jane mused. She held the hammer up, letting it direct her slowly toward the hole. "Maybe I can use it to get a focus on where this went..."

Carol put a hand on the hammer, shivering a bit at the energies mingling. "This can be tricky..."

She-Hulk's eyes widened as she saw the crystal nearby start glowing. "Um, guys..."

The women looked over at the jump drive as it began shimmering. As it did, the energies around them both also began to increase. "Oh, hell," Carol intoned just before a flash of light covered her and Jane and they vanished without a trace.

Jennifer looked to Brand, raising a green eyebrow. "Well, this is gonna suck on your next performance review."

Brand just gave her an ugly look before muttering something in a language Jennifer was glad she couldn't understand.

Jane had to reflect that getting so used to teleportation travel may not have been the best thing for her life. Sure, it was fun and convenient at times but also a damn annoyance on most occasions. Nonetheless, she went with it, knowing that fighting against such forces could only make it worse. She grit her teeth as she felt herself pulled along, knowing Carol was at her side, yelling with her. Before Jane could reach to her, they were blasted out of the tunnel and landing hard amid a pile of wrecked wood. Both groaned as they sat up, adjusting to the sudden shift of location.

"Oh. My. God."

The pair looked up to see a young girl of perhaps 16 staring at them with an open jaw. She was clad in a latex costume, mostly blue with a gold pattern on the front resembling a large stylized "S". The sleeves were red and what appeared to be a long scarf extending around her neck. Her dark hair and skin showed her to be of Indian descent and the eyes behind her blue mask were as wide as her jaw.

"Um, sorry," Carol said as she got to her feet. "We were a little...pulled off course and..."

"Ohmigodomigodomigodomigod!" The teenager babbled. "You...you're her! You're here! Oh my God, you're really here, I'm not dreaming, am I dreaming, tell me if I'm dreaming!"

A voice came from below them. "Kamala? Are you all right?"

"Mom! Mom, you won't believe who's here!" the girl squealed, by now actually jumping up and down on her heels. She glanced to Jane and moaned. "And Thunderstrike too? Oh, wow...is this...is this an Avengers thing? Am I...am I being asked to try out for the Avengers?!" She swayed and Jane was seriously worried she was about to faint.

The two took a moment to take in their surroundings and realize they were in what looked like a typical teenage bedroom with a bed, desk, dresser and the remains of the closet they'd just crashed through. A look out the window showed they were still in New York, although Jane couldn't quite figure where. It took another moment to see the walls of the room were covered by posters, drawings and more, every one of which was...

Carol. In her suit as Captain Marvel, in her civilian clothing, newspaper clippings, a variety of drawings, some wildly stylized while others were more fanciful, including some showing her standing side by side with the teenager currently hyperventilating before them.

Staring at the massive array of art about her, Carol could only say one thing.

"What the f-"

At the knock of the door, Muneeba Khan opened it, looking as good as usual in her nice green classic Muslim dress. Normally, when one saw a nearly seven-foot-tall woman with green skin standing on their doorstep, they'd be taken aback but Muneeba simply made a short nod. "Come in. I'm guessing you're with the other two?"

"I believe so," Jennifer said as she stepped inside, ducking her head to clear the doorway. She let Muneeba lead her into the living room where Carol and Jane sat on a couch. Before them was a heavyset man in his 40s who nodded at Jennifer. "Hello. Yusuf Khan."

Jennifer nodded to him, then to the costumed girl gawking at her. "She-Hulk, too! Oh, wow, this is like a girl Avengers!"

"Ah, hi," Jennifer nodded. She looked to Carol. "Who…"

"Meet Kamala Khan," Jane intoned, waving a hand at the girl. "President and chief member of the Captain Marvel Fan Club of New Jersey."

Jennifer giggled only to see Jane staring at her. "I'm not kidding, she had cards printed. Honestly, you should see her room, shrine to the Divine Carol."

Jennifer looked the teenager over, noting her costume. "And that includes cosplay? Because, no offense, that's not the best..."

"Um, it's a little more complicated," Kamala intoned. "Just...okay, since the Dusting, something...happened to me. I can't really explain what it is, but I can...um...do things."

Carol raised an eyebrow. "Can you be more specific?"

Kamala took a deep breath and held out her hand. It shimmered with a blueish light as it formed what looked like a larger fist. It shimmered again to form a platform in the air that Kamala stepped on easily supporting her weight.

"Nice," Carol had to note. "How strong are they?"

"Well, they can hold me and at least one other person but it's not like I can test them at a gym," Kamala said as she let the energies fade. "And I'm still figuring out where I got them from. I thought it was this." She held up her arm to show a large bracelet on a wrist. "And maybe tied into a dijin..."

"A dijin?" Jane asked in a dubious voice. "Seriously?"

Jennifer pursed her lips. "Yeah, that does sound silly. Maybe you should laugh about it later with your boyfriend, the Norse God of Thunder while you wield your mystical hammer?" Jane glowered at her as Kamala continued.

"But turns out I'm connected to these guys calling themselves the Clan Destine. It's kinda complicated but seems I inherited some powers from the family line long ago so they took me to some other dimension where I could learn how to use them." Kamala coughed. "It also led to a um, odd 'growth spurt' and that may be hard to believe..."

"Oh, no, that we can," Carol mused. "I'm at least twenty years older than I appear."

"Wow, you look great," Kamala said. "Oh and also tied to those Inhumans guys, I kinda wondered I was a mutant first, but nope, seems it's like that without the Terragenesis thing. So just popped up when I was at a costume party and something went wrong and I saved a classmate and then I just got into the hero thing and am I breaking any laws, am I going to be arrested because that won't help my college applications..."

"Hey, chill out," Carol said, putting a hand on Kamala's arm. "We're not here to arrest anyone."

Kamala stared at the hand on her shoulder. "Captain Marvel is touching me." She looked to her mother. "Mom, you are never washing this outfit."

"I am washing the outfit, Kamala," Muneeba said in a calm voice.

Jane looked to her. "So you know about your daughter doing this?"

The woman scoffed. "Of course. You think she could keep being a superhero quiet under our own roof?"

"You'd be quite surprised."

"So how come we ended up here?" Jane mused.

"The energy waves from the lab do have some traces here," Carol mused after quickly scanning the room. "That can be a connection of some sort to Monica but leaves the question as to what it is."

"Oh, maybe I can call some of the Clan guys!" Kamala quickly offered. "Plus, be so cool working with the Avengers.

Carol sighed again. "Look, kid, we don't know why we ended up here. We were tracking some energies..." On that amazing cue, a shimmer of blue light came over both women. Both of them were startled before, in a flash, they both vanished.

"Kamala!" her parents called out in unison. They then fixed very angry glares at Jane and Jennifer, who suddenly felt like they were naughty kids hauled in front of the principal.

Once more, Carol gasped as she landed hard on her face. She winced as she rose up, brushing at her suit. Kamala was lying face-front as well before uttering a low "oooooooh." She rose up, wincing herself as she looked around her. "Where are we?"

Carol stood with her, looking around the metallic hallways they found themselves in with a unique lighting pattern on the ceiling. "Huh...design looks familiar, can't quite place it." She tapped at her wrist and frowned. "Dammit, something's blocking my comms, can't contact the others."

Kamala was with her, both looking around carefully. "So...is this a team-up? Am I really teaming up with Captain Marvel?"

"This is not a team-up," Carol snapped.

"Because I've written a few fanfics on stuff like this so I have ideas..."

"Just...let me figure this out," Carol said as she checked the hallways around them. "Would have been nice to have Jane with us..."

"Aw, come on, you're Captain Marvel!" Kamala gushed. "What can you not handle?"

"Funny, some folks would think I'd be enjoying this," Carol muttered. She looked Kamala over. "Why me? Why choose me to idolize?"

"Um, why not?" Kamala said. "I mean, look at you! The strongest Avenger, the coolest, you took down Thanos..."

"It was a team effort."

"And so humble too."

"That...is easily the first time in my life anyone has ever accused me of being that." Carol rubbed at her face. "Listen, Kamala…I'm flattered, really, I am. It's just a tad much to realize I'm somehow a role model…"

Kamala skipped ahead to come before Carol and her face was more serious. "Look at me. I'm a teenage Muslim in New Jersey. My parents may be more liberal than others but still a bit much wanting to plan my life out and be 'traditional.' I still get the side eye whenever I go to the mall or at school and whenever some terrorist attack occurs, guess who gets eyes on them? And that was before I gained superpowers." She stepped forward, looking Carol in the eye. "You…you are someone to look up to. To admire. It's not about wanting to be like you because I can't. It's about wanting to live up to your example to not let the world beat you down and tell you what you can be. About sticking to your own person when others judge you by how they think you are. To ignore all those online haters or other jerks and rise above it while helping others. That's why you're my hero."

Carol couldn't help but feel moved by the young woman's words and how much she meant them. "Um...okay, let's just table that for now. We need to find out where we are and a way back." They both heard some footsteps and Carol motioned to a nearby corner for them to duck into. The women looked carefully around the corner as some soldiers in familiar armor marched past them.

Kamala was opening her mouth, but Carol put a hand over it to quiet her, making a "shush" motion with her fingers. She waited a few more moments for the guards to walk on before stepping away. "Kree sentries," she murmured. "Either they're breaking a few treaties by sneaking on Earth...or we're not on Earth."

Kamala's eyes widened. "We're in space?" She broke into a huge grin. "Cooool, my first mission as an Avenger and I'm already in space!"

"You are not an Avenger!"

"Okay, trainee..."

"We don't do trainee programs!"

"Oh so I just join right off?"

"You are in high school!"

"And you don't take in high schoolers?"

"Obviously...okay, there's Spider-Man."

"Spider-Man is in high school?!"

"You! Halt!"

Carol had never been happier to hear an angry Kree soldier in her life. She spun around to let out a blast that took one trooper off his feet. The other was drawing a bead on them when Kamala instinctively threw out her own hand, letting a blueish fist elongate outward to grab him. She tossed him up to the ceiling, then down to the floor in a hard smash.

Carol looked at her, impressed. "Nice."

"Holy crudballs," Kamala whispered. "I just punched an alien."

"Come on, we have to move fast," Carol said, leading Kamala racing down the hallways. They passed some window with Carol pausing to look out and see Earth floating beneath them. "Okay, good news, we're still in Earth orbit."

Kamala stared with wonder at the globe beneath her. "Wow...I've never even gotten out of New Jersey."

"Then this should be a serious step up," Carol intoned. She walked off, then paused and moved to pull a wide-eyed Kamala away from the window. The pair headed down the hallways, pausing before an open doorway. They saw a pair of blue-skinned figures in lab coats exiting, chatting to each other in a language Kamala didn't recognize.

Carol did, scowling and then walking on. Kamala fell behind her. "Wait, aren't we going to get off this ship?"

"They mentioned a human captive," Carol said. "And I've got an idea who it is and why we're here." She burst into the lab, stopping in place so fast that Kamala ran into her. The pair stared at the black-skinned woman lying on the table, clad in a white jumpsuit. Her eyes were shut as a variety of tubes were attached to her body with what looked like some sort of projector set up beside her.

"Monica!" Carol raced to the woman's side looking her over before gently slapping her face. "Monica it's Carol, can you hear me?" The woman gave a light groan but otherwise didn't wake up.

Kamala looked around the lab before focusing on the captive woman. "What are they doing?"

Carol's eyes raked over the tubes and projector. "This setup looks familiar...but can't be..."

A whining sound got their attention, and they spun around to see a figure standing before them. She was an attractive woman, notable for her bright blue skin, black hair and yellow eyes. She wore a familiar jumpsuit, this one mostly red with black streaks, a large rifle held in her hands and her lips pursed into a smirk. "Well, well...look what the Flerken dragged in."

Carol's eyes widened in shock. "Minn-Erva?!" Her eyes raked over the other woman. "How the hell are you still alive?!"

The woman carefully stepped forward, her rifle never wavering from the pair. "Remember that short-range teleportation tech I was always working on? I was a lot further ahead than I led you all to believe. It wasn't long-distance but enough for me to escape the ship before you destroyed it." The smile turned into a scowl. "Only, it led me to be stuck on this miserable planet for thirty years. Having to pose as one of these pink skins to survive, to keep as one of them in science labs. Do you have any idea what it's like pretending to be awed at some of these apes boasting of 'breakthroughs' that are child's play on Hala?"

Carol shook her head. "God, it really is you. Still that ego."

"There's the Badoon calling the Dire Wraith slimy." Minn-Erva glared at her harder. "And then, I was Dusted, finding myself in that strange world to discover you killed the rest of the team, except Yon-Rogg!"

"Yeah, well, they were trying to kill me and ready to burn down Earth so sue me for defending it." Carol crossed her arms defiantly. "Are you really going to rehash old times here, Minn-Erva?"

"No," the woman said as she carefully stepped around to the table holding the captive Monica. "No, in fact, you two are going to help my experiments immensely."

"Yeah, not gonna happen." Carol held up her hands, which glowed with energy. "Minn-Erva, you couldn't beat me when I thought I was a Kree and powers limited. You think you have a chance now?"

"Yeah!" Kamala felt like speaking up. "Nobody can beat Captain Marvel!"

Minn-Erva looked her over and smirked. "Aw, you have a sidekick, how cute." She raised the rifle up, a whine coming from it as it powered up. "You realize it takes one command from me and your friend is going to pay for it."

"Just what are you doing to her?" Carol demanded, trying not to sound uncertain. While Minn-Erva had always been arrogant, her confidence here indicated that she knew something Carol didn't. Her concern was for Monica and Kamala now and playing to Minn-Erva's ego was the best move to buy time.

Minn-Erva's smirk grew. "Never wonder how being around the cosmic aura you have may affect others? Of course not, hard for it to get through that head..."

"Oh, you did not just make a blonde joke."

Minn-Erva went on. "That close contact you've had with her family, that was greater than others. Not to mention experiences with Skrulls in the past. Combine that with her work with that SWORD agency and this woman has been exposed to some unique cosmic energies. All she needs is to have them unlocked."

"And you're going to do it ignoring if she wants it or not," Carol sardonically noted. "Ugh, now I remember why I hated you."

"What's the human word...ditto." Minn-Erva grinned. "Now having you to experiment on is even better. Unlocking that power inside you could be a key to jump-starting the Kree's evolutionary progress." The smile grew. "The fact it'll leave you a corpse is just the bonus."

"Okay, so let's just finish this now." Carol was raising up her hand when a blast of energy suddenly ripped out behind Minn-Erva, striking her dead on. She gasped even through her shield as she looked up to see a handsome blonde-haired man in a familiar green uniform stepping forward. "Ah, hell."

"Carol," Yonn-Rogg said, that damnable smirk on his face. "It's been far too long." He let out another blast, Carol barely able to dodge it while Kamala ducked away, yelling. "You took away everything from me!" he snarled as he fired another blast. "You couldn't give me the honor of killing me, oh, no. Instead, you let me be taken back to Hala in shame, humiliated by a human!" Another blast punctuated his anger. "I had my position and rank stripped from me, assigned to the most backwater parts of the empire, lost and forgotten!"

Carol flew upward, firing a blast but to her shock, Yonn-Rogg seemed to absorb it. He fired back an even stronger blast that sent Carol slamming against a wall. "Then, I was dusted and found Minn-Erva. And we realized one thing we still had in common was a hatred for you."

"And whatever else, thirty years on this planet gave me a lot of time to develop new genetic developments. Which includes boosting Yonn-Rogg's power." Minn-Erva let out a charge from her cannon that combined with Yonn-Rogg's shots to send Carol flying back more.

"Leave her alone!" Kamala yelled, trying to move forward. Yonn-Rogg barely looked at her before firing a shot at her. Kamala instinctively formed a blueish energy shield to protect her as the impact sent her sailing backward against the wall. She grunted as she fell onto her hands and knees.

Carol flew outward, her fist smashing into Yonn-Rogg's jaw. He rolled with the blow, grabbing her by the hair to punch her hard. As Carol gasped, Minn-Erva moved in to smash the butt of her rifle into her jaw then punched her. "I've owed you that for a long time," she hissed.

Yonn-Rogg kicked the fallen Caro in the mid-section so hard that she swore she felt a rib snap. She tried to get up only for Yonn-Rogg to blast her down with another punch laced with bio-energy.

Kamala raised her head, watching as her idol was being trashed, seeing the captive Monica lying on the bed and something in her snapped. Her eyes glowed a brighter blue than ever before as rage fueled the energies inside her.

"Embiggen."

Just as Yonn-Rogg was about to punch, something struck him from behind. He and Minn-Erva turned and stared in shock at Kamala seeming to grow before them. It took a moment to realize that the woman had encased herself in a field of energy like a suit of armor, notable for the elongated arms and fists. She threw them out, sending both of the Kree scattering.

Minn-Erva barked a command into her wrist communicator as alarms blared. As they did, Kamala threw her fists out again, knocking Yonn-Rogg away. The doors opened as several Kree soldiers raced in, firing with their rifles. The blasts hit Kamala's "armor" but she held strong, throwing a wave of blue energy like a scythe to drive the soldiers back. She swung the fists around, the energies smashing through some of the tubes connected to Monica before hitting another pair of Kree back.

Yonn-Rogg rose up, firing a blast from his hands that sent Kamala stumbling back. Minn-Erva was getting to her feet just as Monica's eyes snapped open. Rather than her usual brown orbs, they seemed to glow with bright blue energy. A burst of the same power snapped the bonds holding her to the bed as she rose up, floating off the bed and glaring hard at Minn-Erva. "You..."

Minn-Erva jerked her gun up, only for Monica to unleash her own blast of blue energy from her hands that sent her flying back, the gun falling from her hands. That left her open for Carol to punch her hard with a powered fist.

Carol looked at Monica, her eyes wide. "Are you okay?"

"I….I think so." Monica held up her hands, looking at their blue glow with wonder. "What the hell did she do to me?"

"We can figure it out later but can you handle it?"

A trio of Kree soldiers raced to the room and Monica threw out a hand, a blast of blue knocking all three away. She rushed forward, moving faster than she should have to dodge another guard and drew herself up, smashing her fist into his jaw so hard it took him off his feet.

She looked back at Carol, that smirk reminding her so much of her mother. "I think I got it."

Minn-Erva snarled as she tried to move toward the exit. Before she could, a hand grabbed her and yanked her back as Kamala pulled her away. Minn-Erva fell back, looking up to see Carol, Kamala and Monica standing side by side, each with glowing fists ready to go.

"You realize, of course," Carol said in a hard tone. "Your chances of walking out of here on your own are non-existent."

Minn-Erva barely had time to swallow before the three were on her.

As he saw cracks forming on the window of the sub, Johnny Storm cursed under his breath. "Sure, let's take the guy whose power is flame and put him underwater..."

The Thing was ignoring him, doing his best to handle the sub's progress under the weight of a dozen attackers trying to crush it. Some were pounding it with their weapons while others just used sheer weight to try and bring it down. "Trying to get us back ta the surface, but we've got too many on us!"

Reed stretched his hand out, wrapping it around a switch on the far end of the sub. "I had this set up in case we were attacked by some hostile underwater creatures..."

"News flash, Stretcho! We are!"

Reed pulled on the switch as the outside of the sub crackled with several thousand volts of electricity. The Atlantean soldiers cried out in pain and fell back, spinning and floating in the water. The Thing moved quickly, yanking on the controls to send the sub out as fast as he could. Behind them, Bruce Banner was busy taking deep breaths, knowing that losing control like this was the worst possible thing.

Johnny looked at the cameras mounted in the back, his eyes widening. "Guys, believe it not, they're following!" Sure enough, the soldiers were giving chase with Namor in the lead, his eyes narrowed as he kept up with the craft. The Thing hit another switch to fire up the sub's engines as he ducked it lower, allowing a huge cloud of mud to rise from the ocean floor and blind the pursuers.

Ben threw the sub into a long arc heading back up to the surface. They burst out of the ocean, bobbing for a bit as the group got their bearings. Ben immediately sent them toward a set of atolls nearby as Reed clicked on the communicator. "I have an SOS to SHIELD and other groups now!"

"Avengers should be on their way," Bruce intoned. "We just need-"

The rest was lost as Namor erupted from the ocean before them, his spear held high over his head. He landed on the front of the sub and jammed the spear deep into it, piercing it right through. The sub shook hard as Namor hovered in the air, the wings at his ankles flapping furiously. He managed to hold onto the spear, grunting with effort as he used momentum to send it spinning around and onto the rocky beach of one atoll.

The FF and Bruce were scattered about by the sudden impact. Getting to his feet, Johnny glared out. "That's it...Flame on!" He burst into flame and flew outward, igniting a blast of fire at Namor, who barely dodged it. Johnny kept it up, tossing literal fireballs at Namor. The man managed to smack one back with his spear while dodging another.

Seeing the sweat on the man's brow, Johnny smirked. "So the fish man can't stand being out of water huh? Well, when it's time to turn on the heat, I'm the guy!" He let out more blasts of fire that Namor dodged. Faster than Johnny could expect, the other man flew out to tackle him. Johnny was startled more by the move as tackling someone on fire seemed an insane idea. Indeed, Namor was hissing in pain before the pair slammed into the water, instantly extinguishing Johnny's flame and leaving Namor with a great advantage.

Namor looked down at Johnny, who was fighting the urge to open his mouth and gasp. "I knew Jim Hammond, boy," Namor said, his voice carrying clearer in the water. "I may not have always liked him, but at least he wasn't the fool with his powers you are."

Just as Johnny was about to pass out, a pair of long blue-clad arms reached around Namor and yanked him away. Namor grunted as he was pulled to the surface, turning around to see Reed holding him up. "Sir," Reed began in a calm voice. "We did not come for a fight but..."

Namor growled. "You surface dwellers have asked for a war for years!"

"We barely know about you!"

"Ignorance is no excuse." Namor managed to twist himself out of Reed's grasp. He threw out his spear only for it to be blocked by an invisible shield. Namor turned to see Susan standing on the sub, her arms extended and face glowering. "So you're going to war against us?"

"Humans have been our enemies for centuries." Namor paused as he looked Sue over and raised an eyebrow. "Although if many of them were as beautiful as you, I might have reconsidered..."

Susan scoffed. "Are you seriously hitting on me after you tried to drown my brother?"

Namor smirked. "You shall be a notable prize..."

"Not today." Susan threw out her hands to send a wave of invisible energy at Namor. He dodged it as Johnny managed to swim to shore, gasping for breath. Reed was also rising up when he saw a blue-skinned female with dark hair leaping to the beach a mask over her face to hold in water. "Cousin, stop playing about with the surface female!" she snapped in her native tongue.

Namor glared. "Namora, you may be blood but I am your ruler! For now, dispose of them!" Namora nodded as she moved in. Behind her, other Atlanteans rose to the surface, led by a beefy figure in armor. "Attuma, aid her!" Namor called to the commander, who nodded.

A sudden loud and guttural bellow echoed through the air. All eyes turned to a huge green fist smashing through the roof of the sub. In seconds, the Hulk was leaping out of the sub and landing hard on the beach, scattering the blue-skinned attackers. "Hulk Smash!"

"It's clobbering time!" The Thing joined in as the two waded into the fray. The Thing smacked Atlantean soldiers around like bowling pins while the Hulk blasted Namor with a savage punch. Amazingly, Namor was able to take it and punched right back. The Hulk seemed surprised before grinning as the two were soon wrestling about.

There was a familiar blast of light and thunder as Thor arrived with the Black Panther and Captain America in uniform. He threw out his shield, letting it bounce off the heads of a half-dozen Atlanteans before striking Namor in the back. He spun around and stopped as he took in the figure before him. "Rogers," he intoned. "It truly is you."

"Been a while, Namor," Steve said as the shield returned to him. Namor landed on the beach, holding up a hand and barking out an order. The Atlantean soldiers stopped their fighting, curious to what their ruler was up to. "I had hoped this would be a more friendly reunion."

"You were away for a long time, Captain," Namor intoned. "Things got worse for my kingdom." He settled his spear beside him as the Hulk looked put out at the idea of the fight ending. "So now I will fight to keep my land safe."

Captain America sighed. "Namor...I won't pretend to know what you've been through all these years. But the man I remember had some honor and knew better to war on the surface world."

"They began the war, Captain. I will merely defend our people. And as much as I may respect you...you are still a common surface dweller. You cannot understand my responsibilities as a king."

The Panther carefully walked forward, his mask flowing to show his face. "Let us speak then. King to King." He looked Namor and his troops over, raising an eyebrow. "Even for one who thieves from us..."

"We do not steal," Namora barked.

"Really?" T'Challa pointed to their armor. "That is Vibranium, which is found only in Wakanda."

Namor smirked. "Really, Panther-man. I thought you intelligent. Did your people truly believe that piece of rock only hit a single land-mass on this entire planet? We were mining it long before your kind crawled out of their caves." He stood taller to face T'Challa. "I respect you, Wakandian, and your people. But I have seen too many surface dwellers use our lands for their own purposes."

T'Challa kept calm, despite being taken aback at the realization vibranium existed outside of Wakanda. "Nonetheless...we are facing a threat to this entire planet, which includes your realm. So perhaps cooperation suits you better now."

Namor tapped his spear on the ground. "This from a man who chose to reveal the secrets of his paradise to the world and make it a target. I would not make such a mistake."

"Hiding from the world does your people no good either," T'Challa replied. "Had Wakanda opened itself up long ago, it might have changed much for the better."

Namor seemed unsure as Cap stepped forward. "Namor...The world changed around us, you know that. But you have to know this is a war you can't ever hope to win."

Namor smirked. "I have more soldiers than there are grains of sand on this island, Captain. And you cannot comprehend the forces I can raise around land masses my kingdom surrounds." He leaned forward on his spear. "But...tell me more of this supposed threat...and perhaps then I will consider if it is my place to aid you."

Johnny was sputtering as he came out of the water, brushing at his suit. Susan was holding up a hand to stop her brother as she glared at Namor, who seemed to simply smile at her. "And if she is a guest with us...I might be more persuaded."

Reed was frowning deeply at that as Attuma and Namora shared glances. "My King," Attuma stated. "Are you certain..."

"Pull back our forces. For now." Namor looked back at Captain America. "But be warned, Captain...I had best not have my time wasted." He lifted up his spear as he began marching back toward the water. "I shall meet you in New York, as much as I dislike approaching that miserably polluted place you claim is civilization." With that, he ducked into the water and was swimming at high speed in moments.

Thor looked to Steve. "Is he always like this?"

Cap smiled softly. "Actually...I'd say he's mellowed pretty well."

As the blast of light faded around them, Thunderstrike, She-Hulk and Rescue were all instantly alert and ready for anything. "Anything" did not count Carol, Kamala and Monica sitting around a table, sharing some drinks while a pack of unconscious Kree were scattered around them. Minn-Erva was hanging from the ceiling with several parts of it wrapped around her and gagged to boot. Yonn-Rogg was lying near her, looking just as bound and annoyed.

"Hey, guys," Caro announced as she saw them. "Thanks for coming!"

"Yeah, managed to track down the energy pattern," Jane said as they stepped forward amid the unconscious soldiers.

"And we got plenty of encouragement from a very angry pair of parents," Jennifer added.

"Sooooo...you've been busy," Thunderstrike noted.

"Yep, handled it okay." Carol waved to Monica. "Oh by the way, she's got powers now." Monica nodded back, holding up a hand to let it glow brightly.

The other three women just accepted that with nods. "Ah...so...guess no need for a rescue," She-Hulk noted. She looked at Pepper. "Which means your name remains an odd misnomer." Pepper rolled her eyes.

"No, but we could use a ride home," Carol noted, nodding to Kamala, who gave a wave of her own. "And call up someone to handle these guys."

Minn-Erva was mumbling something as Carol reached up to yank down the gag. "Yes?"

"You...you have no idea how you're going to regret this!" Minn-Erva snarled. "When I get hold of you..."

Carol shoved the gag back into her mouth and shook her head. "Yeah, still annoying." She paused to study Minerva. "Huh...weird. You remind me so much of someone, can't quite place it..."

She looked over at the others. "Sooooo, are we in Earth orbit still?"

"Those SWORD guys are already on their way," Jane said. "We can let them figure out what to do about these guys."

"Looks like I'm going to need time in a lab to figure this out," Monica said, looking at her glowing hands. "Not my fave idea..."

Carol bit her lip before speaking. "Okay, may regret this but...why don't you follow us to the Tower? We've already got some big brains there working on stuff, they can check you out. And I trust Hank and Reed Richards a lot more than those SWORD guys."

Monica raised an eyebrow. "Hmmm...why not?" She took another drink from her glass. "I do need to call my mom, let her know I'm okay."

"She'll be worried still." Carol shook her head. "She's the one with cancer and concerned on everyone else."

"That's Mom for you." Monica looked at her glowing hand and smiled. "This can be...interesting. If nothing else, can help me with dreams of becoming an astronaut." She held up a finger. "Does not mean I'm joining the Avengers."

"No prob," Carol smiled at her.

"Um, Captain Marvel..."

"No, Kamala, you can't join. Talk to us when you're 18."

"But I have my own card!"

"Oh, for God's sake..."

Captain America stood by the balcony as Iron Man flew back, landing easily with the suit flowing off him. "Peter's not with you?"

"It's a bit complicated, I'll explain later." Tony followed Steve into the main meeting room. He saw Namor sitting in a chair, somehow able to make it look like a throne, his spear still in hand. He raised an eyebrow at Tony before returning his gaze toward Susan, who was doing her best to ignore him.

"This is the home of Earth's mightiest heroes?" Namor sniffed. "I'm still waiting to be impressed."

Thor looked to Jane. "Was I really this bad once?" Her nod made him wince.

Tony looked over to Steve. "We hear from Strange?"

"I tried," the Falcon spoke up. "That Wong guy answered, said some lady named Clea showed up and dragged Strange into another dimension and that's as far as I could take before hanging up."

"Scratch the magic man, then." Tony looked over toward Namor. "So, Fishman-" Tony began. That was as far as he got before he found the tip of the spear pointed right in his face. "Never use such flippancy with me, human," Namor snapped. "I am a king of a land more vast than you can imagine. You are a man in a metal suit. Never forget which of us is the better."

He moved back as Tony just pursed his lips. "Well, we're off swimmingly." Namor glared at him as Tony lifted up his hands. "Not intentional, not intentional!"

Carol headed into the room with the Beast at her side. "Thanks again for agreeing to take a look at Monica."

"My pleasure," McCoy told her, adjusting the glasses on the tip of his blue-furred nose. "The abilities she has are quite intriguing. Energy manipulation not too different from yours but also a few other powers she's barely scratched the surface of."

"My big worry is breaking this to Maria," Carol said. "Learning her daughter may be a super-heroine isn't quite what she's expecting."

"I'm also interested in that young Kamala. I wonder if her abilities are some sort of mutation or combined with some mystical powers."

"I'll leave you to talk to her about that. Frankly, the less I'm around her, the better she won't be hyperventilating to mar any testing. Let her and Cassie swap stories on how it is growing up in another dimension and be the weirdest sleepover "

Ajax was by the main table, her arms crossed. "I understand you've had your distractions," she announced. "But we need to focus on getting my people back and why Zeus wants them."

"And how does Galactus play into it," Eros mused. "It's all connected somehow but..."

A loud booming sound echoed from outside. All eyes turned toward the monitors to see a craft floating before the Tower with a single figure standing atop it. His arms were crossed, his green cape flowing in the wind as he stood with a regal bearing. Somehow, it was as if the metal mask covering his face was glowering at them.

"Aw, fer, just what we needed!" The Thing complained.

Reed let out a tired sigh as he saw the figure. "I should have known he'd be arriving..."

The figure seemed to stare right into the cameras as he called out. "Are you going to let me in or not, Stark? Doom is not one to be kept waiting."

Consciousness slowly flowed into her as Sersi opened her eyes. She groaned as she tried to sit up only to realize she couldn't quite move. It took a few moments to realize her hands were bound behind her in manacles, another moment to realize that she couldn't use her powers to transform them into dust.

She looked around her, seeing her fellow Eternals likewise bound in various ways. Notably, Thena was double-bound, as if knowing how dangerous she could be while Gilgamesh was locked down tighter. Druig had not just manacles but a metallic gag set over his mouth, his eyes glowering outward. In contrast, Ikaris simply had his hands bound as he nodded to Sersi. "Good to see you again."

"Um...yes," she said, having little idea what to say to her former lover. She looked around, taking in their surroundings and her voice caught in her throat. It looked like she was in a massive chamber, larger than a football stadium. Risers were set all around for thousands of seats although they appeared to be empty at the moment. It was notable how she seemed to be on some sort of floating platform with clouds across the windows before her along with architecture and artwork that was clearly not of Earth or any planet she could imagine.

A booming sound made her look before her. Standing atop a special platform, set higher than theirs, were several of the Olympians, each looking quite intense, Hercules in their center. "Welcome to Olympus, you would claim to be gods," he intoned. "Now prepare for the real thing."

There was a loud blast of lightning and thunder echoing throughout the chamber. Bolts of lightning streaked about, flowing in bright flashes of golden power. They finally came together with a tremendous crash of thunder and a cloud of smoke. It faded to show a heavyset but powerful men in golden armor and a white toga, his bearded face showing his power as he held one lightning bolt over his head.

"Behold," Hercules announced. "My father, the King of the Gods...Zeus!"

The god looked down at the Eternals and raised his eyebrows. "So...you are they," he said in a thick accent. "The Eternals...the basis of myths and legends that seem to have supplanted us..."

Sersi licked her lips before doing her best to rise up. "Sir...we have never intended harm upon your people or this world..."

"Intended?" Zeus raised an eyebrow. "I cannot count how much damage has been inflicted in this world by those who never intended for it. And you...you can't even imagine how much damage you have done without your knowing of it."

He leaned forward, gazing at them. "For too long, my people have stayed away from mortal affairs. I thought it best, let the world go on, try to let humanity decide for themselves." He paced before them. "That was, to my people, a blink in time. So when I finally gazed upon the world...I saw how far humanity had fallen."

His face darkened. "We are nothing but myth. No followers, no worshippers except among the mad. Now, they have these...'super heroes' to look up to, to inspire. Once I had armies praying to Ares." He nodded to the war god. "Scholars to Athena, lovers to Aphrodite and so on. And now...now, we have nothing.

But that will change. We will make humanity remember us. Fear us. And it will begin when these damnable 'heroes' fall from the skies."

He returned his gaze to the Eternals. "But that is for the future. For now, the issue is you. You and the damned Emergence that is coming. That can cost me a world of followers. I need to stop it and you will help me." His eyes glowered with lightning. "Or you shall die."

Ikaris slowly stood to his feet. "Ikaris," Sersi called out with worry in her voice. "Don't..."

He gave her a look, one almost apologetic before stepping forward carefully. "Great, he's gonna get us all killed..." Sprite muttered.

Zeus just watched impassively as Ikaris marched and stood before the floating platform. He flexed his arms and his manacles shattered loose. Hercules was alert but Zeus simply raised a hand to forestall him as Ikaris floated upward until he was eye to eye with the god. They stared at each other for a long moment before Ikaris spoke.

"This was not what we agreed to."

Zeus smirked. "Oh?"

"I told you I would get them together," Ikaris continued. "I told you I could gather them, this attack wasn't needed."

"Yes, forgive me if I don't take the word of one ready to betray his own kind," Zeus dryly stated.

Ikaris's eyes flared but a look at the other gods standing by Zeus made him return them to his original color. "I needed more time."

"Time, little man, is not as forgiving as I am."

"Ikaris?" Thena gasped, her face carrying the same shock as the others. Even Druig was wide-eyed looking up at him. Sersi couldn't form any words at all, just saying at her former lover with shock and betrayal over her face.

"What have you done?" Gilgamesh hissed.

Ikaris looked back at them and seemed truly contrite. "I have done...what was needed to be done. To make up for the lies and for being used." He looked out as if seeing something. "All our millennia on this planet and what have we accomplished? They remain savages, ready to tear each other apart and unprepared for what is to come."

He looked back to Zeus. "This world requires a new order. A new control. And I can hope that the rest of you understand that."

Thena snarled in a long-dead language as Sersi shook her head. "This...this isn't you."

Ikaris looked back at her. "It is me at last, Sersi. And I hope you accept Zeus' offer. Because one way or another..." He moved to float to the platform and settled down right next to Hercules. "It is time for the true gods to command this planet."

It had been centuries since Sersi felt her heart and blood chill as much as the smile on Zeus' face did to her now and that chuckle that echoed like thunder across the cosmos.

Dane looked around the house, musing to himself. "Not what I expected."

Merlin was stepping around the home, the Ebony Blade suspended in the air above a table. "One has to flex with the times," he intoned. He studied the Blade, sighing. "Dammit, the bond is stronger than I anticipated..."

"Just how dangerous can it be to use?" Dane pressed. "Because if it's all that can help me save Sersei, I have to try."

Merlin glared at him. "Spirits, and I thought Arthur was headstrong." He shook his head. "We're dealing with gods, Dane Whitman. It's not something we can just handle on our own." He raised an eyebrow. "Unless you know a direct line to one."

"Will a collect call do?"

The two men whirled around to see a figure stepping into the room. He was a handsome man with a slight beard, dressed in simple clothes, albeit a slightly nervous manner. "How did you get in here?" Merlin barked. "There's no way anyone can break through my wards!"

"Well, I'm not just anyone," the man intoned. "In fact, I'm not just one guy." He smiled. "I'm sorry, name's Steven Grant. At least, right now it is."

"That doesn't explain why you're here," Merlin snapped, moving ahead of the table with his hands crafting a fireball.

Steven held up his hands. "Um, yeah, it's a little...complicated." He took a deep breath as a flowing motion came over his body. It warped around him, crafting what looked like a nearly solid white suit with a mask over his head, marked by glowing white eyes and a half-moon insignia on the forehead.

"Howdy," he spoke up, the muffled voice now carrying an American accent. "Marc Spector, pleased to meet ya."

"What...the hell?" Even with his own experiences, this was throwing Merlin off. It was even worse for Dane, who was still trying to understand this world. "Who..."

Spector looked at him, then to Dane and stroked his chin. "Huh, maybe not the right look. Okay then." Once more, the suit flowed around him, now transformed into a white costume with the same moon insignia on the chest, a cape flowing behind him and a hood covering his masked head.

Merlin and Dane exchanged baffled looks as the man stepped forward. "Call me Moon Knight. And if you need a connection to some gods...I'm your men."

So a few new players in this game and a better idea of what Zeus wants. Hopefully, not as long for the next update. Thanks to Marcus S. Lazarus and L1701E for ideas on this.