Celestial Navigation

By Michael Weyer

The figure standing in the middle of the briefing room commanded attention. It wasn't even deliberate, it just happened. He stood with arms clasped behind his back, studying the holographic globe floating before him. The light of it reflected on his metallic mask, his eyes the only part of his anatomy that could be seen, cold and solid as they took in the readouts. The green cloak and cape flowed behind him as the armor gleamed in the light, a mix of high-tech science and regal bearing that guaranteed Doctor Victor Von Doom commanded any room he stepped into.

"And so," Reed concluded. "We believe the tremors felt globally are linked to this Celestial."

For a long moment, Doom was silent before speaking, his voice calm even through the metal mask, without the electronic scrambling Tony used. "Congratulations, Richards. You've just wasted twenty minutes detailing matters Doom was already quite aware of."

Reed frowned. "Then why-"

"I was ascertaining just how little knowledge you had gained. Thank you for surpassing my meager expectations." Doom turned to face the group. "At least you are finally open to hearing from one with some actual insight to take charge of this endeavor."

"Take charge?" Tony snorted. "Sorry, you know whose tower you're in? You know a man's home is his castle?"

"He probably does," Ant-Man said. "After all, his home is a castle."

Doom faced Ajax. "So your 'Eternals' have walked our world for thousands of years and yet sought not to rule us? That appears a waste."

Ajax returned his gaze. "We are not claiming to own the world." She paused and shrugged. "We're simply good landlords."

"Hmph," Doom responded. "Still so much power, so much experience and wisdom and what has come of it? One of you is a professor, another with her mind broken, others are in self-exile and then there is the one indulging in mindless film drivel for the masses." He stepped forward to study her. "Such potential in you, enough to change this planet and you do not use it. Most…curious." His tone indicated he truly was baffled at understanding her viewpoint on not ruling.

"Maybe unlike some people I could name," Susan Storm piped up. "She doesn't think the world revolves around her."

"I do not believe the world revolves around Doom, Susan." The armored man shrugged. "I merely ensure it takes that rightful trajectory." Behind him, Johnny was rolling his eyes while making a "yadayadayada" motion with his hands.

Doom turned to Stark. "I suppose if I must educate you lot to the realities of the situation, I should begin. I am aware of this Celestial seed, which is currently dormant but signs it could awaken. Exterminating it would be...difficult but doable."

"What about the effects that can have on the universe?" Ajax asked. "Celestials are part of the universal plan. One alone can birth thousands of possible worlds."

"Hmmm..." Tony made a show of holding his hands up and down like they were scales. "X number of planets that could be birthed in the future versus seven billion people living on this world right now and Y amount that could live in the following centuries." He finally raised one hand up high. "Think I know where we fall on this."

Ajax sighed. "I agree Earth needs to survive but eliminating a Celestial can have ramifications you can't fathom."

"We'll risk it."

"Ah, yes, strike at the heart and hope it kills the beast," Doom intoned. "At least if I were to steal fire from the gods, I would wear gloves."

The Thing rolled his own eyes. "Ugh, the ego's gotten even worse since college, Vic."

"And you are even less of a concern to Doom than before, Grimm."

"Oh, great, he's already going third-person talk…"

Carol was looking Doom over. "You may think you're superior here…"

"I do not think, I believe."

"But you have no conception of how small you can be to the rest of the universe."

"On the contrary, Captain Danvers. Doom is quite aware of his place in this universe and it is far greater than you can surmise."

"Someone's drunk on the alcohol of 'me,'" She-Hulk mused.

Namor was still lounging on his chair, absently tapping his trident on the table. "So this is how you surface dwellers do it. Bickering and arguing amid petty insults." He sniffed. "I am remembering why I cut off contact with your kind after the war."

"Yes, you are quite impressive hiding away under the oceans and letting the world consider you myth," Doom stated. He nodded at T'Challa. "And your nation, sitting upon the most valuable mineral on the planet and concealing yourselves away rather than take your place among the powers of the world. Do you have any conception of what Latveria could do with just a fraction of your Vibranium?"

"Perhaps my ancestors were wrong hiding away for so long," T'Challa allowed, his mask off as he faced Doom. "But I seek to aid the world, not to conquer it."

Doom let out a sigh. "A man of such intellect and drive, held back by morality. How sad yet predictable."

T'Challa narrowed his eyes. "I am hopeful, Doom, that you are not looking down upon me for my race…"

Doom's eyes flared behind the mask. "You dare?! Doom is no bigot, Panther!"

"Hate ta say it but he's actually right there," the Thing was forced to admit. "Whatever else about Doomsie, he doesn't consider anybody inferior cause of the color of their skin."

"Nah," Johhny intoned. "He just considers himself superior because they're not him. He's an equal opportunity egotist there."

Namor smirked. "He is not my superior."

"Oh, but I am, Atlantean. Or shall I count how many of your precious soldiers could be effective lacking their special suits? A microwave beam would be enough to render your precious 'numbers' mere chattel."

Namor was on his feet, gripping his trident tighter. "Do not presume to believe you can threaten me, human! I am a prince of the blood!"

"And I have royalty in my veins with my heritage," Doom returned, not looking the least bit impressed. "Do not dismiss me as you would these others."

Tony stepped forward. "Listen, I get tempers are sharp and all-"

"Silence, Stark. This is a discussion for true royals, not pretenders." Even Reed had to take a bit of satisfaction at the way Tony looked put out at this.

Captain America was the next to step in. "Listen, Doom. We don't like you being here. I can respect your standing as a leader, even if you don't share the same feeling…"

"Oh, I respect you far more than you can imagine, Captain. After all, we are both the faces of our nations." Steve wasn't sure if that should be taken as a compliment or an insult.

Carol clapped her hands. "If we can get back to the potential end of the world coming…"

Reed nodded as he tapped on the pad and brought back up the globe, now highlighted by flashing lights. "We've been triangulating the patterns for the tremors, hoping to focus on the source…"

"And as of yet, found nothing. Of course." Doom faced the globe again. "Hmmm…The Eternals are somehow linked to this Celestial. Finding them would be critical to stopping it from emerging."

"Which means finding Olympus," Thor pointed out. "Which is difficult to say the least."

"Only to those who do not know the proper pathways."

Thor raised an eyebrow. "We have been used to inter-dimensional travel for eons before your race, Doom. You believe you can succeed better?"

"I have been studying the remnants of the trans-dimensional portal you so inventively call the 'Rainbow Bridge.'"

"How?" Jane demanded. "We've been trying for months and unable to figure it out!"

"Ah, Dr. Foster," Doom faced her. "I was hoping we would meet. I have read your work, somewhat insightful. Naïve and unfocused but promising." As Jane glared, Doom looked back to Thor. "I have been able to find ways to navigate these spatial pathways better than you."

"How?" It was Reed's turn to demand this. "I've attempted to aid Thor in connecting to those spatial pathways via portals and other equations and I've been stymied!"

"Yet again, Richards, you limit yourself," Doom intoned in that smug voice of his. "You still believe science alone can discover all the answers when magic allows me to succeed."

"You're mixing magic and science together for the Rainbow Bridge?" Thor shook his head. "That can be madness."

Doom absently waved a hand. "It would be madness if I could not do it. As it is, I am simply ambitious."

Tony moved toward him. "So you think you can get us to Olympus?"

"Stark, when you say 'think' as if you believe it is an insult, you merely belittle yourself."

"Wow, nice on the ego, Vic. I'll remember that the next time one of your attempts at world takeover fails."

"Doom never fails, Stark. Setbacks can be overcome, but I never endure failure."

Tony looked to Reed who gave a nod. "Yes, he's always been like this."

Captain America stepped forward. "Doom, you can toss your ego around as you want." He pointed at the armored face. "But we know who you are. You're in this just to see how it affects Latveria and then take advantage of the situation." His eyes narrowed. "We don't have time to prepare for whatever scheming you have in mind. So we'll allow you to help but you have to abide by our rules."

Doom's eyes flashed with actual amusement. "'Allow' me? How droll, Captain." He crossed his arms. "But be assured, Doom shall aid you…because he wishes to."

Ajax's feelings about the future of her people were taking a severe hit. Despite that, she felt the need to speak up. "We have to be ready for Olympus. I've avoided them for this long but they may still target me."

"Zeus would want to complete the full set," Thor agreed. "Finding her a place of safety is key."

"With Strange gone, we're limited there," Falcon noted.

"Wakanda," Black Panther immediately said. "We can protect her best."

Captain America nodded in agreement. "Right, find a way to get her there fast and the rest of us will keep up on things here."

"I shall accompany you," Doom intoned.

Panther glared at him. "You believe I would allow you into our kingdom? To give you our secrets?"

"Secrets? T'Challa, I knew the truth about Wakanda before anyone else. That I did not reveal it to the world should say much." Doom raised an eyebrow under the mask. "Surely, a diplomatic visit is not uncalled for."

"If you wish so, make it a formal request, not a demand."

"When Doom demands, Panther, you will know it."

As much as getting Doom out of here would be a benefit to Tony's peace of mind, he felt a "keep your enemies closer" approach was best. He glanced at Reed, who nodded, instantly knowing what Tony wanted. "I suppose it couldn't hurt. Even if I may be a bit stymied, I'm sure I can figure out how to copy Victor's work. Perhaps even improve on it."

If there was one thing that hadn't changed about Doom since college (and, in fact, had gotten much worse), it was that all one had to do was play on his immeasurable ego to get something done. Sure enough, Doom's head whipped around so quickly that the servos in his armor whined. "Improve on my work? Richards, I must congratulate you on your pride growing more." He stepped forward. "I shall thus stay here to ensure things are done right."

"Okay, that's handled, what kind of pizza you like?" Tony's joke naturally fell flat as Captain America let out a long sigh.

There were some places in Olympus that even the gods preferred not to visit. Tartarus had to be one of them.

It was a dismal place, the massive rock outcroppings mixed with bridges crossing the colossal chasms with bottomless pits. There was no sunlight, merely illumination from the burning lava and the wails of the damned echoed along with the never-ending heat. Strangely, there was also a chill in the air at the same time, areas blazing with light and then near pitch darkness. It was as close to Hell as anyone wanted to avoid.

The Eternals had been through a lot of pain over the millennia, scores of agony and exploits that would kill any normal person. Yet it was still a new and unpleasant experience to be imprisoned within this hell. Each was suspended in a separate unique cage, specially designed to combat their abilities. Makkari was held in a statis beam, unable to do more than mildly vibrate. For a woman used to running at the speed of light, it was epic torture.

The rest weren't much better off, each bound in separate cages, designed not only to negate their powers but make their stays quite painful. Sersi hissed at the agony of once more trying to transmute the bars of her cage only for it to shock her hard. She slumped back, taking some deep breaths as he looked to Sprite, who kicked at the side of the bubble around her.

The doors to the chamber opened and entered a nearly bald man clad in a suit of purple armor with cape. His lips turned upward as he took in the prisoners. "I must say," Hades began. "It has been far too long since I had a collection of guests of such pedigree." He smiled at Thena, held in what looked like a medieval straightjacket, binding her to a degree she could barely breathe, let alone be able to fight. "Hephaestus and I rarely get along but he rather enjoyed the challenge of crafting bonds proper for you all."

He circled around the various cages, bubbles and other types of imprisonment, seeing Gilgamesh and Kinjo bound together so if Gilgamesh tried to flex out of it, he'd tear his fellow Eternal apart. "To think on what…pleasure…I can bestow upon you all and know you can take it." He chuckled. "I haven't felt such happiness in centuries."

"They are not to be harmed." Hades turned as Ikaris entered, his face stern. "I never wanted this for them."

"Father Zeus has a way of undermining whatever you desire," Hades stated, showing no intimidation at Ikaris. "And be aware of where you step, Eternal. This is my domain, not yours."

Ikaris looked to the other Eternals, his face drawn. "May I…speak to them?"

Hades chuckled. "Oh…oh, you actually think they want to listen to you?" He paused and shrugged. "Oh, why not? I don't get to enjoy many laughs here."

Ikaris brushed past him to look at the other Eternals, coming in front of Sersi. He licked his lips before speaking. "I need you to understand…"

"What?" she snapped. "Betrayal? Of your family? Of…me?" She choked the last part out.

Ikaris sighed deeply. "Sersi…What has changed? What have we truly accomplished in all our centuries on this world?" He looked to where Phastos was bound to a chair. "You gave them the technology to advance and did they use it to create an energy source to solve their needs? No, they created a weapon to wipe cities off the map. Then they spend decades running their planet for nothing but greed."

He turned back to Sersi. "We gave them millennia to learn and change and they never do. Zeus was the same. Now he knows, humanity cannot govern itself. So someone else has to step in."

She shook her head. "That's not what we're for, Ikaris. It's not our purpose to rule. Even Druig knows that."

"Didn't know you'd care," Druig muttered, his voice muffled by the helmet slapped upon his entire head that flowed into the casket-like container holding him.

Sersi ignored him to focus on Ikaris, looking in his eyes to try and see the man she'd cared for. "Ikaris…you can't trust Zeus."

"It's not about trust, Sersi. It's about how we need each other." He paused and stepped forward. "I wanted to come to you all first. To present my case, make you realize how this can be good for us all." He shook his head. "Sersi…you don't know the truth. About us. About the Emergence, about what we're really here for."

"And I'm to believe anything you say?" She snapped. "You betrayed us, Ikaris."

"No. Ajax got there first." He straightened up. "I want this to work, Sersi. I do. I had hoped you could all join me of your own accord."

"Perhaps coming to ask first might have been better?" Kinjo threw in from his cell. "Ugh, all these centuries and still so damnned headstrong."

Ikaris glanced at him. "You, of all of us, Kinjo, are a total waste. An actor? That's what you want to do with your existence?"

"At least I help bring some joy to the world," Kinjo fired back with more steel than he usually showed. "You call it frivolous, I prefer to think of it as a service, a distraction for a few hours from the pains of the world. I can fill someone with hope, with joy and perhaps even inspire them to be a creative force for change on their own. I offer happiness. What have you done but crush those of us?"

It was a far more emotional speech than anything Kinjo had ever made in the movies and the fact he meant every word of it made it stronger. Ikaris appeared a bit shaken even as he tried to brush it off to look back at Sersi, licking his lips. "We can…we can do this together…"

She fixed him with a hard glare. "And betray this world? If you don't know my answer already…then I guess we never knew each other at all."

Ikaris gazed at her before turning on his heel to walk away. "I will speak about your release," he threw over his shoulder. "Zeus can be…reasonable."

It was just as well he didn't see the evil grin Hades made at that later line.

In his long centuries of life, Merlin had run into a few people he'd characterize as rather strange. It was an accusation hurled at him enough, so he was used to it. He could handle a variety of wizards, demons and other bizarre creatures with little issue. For him, a discussion with gods wasn't that out of the realm of the unnatural.

So it said a lot that this Moon Knight was throwing Merlin off his game dramatically.

He and Dane were following the white-garbed figure leading them through the torch-filled hallway. He was humming a tune to himself, having once more taken on the suit-like persona with the mask rather than the caped attire he had before. That his persona also seemed to shift was adding to the worry Merlin had over this.

"Sorry for the odd detour," he was throwing over his shoulder as he led the pair down the hallways. "It's been a bit harder getting to this place after an...incident a bit back." He looked over to Merlin. "Sure you'd relate."

"Why?" Merlin snapped.

"Come on, I know your history," Moon Knight said. "Do I need to bring up the dragon you had chained up in your basement?"

"A what where?" Dane blurted, still getting used to all this.

Ignoring him, Merlin picked up his pace to follow Moon Knight. "Is this really the best idea?"

"Plan A, we talk to them, get the opening and then sneak into Olympus," the masked figure said as if he was planning a grocery store run. "We can figure things out from there."

Merlin frowned to grab Moon Knight by the arm. "Listen, you whisk us here without warning, you won't tell us who we're meeting and..."

In a blur, Moon Knight's suit had transformed into the caped garb as he pushed Merlin against a wall. Dane was moving forward but Moon Knight held up a hand to forestall him as he focused on Merlin. "I'm trying to be polite," he said, his voice and accent shifting again. "But just know we're dealing with guys way beyond even your paygrade. So maybe shelving the attitude and taking back the old 'pretend to be humble type' persona is best right now."

He backed up, returning to the masked suit as he adjusted his gloves. "Sooooo, just settle down, we can make our pitch and hopefully they listen."

"And if they don't?" Dane pressed.

"Then you two are dead."

"Not you?" Merlin sardonically asked.

Moon Knight snorted. "Like I could get that lucky." He led them through a doorway and into a chamber resembling an ancient Egyptian pyramid. Statues stood about of various unworldly beings although Merlin could sense these were more than merely stone. That was proven by how the eyes of several statues seemed to be focused on them as they walked forward.

Standing atop a platform were a pack of people dressed in modern clothing, all of Middle Eastern descent, three women and two men. It took once glance for Merlin to see the glowing auras around each of them that made him realize the truth.

Behind him, Dane frowned. "We're meeting just people?"

"No," Merlin intoned. "They're human avatars for gods."

Dane gaped at him. "What?"

Moon Knight waved a hand. "Allow me to introduce the Council of Enmand. Hathor, Horus, Isis, Osiris and Tefnut." Each person nodded as they were introduced.

Merlin took them in carefully. "I had heard you were destroyed."

"Our earlier avatars were," Hathor confirmed, appearing to be a middle-aged woman with curly black hair, in a nondescript dress. "But we realized our task was not finished and so chose new ones."

"It was...a difficult experience," Osiris spoke. "It made us realize we trusted the wrong person and we paid the price."

"I know that feeling," Merlin sighed.

Horus looked to Moon Knight. "Speaking of avatars...you know our ways."

With a sigh, the suit melted away, leaving the handsome features of Steven Grant, who seemed a bit unsure of himself before the group. "Look, I know bringing outsiders here is a delicate thing with you guys but I thought it was needed."

"We can make allowances for Merlin," Isis spoke in a lush voice as she looked at the man, her lovely blue dress showcasing a body that would put most supermodels to shame with lush black hair to match. "We know of your history and welcome you here."

"Thank you." It wasn't the first time Merlin had found himself meeting some deities, although he tried to avoid it. He'd learned the hard way over the centuries that not all the gods had the best interests of mankind in their thoughts.

Steven licked his lips. "Horus...I know our last meeting wasn't...pleasant...Thanks mostly to Marc...But we could use your help. We need a line to Olympus."

The council members looked at each other. "Why?" Tefnut asked in the demeanor of the businesswoman she resembled with her professional suit and tied-back hair.

Dane stepped forward. "They have someone very important to me." He kept his cool the best he could. "And I will do anything to get her back."

"Be wary, mortal," Osiris intoned, his heavyset body with balding head doing little to hide the power under his mortal shell. "Making such a request to us..." He shrugged. "Well, it can backfire to put it mildly."

"We're not taking no for an answer," Merlin announced. "I don't want to make this difficult. But we are on a bit of a clock. I'm hoping we can be reasonable about this."

"Reasonable?" Isis raised an eyebrow on her young face. "And just what do you find reasonable?"

"Just give us passage to Olympus," Steven pressed. "That's all. Just…open a door."

"I'm sorry, where do you think you are?" Horus asked in a dry voice that matched a face looking more like a college professor than a deity. "Does this place resemble an airport or train station? We are not meant to be cosmic travel agents, Fist of Konushu."

"Especially given how you and your avatar have often ignored us," Tefnut intoned in a gruff voice.

Dane glared at them. "I need Sersi back. Her and her family. If you can't help, we'll find another way."

"You think you can come in here and bark orders to us?" Horus barked. "We barely tolerate Spector, why should we do the same for you?"

Merlin leaned in toward Grant. "So…Plan B?"

He blinked in confusion. "What?"

"Plan B," Merlin repeated. He looked Grant in the eye. "You have one, right? Because you said this was Plan A, indicating there were more coming."

He licked his lips. "To be honest, this was…a bit different than what I expected."

Merlin let out a slow sigh before looking back at the Council. "Sorry to have wasted your time, my colleague appears to be an idiot."

"We are aware," Isis dryly stated. "However…I am afraid leaving is not an option."

At that cue, a rumble came as the doors sealed shut behind them. The torches flickered as Merlin too late felt the rise in power around them. He slowly turned to fix a hard glare at Grant who was shifting into his caped persona. "What is this?" Moon Knight hissed.

"We and Olympus have had a…strained relationship," Horus began in a calm tone as a rumble echoed throughout the chamber. "But recent events have made us realize he has a point."

"Humanity has lost its way," Osiris added, arms behind his back. "We have seen it and how it will become worse."

"I've had more than my share of experience with seers and prophets," Merlin said, fighting off the very bad feeling coming over him. "I know they're not always to be trusted so blindly."

"You are not us," Horus stated. "So while we may not fully back Olympus…we will not deter their path either."

"Which means you must remain here," Harthor rumbled. "Indefinitely."

As their hands glowed, Merlin slowly glared back at Moon Knight. "And this," he hissed out. "Is why there should always be a Plan B."

Wakanda, as ever, was a lush land that kept itself busy. It was an impressive sight even for Charles Xavier as the Blackbird flew into the main city. He gazed out the windows at the large buildings, still marveling at how this futuristic land had hidden itself from the world for so long.

At the controls, Scott Summers adjusted the ship's banking as he flew toward the waiting landing pad. He wore his typical blue uniform with the red visor covering his eyes. Beside him, Jean Grey adjusted her orange and blue suit with a headpiece as she prepared for the landing as well. "Coming in now, Professor."

Xavier nodded and frowned at the smell coming to his nostrils. He fixed a glare at the two men lounging in seats behind him. "Logan, Remy, I would appreciate it if you put those out."

Behind him, Logan blew out a cloud of smoke around the cigar in his mouth while Remy LaBeau inhaled on his cigarette. In his usual long coat and hat, his gloves flipping through a pack of playing cards, the Cajun appeared rather uninterested in Xavier's chiding. Next to him, Rogue just sighed with understanding at how aggravating the man could be, wearing a green outfit that nicely covered up most of her body, including gloves.

"Didn't see 'no smoking' sign," Logan muttered.

Xavier gave them his patented "do it or you'll believe you're little girls" look with both men rolling their eyes before Gambit stabbed his cigarette out on an armrest while Logan ground his into his own palm, wincing a bit before the burns healed instantly.

Logan looked over toward Storm, seeing the black woman looking out the window with an intriguing expression. It looked like hope mixed with a bit of trepidation. "You okay, 'Ro?"

"I'm fine," she quickly said, shuffling in her seat with her black outfit, the lush cape offsetting her white hair. "Just…some memories."

"Been a while since you were in Africa?"

"It has been," Ororo said with a smile. "Far too long. It's good to be home at last."

"Sure we don't need more here?" Cyclops called out from the front. He glanced at the rest of the team in the Blackbird: Colossus, Nightcrawler, Iceman and Angel, all in their various uniforms. "If these Olympians show up…"

"We can't have the entire school over," Xavier pointed out. "I am confident Alex and Lorna can handle things back there. Plus, I hate putting most of the younger students in the line of fire."

"I hope we can avoid trouble," Nightcrawler said in his German accent.

"As do I," Xavier agreed as the ship slowly landed on the pad. "But it may be out of our hands."

It took a few moments for the ship's engines to finally still. Xavier moved back from his seat, showing the unique wheelchair hovering a few inches off the floor, a design by Reed Richards. He followed Cyclops and Jean out of the Blackbird with the rest of the X-Men falling behind them. They saw an entourage before them, led by T'Challa, now in a darker suit, with Shuri, Queen Ramonda, in one of her regal robes. Behind them was Okoye leading a pack of Dora Milaje soldiers.

Xavier nodded to T'Challa. "Your Highness. Thank you for welcoming us."

"Of course," T'Challa said, shaking his hand. He nodded to the others before his eyes fell on Storm and widened. "Ororo?"

She smiled back. "Hello, T'Challa. It's been too long." She moved forward as T'Challa embraced her warmly—quite warmly, as it was clear the two had instinctively moved in as if for a kiss before stopping themselves with suddenly contrite expressions.

"Ah, something ya wanna tell us, 'Ro?" Rogue asked for everyone.

Storm and T'Challa broke apart as Storm faced her teammates. "We met years back when we were younger, and I was traveling."

"I was on the walkabout myself," T'Challa explained to his clearly curious mother, with Shuri just having the gleeful look of the little sister stumbling onto something to needle her brother with. "I came across some slavers trying to capture a pack of villagers. I was about to intercede when one white-haired woman waved her arms and sent them flying off with gusts of wind." He smiled at Ororo. "As soon as I saw you on the news, I knew who you were."

"You've come far yourself," Ororo returned with a matching smile. "You hinted you had some experience but a future king?"

T'Challa shrugged. "I had to keep our secrets. You understood."

"I did," Ororo smiled as the pair hadn't stopped holding hands since they started talking. They finally seemed to notice everyone staring at them and broke apart. "Well, we should get started," T'Challa said, trying to appear all business again. He heard a munching sound and looked over to see M'Baku leaning on a wall, chewing on a carrot. "How long have you been there?"

"Long enough," the warrior replied, looking more smug than usual. He nodded at Ororo. "Good to meet you, Wind-rider." He fell in behind T'Challa, still smirking. "This will be such a fun meeting..."

Storm and the X-Men fell in behind the group with Jean giving Storm a look. "All this time and you never mentioned you were with a king?" she asked telepathically.

"It's...complicated."

"Isn't it always?" Jean had to agree as they headed into the palace.

T'Challa found himself flanked by his mother on one side and his sister on the other, both giving matching gazes with Shuri's smirk a bit larger. He cleared his throat before speaking. "It was a long time ago, I didn't see much need to mention it."

"Hmmm…" The Queen intoned behind pursed lips. "She is…a feisty one."

"She has been that way."

"Yet a regal bearing in her own way…"

"Her mother had been a princess of a tribe."

"Indeed." Ramonda looked to her son. "You still have feelings for her."

"I have my duties, Mother."

"Which can include continuing the line…"

Shuri couldn't keep back her laughter to see how even a king could feel deeply embarrassed by his mother.

In his secret base located in the mountains outside of Sokovia, the white-haired man watched the monitors of the news footage discussing the odd events from battles of the Avengers and other figures in New York to the recent tremors felt around the world. He waved a hand to change the channels to get more of the full picture before him. That included access to a satellite that showed Captain Marvel at the edge of Earth's atmosphere with a scanning device that worked with her own energies.

He heard the footsteps as Mystique came up behind him, her blue-skinned form enticing as always to others. She looked at the feeds and then to him. "What are you thinking, Erik?"

He tapped a finger at his chin as he thought. "For now, we observe. This could be an opportunity but we also don't know just what we are facing yet. Tell the Brotherhood to stay operations for now."

Mystique nodded and looked to the one screen that seemed forever focused on the two Maximoff siblings, here chatting with the other Avengers in a conference room. "Are they who I think they are, Erik?"

His silence was all the answer she needed as she let out a sigh and walked over to face him. "You go after them, it can put us all in danger."

"They can be a great aid for us, Raven."

"You think they can be swayed just by knowing who you are?" She shook her head. "We can't risk it, Erik. We need you focused on the greater mission."

Magneto looked up at her sharply. "Do not dictate the mission to me, Raven. Just know that I will do as I must." He looked back to the screens. "No matter what it takes."

Raven knew that the conversation was closed and backed up. She began to walk off, leaving the Master of Magnetism alone once more to his thoughts.

In the cafeteria of Avengers Tower, Kamala was blowing out a bubble of gum as she looked at her phone, hitting the text keys. She still wore her costume sans the mask as kept up her work. She glanced up as Johnny and the Thing entered, the two, as usual, arguing. "I could take him!" Ben was insisting. "Ya know I can!"

"Look, Ben, much as I love seeing you and the Jade Giant throw down, not sure you could handle Hercules. You get the whole demigod thing, right?"

"Don't matter where he's from, ya hit him enough and he'll go down! Just like my coach used ta say!"

"Are you sure your coach and your Aunt Petunia weren't the same person?"

"You shouldn't be so bold, Grimm," Thor intoned as he entered with Jane at his side. "Hercules is a far stronger opponent than you'd expect."

"Whatever, Goldilocks," the Thing grunted. "If ya remember, I've gone toe to toe with you and held my own!"

Thor smiled thinly. "I was holding back so as not to hurt you, my friend. Hercules will not do the same."

"Best to listen, Ben," She-Hulk said as she entered alongside Bruce Banner. "Hercules can be a bit tough although wouldn't mind if he and me try to dabble a bit like we did in canon."

Bruce frowned at her. "Jen, let me give you a name, Leonard Samson."

"Oh? Who's playing him now?"

The popping of Kamala's bubble got their attention, and she nearly swallowed it as all eyes fell on her. "Um, sorry. I just, um…I mean, just waiting here until Captain Marvel gets back…"

"You can call her Carol," Jane said.

"Oh, no, no way, I'm nowhere near close enough to do that! Nope, it's still Captain Marvel to me!"

Johnny rolled his eyes. "Incredible. That woman has her own fangirl and barely does anything. You know how much I have to do to get a hundred million Instagram followers?"

"Yeah, we do because ya never shut up about it," the Thing snapped.

Jane looked at them with a frown. "Shouldn't you be keeping an eye on Doom?"

"Reed and Sue can handle that," Johnny said as he opened a nearby fridge for a drink. "At least Doom isn't up to his usual scheming."

Ben snorted. "Don't fool yerself. Vic's always scheming, been that way since college. He's still up ta something in all this."

"Reminds me a bit of Loki," Thor mused as he accepted the beer Johnny threw him.

"Didn't know him but doubt he could match Doom," Johnny returned. "The one good thing is you play that ego right, you can keep him in check." He looked toward Kamala. "Good conversation?'

"Trying to see if I can get a line back to the Clan Destine," Kamala explained. "So far, no luck, which has me worried if they're gonna sit this one out." She sipped from a can of soda. "Downside of someone residing in another dimension is that they're not as invested in our world."

"Oh so we can't be sure if the superpowered folks are going to help or not, good to know," Johnny sardonically said.

"Hey, they're helpful!" Kamala snapped. "You think it's easy to suddenly find yourself gaining superpowers and…" She stopped at the looks Johnny, Ben and Jane were giving her. "Oh, right."

"Any chance they can show up sooner?" Jane asked. "Because we need all the help we can get now."

"Got that right," Johnny said as he sat down at a table. "The last thing we want is relying on Victor Von Doom for anything."

Tony Stark wouldn't be the first to acknowledge his ego, but he did have it called out by enough people to realize how he could come off. Contrary to popular opinion, it wasn't deliberate. In fact, the more he tried to rein himself in, the more he came off as incredibly arrogant so it was best to just let it flow naturally. Still, he was aware of how his brash ego and manners could be aggravating as hell.

Which was why he believed he was undergoing a long overdue dose of karma having to share a room with Reed Richards, Doctor Doom and Namor.

Even for Tony, trying to keep up with Doom and Reed's discussions on scientific matters was almost impossible. They were rattling off equations at a speed Tony could barely fathom and every time he tried to interject with a question, they both looked at him as if he was a child.

Namor wasn't helping matters with his own interjections. On the one hand, Tony had to admire the man's intellect and surprising grasp of science. On the other, it was getting annoying being treated like an afterthought in his own tower.

Doom was pointing to a monitor. "I tell you once more, Richards. Adjust the wavelength of the vibranium output and it will increase the strength."

"What a groundbreaking idea," Namor intoned. "We had that 400 years ago. Thank you for catching up."

Doom glared at him. "This is not your concern..."

"It involves vibranium and the oceans, that makes it mine." Namor snapped. "I care little for you surface dwellers and your conflicts, only how it affects my kingdom."

"In that one regard, we have common ground," Doom agreed.

Tony was moving around the holographic table, checking more readouts. "Speaking of kingdoms, Vic…"

"Call me 'Vic' again, Stark and you will sorely regret it."

"Fine, Doomsie." Ignoring the man's slight growl, Tony went on. "Maybe you could consider your rep would be better if you didn't keep your people under heel while trying to expand to conquering the world? Just a thought."

"Doom does what he sees best, Stark," the tyrant retorted.

"Yeah, I know the U.N. agrees," Tony sarcastically said. "If I remember right, they tripled the sanctions on you after your last escapade and formal condemnation."

"Yes and I was bone-chillingly terrified after such a horrific wrist slapping." Even Doom's sarcasm carried power. "The sanctions are nothing compared to what I could offer the world."

"At a price of total obedience?"

"Stark, if it came to a choice between freedom and paying less than half what they normally would on groceries, which do you believe people will choose?"

"At the risk of sounding like Cap, I think most would pick the whole freedom thing."

Doom's smirk was clear despite the mask. "For a master businessman, Stark, you can be shockingly naïve."

The door opened as Susan entered with a tray of drinks and some sandwiches. "I have some snacks if you need them." She looked at Doom and frowned. "You do eat, don't you, Victor?"

"I can if I wish," Doom intoned. "But not at the moment."

Namor smiled as he accepted one of the offered meals. "My thanks, my dear." He gave a warm and flattering look that had Susan frowning deeply. Reed was glaring at Namor with a rare show of looking upset. "You realize that's my girlfriend."

"Who is quite the beauty," Namor mused as he looked her over. "I rarely appreciate surface dwellers but you...you could be a jewel underseas."

"No thanks," Susan replied with a sour look. "I enjoy breathing air too much."

"Never say never, my dear." Namor was reaching forward when an invisible wave of energy sent him knocking back against the wall. Susan was still in the same position glaring harder at him. "Don't push me."

Doom chuckled as Namor was let go and slumped hard on the floor. "Hmmm...Quite impressive, Susan. I believe you may well be the one of the Four who would survive a battle against Doom."

"I'm honored." Susan's tone didn't match her words. Namor was rising to his feet as Reed smirked at him. "And you know why I don't argue with her."

"Mr. Fantastic indeed," Tony muttered. He stepped forward. "Listen, last thing I'm in the mood for is interrupting a good measuring contest but just maybe concentrate on how to find this seed thing? And use Carol's scans to get a bead on this Galactus?"

Before either man could reply, a loud beeping went out and the holographic map showed Wakanda. Tony moved over to tap some controls, focusing on the map. "We've got a dimensional breach hitting Wakanda borders," he announced. "It's...it's big."

"Olympus invading Wakanda," Doom intoned, crossing his arms. "This...should be most intriguing..."

The alert was clear across Wakanda, and their forces were preparing to move. T'Challa had already slipped into his Panther suit as soldiers were quick to take their battle positions. "Prepare the barriers," he barked orders. "M'Baku, take your men to the east side in case more forces are coming." The chieftain nodded as he moved off. T'Challa looked to Ajax, who was staring out at the Wakanda landscape. "Any idea who they will send?"

"Ares perhaps," she mused. "Or they may wait for him in reserve." She looked toward him with somber eyes. "I am sorry I brought this to your land."

"I gave my word to protect you," T'Challa assured her. "Believe me when I say I shall."

"We'll help," Cyclops offered.

"Damn straight," Wolverine said, popping his claws. "I want a rematch with these suckers."

T'Challa looked to Ororo. "And you?"

She smiled. "You have to ask?"

T'Challa saw Shuri smirking at him again and decided facing whatever hordes were coming was preferable to hearing her tease once more on his past romances.

It had been a long time since Artemis had strown upon a battlefield with an army at her back, but it was like riding a chariot. The Greek Goddess of the Hunt was clad in armor showing off her athletic form, her long ponytail billowing behind her, a bow and arrow among the other weapons she bore. Behind her was a pack of soldiers in gleaming armor, spears, sword and shields at the ready, a mix of men and women of differing body types but all sharing the same expressions of those ready to fight and die.

As she took in the figures before her, Artemis called out. "I shall make this as simple as possible. Give us Ajax and we will depart your land in peace. Otherwise, we shall crush you into the dirt until you grovel for mercy."

A few moments of silence filled the air before the leader of the women before her stepped forward. "We have no word in our language for 'grovel.' But we do have 17 for 'pain' and 29 for 'fight.' And you are about to hear them all." Okoye spun her spear about as the Dora Milaje moved into fighting stances.

"Welcome to Wakanda."

"It looks like T'Challa's troops are holding them off," Reed said as he gazed at the satellite footage of the conflict on the hologram. "But for how long…"

"A direct attack is daring," Namor said with a sign of respect. "Yet also too forward."

Doom nodded. "Indeed. This may truly be a feint to divert ourselves and leave another pathway open to Olympus."

"We still don't know why he wants these Eternals," Reed pointed out. "But they do seem the primary objective more than the Celestial or Galactus."

Tony shook his head as he took in the scanners. "We need to get backup there fast."

"And abandon our own quest?" Doom scoffed. "I never thought you a quitter, Stark."

"Unlike you, I care about other people, Vic. Now we should-"

There was a sudden shimmer and a push of ozone in the air. As one, the men turned around to see the space behind them seem to fold, and then a quartet of figures suddenly stood before them. One appeared to be a massive bulldog, albeit with strange antenna at his forehead, panting a bit as if from exertion.

At the center of the group was a handsome man in an all-black suit, arms folded behind him. At his left was a very attractive blond-haired woman in a yellow suit of her own. At his right was an equally beautiful woman in a purple dress and long lush red hair. It took a moment for the men to realize that rather than any wind, her hair appeared to be moving on its own.

The latter woman cleared her throat before speaking. "On behalf of Blackagar Boltagon alias Black Bolt, the ruler of Attilan, we, the Inhuman Royal Family, offer our services."

A long silence went up before Tony rubbed his head to realize yet again how karma was coming to haunt him.

Man, do I love writing Doom, such a complex character and imagine your own "casting" for him as hard to figure right actor for the role.

Yep, the Inhumans finally entering things after tie-in appearances and hope to redeem them a bit from the bad take in the MCU. All comments welcomed as usual.