Chapter 35
New Allies
Steven awoke floating in place all around him were incredibly thin spikes and the alien that captured him walked forward and said, "In all the time I've served Thanos I have never failed him. If I were to reach our Rendezvous on Titan With the time Stone still attached to your vaguely irritating person that would be judgment." Alien said as the spikes began slowly encroaching upon Steven. As the spikes pierced into his skin he began to scream in pain, Alien said quietly "give me The Stone."
Meanwhile above them updraft said to Tony, "well we've gotten ourselves into quite the mess." And Tony silently agreed when they felt something tap their backs. They both spun around weapons ready to see a cape specifically Stevens cape. except it was floating and alive.
"Wow you are seriously loyal." Tony's complimented and then pause for a moment thinking about the fact that he just complemented a cape.
"Yeah speaking of loyalty." the voice of a teenage kid said both updraft and Tony looked behind them to see Peter Parker.
"What the f-" He was saying before Updraft interrupted him.
"I knew it. like you said Tony he's just like you." Updraft said as he saw a massive smile spread across Peter's face.
" you shut up." Tony said to updraft before he looked at Peter "And you should not be here."
Peter tried to explain himself, "it was just such a long way down and then I thought about you." Peter and Tony talked back and forth over each other and updraft and the cape looked at each other and both equally agreed that this was stupid.
"This suit is ridiculously intuitive By the way so it's kind of your fault that I'm here." Peter said. After hearing that Updraft had do everything he could to not laugh.
Tony paused for a minute to process what Peter just said before saying, " what did you just say?"
"I take that back." Peter said quickly.
Before Tony could respond updraft said, "Well you're here now and we can't exactly send you back. So welcome to the team." Tony spun around to look at updraft with a look that said, 'shut up.'
Peter looked like he was about to explode just at those words. "Thank you so much erm." Updraft remembered that he hadn't exactly introduced himself to Peter.
"The names Updraft." updraft introduced himself. " I already know who you are Peter Tony says quite a lot about you."
Peter's eyes lit up as he said " really!" and Updraft responded only with a nod.
"Come on let's get a good look at the situation we got." Tony said refocusing everyone. They all look over the edge down at Steven who was currently being tortured.
"Oh Ever see this really old movie Aliens I think it was called." Peter asked.
"yeah Tony showed it to us a while back but I don't see what that has to, oh." Updraft said realizing Peter's plan. Meanwhile Stevens is screaming intensified as the spikes began to pierce into him at a much quicker rate.
"Okay Peter you web the guy to the ground. And then I'll shoot my missile to create a breach in the hall the vacuum should have sucked the alien out but hold on we can't have you get sucked out too and Tony you fix that breach." Updraft said.
Then they all jumped in at once Peter webbed The wizard down and before the alien could react updraft shot a missile into the Hull creating a massive opening in the vacuum began sucking everything out. the alien did it's best to not get sucked into the infinite void of space but Peter slingshoted it into the alien knocking it off balance and almost sending them both out into space but updraft managed to catch Peter as Tony sealed the breach but not before watching the alien freeze.
"all right everyone good teamwork." Tony said as he put away the bleeding edge armor.
Steven strange quickly got up and said "There has to be a way to turn this ship around."
"Okay so now he wants to run great." Tony said sarcastically.
" I want to protect the stone." Steven said.
"And I want you to thank me now. go ahead I'm listening" Tony shot back.
"hey if anyone should be thanked it's Peter he's the one that came up with the plan." Updraft pointed out.
"For what. nearly blasting me into space." The wizard said arrogantly.
"Hey be glad the kid webbed you down to make sure that didn't happen so the least you could do is a thank you." updraft said. he was getting kind of tired with this wizard.
"Exactly." Tony said.
"It was still the dumbest idea I've ever seen and nearly got me killed!" the wizard said.
"Still worked though." Tony said is sitting down in what looked to be some sort of chairs.
"I seriously don't know how you fit your head into that helmet." Steven shot back.
" You saw how it forms around his head out." Peter said suddenly which made updraft Fight desperately to hold an his laughter. Tony shot Peter a look that said both 'be quiet' and 'good one'.
"admit it you should have ducked out when I told you to. I tried to bench you, you refused" Tony said.
"unlike Everyone else in your life I don't work for you." Steven countered.
"And due to that fact we are now in a flying donut billions of miles from Earth with no backup." Tony said.
"I'm back up." Peter said.
"No, you're a stowaway. The adults are talking." Tony said.
"You kind of are." Updraft said, "but you are back up."
"I'm sorry I'm confused as to what the relationship is here. what is he your ward." Steven asked.
"No. I'm Peter by the way." Peter said extending his hand out for a handshake.
"Doctor Strange." Doctor Strange replied.
"oh we're using our made-up names in that case I'm Spider-Man." Peter corrected himself.
"This ship is self-correcting its course things are not looking up," Tony said.
"Can we control it? Fly Us home?" Steven asked and Tony didn't respond, " Tony can you get us home."
"Yeah although I'm not sure we should," Tony responded.
That of course shocked Updraft as he said, "Tony that is perhaps the stupidest thing you have ever said."
Tony looked back at updraft, "What?" he asked.
"Tony Thanos is looking for the stones since we have one we should work on getting it as far away from him as possible." Updraft pointed out.
"Under no circumstances can we bring the Time Stone to Thanos. Yeah, I don't think you understand-" Doctor Strange was saying before Tony cut him off.
"I don't think either of you understand, that Thanos has been inside of my head for 6 years since 2012, and now that we have confirmation that he is also working With Megatron. I don't know what to do so I'm not sure if it's a better plan to go home or to stand and Fight." Tony said.
"Going home is a better plan I feel like that's pretty obvious." Updraft stated, " We will have more help to defeat Thanos and Megatron."
"Yeah, returning to Earth sounds like the smarter plan." Peter agreed.
"Yeah, I agree with those two." Doctor Strange said Counting his thumb back at the two.
And then the ship lurched forward, Updraft looked out the window he saw a large structure in the way and he could already tell that there was no way to slow down in time. "BRACE YOURSELVES!" And updraft dived onto Peter and didn't know what Tony and Strange were going to do. but right now that wasn't his priority. A large explosion Was Heard as the ship collided with the structure the ship was now sent flaming towards the planet's surface. At least that's what up draft assumed considering they were spinning out of control and he could feel the descent happen. Feel them gaining speed and then they collide with the ground. Peter was knocked out and away from updraft and tons of debris fell on him. piece of debris Nearly pierced Updraft's leg but it merely bounced off the vibranium. But he was still trapped beneath the debris side he could hear voices, Tony and Dr stranger's voices immediately a wave of relief washed over it him.
"That was a close one," Tony said, "I owe you one."
"Let me just say if aliens wind up implanting eggs in my chest or something and I eat one of you I'm sorry." That was Peter's voice. Updrafted had never been so happy to hear his friends now he just had to get out of there.
"I do not want another single pop cultural reference coming out of you for the rest of the trip do you understand," Tony said. "Now before Updraft could say something along the lines of 'that's ironic coming from you', Peter spoke up.
"I'm trying to say something is coming."But before Peter could explain how something was coming updraft heard a metal ball rolling across the ground. and then a blast, not an explosion but judging by his friend's screams it was more of a concussion Grenade. after hearing that updraft decided to keep quiet till the right moment in time.
And then there was a scream but it wasn't from any of his friends and then he heard somebody's body falling to the ground but it was heavier than anyone he brought with him. Then several blasts were heard I heard followed by Tony's repulsors. Then that updraft decided to reveal himself. He shot his hand up through the debris and grabbed onto what felt like a person but he could tell it wasn't any of his friends. As he fully got up shaking the debris off he tossed the alien he grabbed the ground and put his foot on the alien without crushing it Shocking The newcomers. A standoff ensued as one held a gun to Peter's head and updraft threatening to crush the alien.
"Everybody stay Where You Are chill the f out." The one holding Peter hostage yelled out. the one holding Peter was human and that was made more evident when he tapped his mask and it revealed his face. "I'm going to ask you this one time where is Gamora?"
"Yeah, I'd be happy to answer that if I knew who the hell that was," Updraft responded.
"Tell me where the girl is or I swear to you I'm going to french fry this little freak." The human responded putting his finger on the trigger and the gun to Peter's head.
"Oh you want to play with like that. well let's play like that." updraft said as he slightly increased pressure on the alien beneath him.
"Do it quill I can take it." In beneath his foot said.
"No, he can't take it." The alien with the antenna shouted.
"She's right you can't." Doctor Strange said without letting down his guard.
" yeah no I can Feel your bones about to shatter." Updraft stated.
"You don't want to tell me where she is okay, that's fine I'll kill all four of you and then beat it out of Thanos myself. Starting with you." The one holding Peter hostage said shocking all of them.
"Wait what." Doctor Strange said very confused, "All right let me ask you this one time what Master do you serve."
"What Master do I serve what am I supposed to say Jesus." the one holding Peter hostage said furthering the confusion.
"You're from Earth." Tony Finally spoke up trying to clear the confusion.
"I'm not from Earth I'm from Missouri." The one holding Peter protested slightly lowering his guard.
"It's on Earth dipshit, what are you hassling us for?" Tony asked.
"So you're not with Thanos?" Peter finally spoke up trying to clear the confusion.
"Thanos no I'm here to kill Thanos he took my girl. Wait who are you people." Quill said now extremely confused letting go of Peter.
"We're The Avengers man." Peter said breaking the ropes off him.
"you're the ones Thor told us about." The Alien with the antennas said.
" you know Thor?" Tony asked.
"I don't?" Updraft said now even more confused but understanding that the newcomers were potential allies. Updraft stepped off of the alien.
After a couple minutes and some introductions everyone began to formulate a plan to take down Thanos when he got here. Peter Quill pulled out some sort of device that was glowing gold. "What the hell happened to this planet it's 8 off its axis gravitational pull is all over the place."
"I don't know if I'll be able to fly here, Too risky." Updraft added.
"Yeah we got one advantage he's coming to us." Tony said, hiding how nervous he was about fighting Thanos. "All right I have a plan, Or at least at the beginning of one. A simple draw him in pin them down get what we need. We definitely don't want to dance with this guy.We just want the gauntlet."As Tony was explaining drags the alien Updraft had pined To the ground, they now knew his name was Drax yawned. "I'm sorry are you yawning in the middle of this while I'm breaking it down. Did you hear what I said?"
"I stopped listening after you said we need a plan." Drax Responded.
"Okay Mr clean is on his own page." Tony said.
"See Not winging it isn't really what they do." Quill said.
"What exactly is it That they do?" Peter asked.
"Kick names, take ass." The alien with the antenna said now Identified as Mantis and drax Agreed. Behind them Updraft put his hand to his face plate.
You could feel the stress coming off of Tony "All right just get over here please, Mr Lord can you get your Folks to Circle up." Tony asked.
"Mr Lord, Star-Lord is fine." Quill said. He then nodded towards Drax and Mantis and they all grouped up.
And once everyone was there Tony began to lay everything out, "Everyone listen up. We gotta coalesce Because If all we come at him with is a Plucky attitude-" But Star-lord Interrupted him.
"Dude don't call us plucky." Star-Lord said. "We don't know what it means,All right we're optimistic, yes, I like your plan except it sucks so let me do the plan and that way it might be really good." Star-Lord said.
"Tell them about the dance off to save the universe." Drax Spoke up.
"I'm sorry, WHAT?" Updraft said completely shocked that one: the way Drax said it made it sound like they have done this plan before, and two: That it worked?
"Later." Star-Lord said before Ignoring him.
The discussion continued until Mantis spoke up, "Excuse me but does your friend often do that?"
Doctor Strange was currently floating above the ground and His head was Fluctuating, Turning in odd Directions with the time Stone Glowing. "Strange," Tony called out, "You all right?" Everyone began to walk over remaining as quiet as possible. And then strange Fell out of whatever he was in. Tony and updraft ran over.
"Hey what was that?" Peter asked,
"I looked forward in time," Stranger answered, "To view alternate futures , To see all the possible outcomes Of the coming conflict."
"How many did you see?"Star-Lord asked.
" 14000605." Doctor Strange said.
"How many did we win?" Tony asked .
"1."
