Avengers: Infinite Wars

by free man writer

The Clone Wars are in full swing with the galaxy divided. The Jedi lead the clone army against the infinite droid army of the Separatists. Yet a wild card enters the fray. The Avengers. From there, newer, more sinister and deadlier threats emerge and The Galaxy, no, the universe, shall never be the same again. Co-written by Jebest4781 and BulletStormX. Now in Season 4.

72. Call From The Unknown

Loving your reactions to last chapter and your reactions to Ventress' lineage.

The reactions to Maul's return with Jorus C'baoth was equally as fun to see.

Really, that chapter has been one that has long been set up, it's just the journey to get there. Honestly, that's most of season 3 really. The journey in getting to these moments that were planned months to now years ago finally starting to bare fruit.

Honestly at the rate in which we're going, I think we'll actually be able to complete Season 3 sooner rather than later.

At least that's my hope.

I know it's asking for a lot but dammit a man can dream, can't he?

So thanks again for all those reviews and the excitement stemmed from it and I hope to continue to deliver on more chapters and more moments.

But let's keep pressing forward cause I can feel the excitement for a long awaited arc.

Mortis begins now.

Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.

Avengers Infinite Wars Chapter 72: Call from the Unknown

"She's back!" Scott Lang cheered. "We're all back!"

"Avengers Assemble!" Peter joined in, the twelve heroes of Earth all gathered on one platform to welcome back their last lost member.

Wanda Maximoff was greeted with hugs and greetings all around from her friends and teammates, a feeling of relief emanating off of her as she was surrounded by familiar faces once more. Faces she had not seen in months by this point.

Hope and Nat were the first to welcome her back with a three way tight hug before she got one from Sam, Rhodey, Scott and Steve.

Vision smiled kindly at her and she greeted her newest comrades in T'challa and Peter Parker.

"You're the Peter I've heard much about."

"Huh?" The Queens native tilted his head at the Scarlet Witch, having not expected to be singled out.

She didn't address his confusion as she turned to the Prince of Wakanda. "And you're T'challa. Good to meet you."

"Likewise, Ms. Maximoff."

"Oh, Matt was talking about us?" Peter surmised, seeing Matt coming out from the ship they had arrived on.

"I needed to help fill her in on a cliff notes amount of details on the way over." Murdock stated with a simple shrug.

"Look at Pietro." Sam snorted. "Boy's practically brimming."

Over yonder, the Avengers saw a pair of Dathomirian girls hanging off him as he was playing with the pair.

"Whaddya expect?" Pietro grumped playfully, pulling on the cheek of one of the girls who was tugging on his hand in return. "Been lookin' for my sister for nearly a year. How do you think I feel?"

Steve snorted before his eyes landed on the two children the speedster was playing with.

Walking over to them, Rogers went down onto one knee to be at eye level with the girls who turned their attention to him.

"And who are these two young ladies?" Steve politely greeted them, giving them a welcoming smile.

The two gained a bit of color in their cheeks, quickly hiding behind Pietro, the silver haired Avenger laughing, being joined in by his twin sister.

She walked over to the pair and gently nudged them out from behind Pietro.

She crouched down, being between them and placed her hands on their shoulders. "This is Merrin and Ilyana."

"Her wards/daughters." Said Matt and Pietro at the same time.

"Oh, we're adopting again?" Rhodey inquired.

"Do we even have enough space?" Sam asked.

"Or enough foo- yeah, that's a dumb question." Peter said with a shake of his head.

"So while you were away, you went and became a mom." Hope said with clear amusement. "Hmmm, wonder if I should just round out the ladies and get a child myself."

"Wait, what?" Was the collective response from a majority of the men, more specifically Scott who became nervous rather suddenly. Wanda -meanwhile- looked at Hope in bemusement.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Wanda then remembered something that she was informed of on the way from Dathomir. "Wait, so it's true? Nat has a daughter?"

"Yes, little Mara." Natasha said with an expression of love.

She had pulled out a small photo that Peter had captured of the two playing and Wanda's heart melted at the sight.

"Oh~" She cooed. "That's sweet."

"You'll love her when you meet her." Romanoff stated.

"I just might."

Using her powers, Wanda levitated a number of duffle bags and had them tail behind her.

With the returned Sokovian, there was quite the amount of belongings with her. Then again, amongst them also contained items belonging to Merrin and Ilyana as they chose to leave their homeworld to be with their guardian. Not just of clothing and personal effects, but other items of importance.

"Where to now?"

"Lots of places sister. We'll stop by the Jedi Temple so you'd get to meet a number of our friends and colleagues since coming here. There's the Senate building, our place, Dex's diner…"

"I have a feeling it's gonna be quite the long list." Wanda muttered aloud.

"You've been gone a long time." Her brother reminded her, patting her on the shoulder. "But hey, you won't be doing it alone at least. You can take your girls out and show them around. Or if you're stuffy, I could do it. Cool Uncle, remember?"

"First, let's just help Wanda and her girls get settled in." Steve said with an amused smile. "She's got a lot of stuff to unpack and we all have a lot to discuss on all our ends. Gotta catch her up on everything."

"And I have a lot to tell all of you." Wanda tacked on.

"We can do it over lunch." Sam said. "Sides, just ordered us some food and it should be here soon enough."

"Then let's start with helping her get all this stuff into her room." Rhodey said.

"Where will her girls sleep?"

"They'll be in my room for now." Wanda announced. "Just until we can have something for them."

"You sure?" Peter asked. "There'll be three of you."

"I lived in a relatively decent sized hut. In terms of comparison, it's like a studio apartment back on Earth." Wanda brushed off the concern. "Besides, nothing Pietro and I haven't lived through before."

Pietro shrugged, nodding his head in agreement until his face brightened up.

"Actually, I finally get to introduce you to my girlfriend!" He stated with a wide grin.

That revelation actually threw Wanda off for the briefest of moments.

"A… girlfriend?"

"Yeah. Why? Got a problem with that?"

Wanda quickly shook her head. "Oh, nothing at all. Just… didn't…"

"Hey, it's no problem Wanda. I didn't expect to have a girlfriend either. But things happened. I'm happy I got to meet and be with her."

"She actually makes him behave…. Sorta." Sam said with an iffy hand motion.

"Oh please." Scott said with a roll of his eyes. "At least Riyo isn't all lovey dovey, jump in your pants as soon as she sees you like Dani is."

"Yeah, your girl has got no restraint." Rhodey added in a deadpan.

"Boys." Hope spoke up, a pointed look at them before her eyes briefly looked at the two very confused girls by Wanda's sides.

Both had the decency to cringe slightly, Scott especially as he looked away, not reacting to the light flick to the back of his head from his girlfriend.

The Avengers soon made their way to the building where the majority of its members have resided for all these months. Along the way, Wanda and her wards looked upon Coruscant through whatever window was available on their transport.

For the two girls, it was clearly a sight to behold as they've grown up on a world that was truly rural. Not much of a technological planet in the slightest. More certainly than naught, they'd wish to explore as much of their new home as possible.

To see all this was a culture shock to be sure.

And one that they were both nervous and excited to experience.

They eventually arrived at the Avengers current residence and base of operations with the team helping Wanda, Merrin and Ilyana bring their stuff in.

Some of the Avengers dispersed with all needing to handle some other matters.

Hope and Scott offered to take Merrin and Ilyana out to get some shopping while also needing to restock on food themselves.

They were nervous at first but Wanda encouraged the pair to go off with the two because as far as her concern was, she trusted Scott a great deal with her girls considering him being a father with his daughter being an utter sweetheart.

Merrin and Ilyana were right up his alley.

It also gave her some time alone to get herself situated in her new room and environment, allowing her to unpack in silent peace.

Dropping the bags in her new shared bedroom with her girls, Wanda saw it was indeed similar in size to a studio apartment.

'Wonder if I could use my powers to expand it.' She pondered before shaking her head. 'Nah~ I'm still trying to get all the kinks figured out. I can be fine with the spacing for the time being.'

Going into one of her bags, Wanda started to pull out a number of items and started to put them elsewhere until figuring out what to do with them entirely.

They were primarily items from her time with the Nightsister clan. One of them was a communications device she procured which had the contact link to Mother Talzin, Ros Lai and others back on Dathomir.

With the present issue at hand with Gethzerion, she'll need to keep in touch with them about any new leads. Not to mention Wanda wanting to keep in touch with her friend from time to time.

The next ones were the two Sith Holocrons as she soon placed them into a drawer for safe keeping.

Of course her lightsaber was kept on her person, hanging from her belt, yet it was covered by her long coat.

After this, the Scarlet Witch began to decorate the room as she essentially saw fit. Articles of clothing flew out of the bags and into either the closet or drawers. Spacing for them was made for both her and her two charges.

It was by this point did Wanda realize something.

'Since I'm no longer on Dathomir, I can finally get clothing… that's not entirely red.' She thought with an odd sense of glee.

It will honestly be rather strange for both her and the girls with a possible wardrobe change, given what the typical fashion sense was on the "witch planet".

Exiting the shared bedroom, Wanda began to look about to begin learning the floorplan of the Avengers' residency. Yet she blinked upon hearing the gust of wind that usually accompanied Pietro when he made a speedy arrival.

"Pietro, do you always have to do that?" Said an unfamiliar female voice to Wanda, the Sokovian turning her head towards her door.

Walking out of her room, she quickly spotted her brother setting down a blue skinned woman in a rather lavish attire who had her cheeks puffed out, appearing to be unperturbed from being carried by Pietro.

"It's rather hard for me not to."

"But I was in the middle of a meeting."

"You looked bored."

"You always assume that."

"Because you know it's true." Pietro teasingly shot back.

"It was with Chairman Papanoida." The blue skinned woman flatly told him, hands on her hips.

Pietro scoffed, smirking cockily. "Come on, Choo, you know the old man loves me."

"Choo" rolled her eyes at the speedster, jabbing her finger in his chest. "Just because you helped me in saving their daughters, doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want around me and him without repercussions."

"He looks just as bored as you did." Pietro shot back.

"That's beside the point." "Choo" rubbed her temples tiredly. "Forces above, why did I fall in love with such a childish man?"

It was by this point did Wanda make herself known.

"You fell in love with my brother?" She asked aloud. "Are you sure it's not pity?"

The woman jolted and turned around to see her boyfriend's sister walking towards her with a bemused expression.

"Um who is…" Her eyes studied Wanda for a few seconds, then looked back at Pietro then back at her and without needing to read her mind, the Scarlet Avenger could see the gears in this woman's head turn as she made the connections.

"This is her. Your sister." "Choo" whispered in amazement, turning to Pietro with a small smile. "You found her."

"I did." He said with a more relieved smile. He gently turned her around, hands on her shoulders as the two face the Scarlet Witch.

"Riyo, this is my twin sister, Wanda." Pietro said. "Wanda, I'd like for you to meet my girlfriend, Senator Riyo Chuchi."

Wanda smiled, walking forward with her hand outstretched with Riyo daintily taking it without a moment's notice.

"It's wonderful to meet you at long last." Chuchi said with complete earnestness. "I know Pietro has been worried sick for months on end and I'm just happy to see you're alright."

Wanda found her smile widening, feeling the sincerity coming from the Pantoran Senator, her other hand being placed over Chuchi's

"It's a pleasure to meet someone that's managed to keep my brother happy for so long." She kindly said before glancing over to her twin. "But a senator. Wow, I didn't expect you to date a politician."

"I have very high and extravagant standards." Pietro remarked with a false air of superiority. "Riyo just so happened to exceed them all."

"And unfortunately, I had to plummet my own standards to match with his." Chuchi said in false drama.

"And you've loved every second of it." Pietro countered, pecking her on her cheek, enjoying the light blush on her cheeks with her lightly slapping his hand.

"Still… given what… activities we did in the past…" Wanda murmured, thinking back to their old lives back on Earth.

"I see your point. But she's different."

"And I've long accepted this." Chuchi added in. "He told me everything over time and I came to terms on what actions both of you took.

Wanda gazed at her brother with an unsure look for a moment.

"You really trust her that much?" She whispered quietly.

"I really love her that much." Pietro stated in complete seriousness.

Chuchi blushed even further though she smiled lovingly up at the speedster. "And I love you."

"Oh my god, am I seriously watching sappiness from you of all people?"

"Well sis, unlike you during our time apart, I actually got something reasonable." The older brother said, now hugging Chuchi closely. "I got myself a girlfriend while you just skipped that part and went straight to being a mom. What would our own parents say?"

"Huh?" Riyo said in bewilderment.

"At least someone is able to stand you." Wanda dryly countered. "And our parents would say nothing to me other than-"

"We're very disappointed in you Wanda." Pietro's voice took on a deeper inflection, trying to imitate his father's tone or at least as best as he was able to remember it. "We thought Pietro was the scandalous one. Yet here you are proving us wrong."

"Oh shut up." Wanda said, lightly slapping his arm with him poking her forehead.

The two soon broke into a mini play-fight which Riyo watched on with barely restrained laughter.

She was happy, truly, to see the man she loved brimming with such joy. The only time he was like that really was only when he was with her.

It made her heart beat a little faster as she thought about her time spent with him.

Especially… a few nights ago…

"Oh? What's with that face of yours?" Wanda's voice cut through her thoughts.

"H-Huh?"

The Scarlet Witch broke away from her twin to focus back at the senator. Said woman was a little nervous under Wanda's gaze as if she was feeling some sort of presence upon her.

Instead of something intense, the feeling was soft which matched the final wayward Avenger's gaze.

"Truthfully? This is gonna take some time getting used to." She admitted more to herself than to her brother. "It feels weird seeing this with how far into your relationship you both are and me not being around to see it and help her with your stupidity."

"It would have helped." Came Riyo's bit of amusement.

"Oi."

The twelve second younger twin giggled, patting her brother's cheek. "Remember what mom and dad always said."

"It's a team effort." Pietro said without hesitation, going over to Chuchi, grasping both her hands. "I help take care of you-"

"And you help take care of him." Wanda finished, looking Chuchi in the eyes. "Just treat him right. He's the only family I have left. Will you do that for me?"

"Of course I will." Riyo instantly said, pulling away from her boyfriend and gave his sister a reassuring hug. "Your brother is someone I love with all my heart. I won't disappoint him or you."

"That's all I ask for." Wanda quietly said, smiling in content as she hugged the senator back until a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. "So, when can I expect to be an aunt?"

Just one simple sentence caused Pietro to choke on his own saliva while Chuchi to blush up a storm, all the while becoming a stuttering mess.

"Jeez sis, wait a while at least." He remarked, pulling Riyo towards him protectively. "Not yet at least."

Wanda raised a brow whilst the Pantoran Senator squeaked and the speedster's eyes widened upon realizing what he had just said.

He began stammering, backtracking, making one excuse after the other which only fueled to further embarrass his girlfriend, steam practically rolling off her head with Wanda watching on in complete amusement.

"Hey guys, soups-Oh, Choo!" Sam walked out of the kitchen with a large pan in his hands. "Should have figured Pietro dragged you over here soon as he got a chance to. You're just in time for lunch."

"Lucky Steve and Sam always make large portions." Nat's voice came up from behind the bird-themed Avenger, walking around him with a plate of pancakes.

"What's with the Pancakes?" Wanda asked, mouthwatering at the sight of them but also confused as to why it was being served alongside lunch.

"Peter's recipe." Rogers now walked in with another plate in his hands, this one being that of a large pizza pie. "Figured that now that we're all together, we should pull out all the stops for this reunion."

"Yeah, Wanda looks like she's ready to pounce." Wilson pointed out.

"Can you really blame her? She hasn't had any Earth food since leaving it."

It was… indescribable to Wanda really, sitting down at a large table with the Avengers along with who were all essentially their unofficially officially adopted kids.

And not indescribable in the bad way, far from it.

The feeling of joy, camaraderie, happiness, friendship… family.

That all twelve of the Avengers were back together in a galaxy far far away from home was something to be cherished.

Nat joked that all that was left was getting back home to Tony and Clint, finding Hulk and getting Thor to come back from his own journey.

Merrin and Ilyana were quickly endeared to the rest of the Avengers, finding each of them funny and quirky in their own ways with the girls always hanging off every word they heard from Earth's Mightiest Heroes. After hearing so much about them for so long from Wanda, it was a bit surreal to them to be speaking with their guardian's team whom she holds in high regard.

The girls got to learn a good number of things about the ones Wanda knew previously to the new additions. It got them a bit more happier with the interactions whilst gaining a new experience in their young lives.

Overall, it felt like an odd sense of normalcy after all the mess they've been through. All wayward Avengers in this galaxy were together again and were one step closer to returning home.

Now that the Avengers had tucked the kids in, it was time to get down to more serious business.

Steve started it off, speaking of how he and Sam along with Scott had wound up on Naboo when they had all gotten separated and each Avenger gave a condensed idea of what they were up to before they linked up with the rest of the team.

Rhodey on the Rishi Moon Base.

Hope on Maridun.

Pietro on Ryloth.

Natasha apparently being a bounty hunter for a time once starting up on Tatooine.

Matt having made a place for himself temporarily on Jedha.

Peter falling headfirst into Coruscant.

Black Panther making friends with the Wookies on Kashyyyk.

Vision on Attolon with the Bendu.

And at long last, Wanda on Dathomir.

"So, essentially, we've been to about every corner of the galaxy by this point." Rhodey surmised, leaning back into his seat once everything was said done.

"And yet, still no way of finding a way back home." Nat deadpanned, the team slumping slightly at the mention of that.

"Can't we just… wait, is there a stargate around here that we can use?" Peter asked with most of the Avengers shaking their heads. "Portal us home like it did to us here?"

"This ain't Battlestar, Pete." Sam remarked. "And sides, you didn't get here the same way we did, remember?"

"So what, do we look for a stargate?" Scott asked. "We found one by accident, didn't we?"

"We found a lot of things by accident." Hope pointed out.

"Then maybe we can strike gold again and find a portal home." Pietro countered. "There has to be something at the very least."

'Portal…' Wanda internally repeated the word Peter had spoken earlier in her head, brows furrowed in deep thought until she felt something click within her mind.

"I may have an idea on how we can get back." She spoke up, somewhat excitedly now.

This earned a litany of looks from her fellow Avengers.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"How do you know?"

Wanda's grin widened as she bobbed up and down in her seat slightly. "On Dathomir, I learned a great number of things. Some of which revolved around the ancient species of the Kwa."

"The Kwa…" Peter muttered out. "I feel that's familiar somehow."

"I think it's due to you and your friends researching so much in the Jedi archives." Said Vision. "You may have come across them at some point."

"Yeah probably." Parker admitted with a shrug. "Gonna have to look it over, see what else we can find. But again, the Kwa?"

It was Vision who gave the quick explanation. "They were the first recorded civilization to utilize the Force. It was through them did the Infinite Empire, also known as the Rakatan Empire, begin their roots by utilizing their teachings and technologies-"

"Which they used for domination instead of peacekeeping." Wanda finished off.

"Off topic." Scott spoke up. "Feels like we're-"

"Yes, yes, you're right, sorry." The younger twin sheepishly said, clearing her throat. "Ok, so on Dathomir, there were a number of Kwa caches spread out in various territories which the reigning clans treasure. Through circumstances, I was granted access into looking at a number of them and was able to find out what essentially sent us all here to the galaxy."

Using her powers, Wanda conjured an ethereal projection of what she's focusing towards. It reminded a number of the Earthers of the iconic Stargate, yet there were some differences here and there from what they previously known to comparing it to what they saw at the Hydra Base.

"An Infinity Gate. An ancient network of structures capable of instantaneous interstellar travel between all sorts of locations."

"Instantaneous?" Steve repeated to be sure what he heard was correct.

"Just like us." Sam murmured, leaning his elbow on the table, hand over his chin.

"Do you have any idea on how they may work?" Matt inquired, shaded glasses turning to the Scarlet Witch who had her arms crossed in thought.

"I mean… the Force or maybe a powerful focus of energy on a gate could turn it on but… I don't think it'll be that simple.

"Most likely, it will not be." The Prince of Wakanda said in agreement. "Likely there is perhaps a number of missing details that we are missing. Especially the factor if there are any more of these Infinity Gates out there, let alone intact."

"That's what I came across as well, but I didn't find everything I needed before I was found."

With the blessing she received from the Kwi, she was able to figure things out better when researching the Kwa artifacts. Yet it was never so easy and simple. Some works were degraded to become illegible, despite how much the Dathomirians preserved the works. And the Star Chamber was now forbidden to be accessed now so a repeat of Zalem would never occur again, thus more knowledge was lost to her.

Matt, who had been sitting and thinking silently about all this, tilted his head to the side at the sound of a low series of whispers.

"Is everything alright, Peter?"

"Huh?" The young teen perked up at the sound of his name. "What? What's up Matt?"

"You keep talking to yourself." Murdock stated. "Is everything alright? It sounded rather serious."

"Oh, sorry, just a lot on my mind." Parker said, gesturing to his head.

"What is it?" Steve asked, leaning forward with the Avengers now turning to the spider-themed hero.

The youngest Avenger looked hesitant for a moment, thrumming his fingers on the table for a few seconds until speaking.

"I've been thinking about how we got here for a while now. I can understand how you guys got here, yet that doesn't explain how we," Peter motioned towards himself, T'Challa and Matt, "got here along with Crossbones and who knows who else from the arms deal. You guys went through a Stargate, we got caught up in an arms deal that went south to the point of interstellar travel. Like, how does that even happen?"

All Wanda could do was shrug, something the rest of the team emulated yet the question was valid.

Their arrival to the galaxy made less sense than theirs did.

The group fell silent for a few seconds until Hope hummed aloud in thought.

"Maybe we can get in touch with the Guardians and see how they got here."

"I'm sorry, who?" Wanda asked.

"The Guardians of the Galaxy." Sam elaborated. "Weird name, I know. Anyways, a while back, we met the group on Mandalore during a summit of theirs. Vision knew them a bit more than the rest of us. One of their members is also like us, he's from Earth."

"Really?" Wanda's eyes gleamed in interest. "How?"

"Something about him being abducted thirty-six years ago, around 1988 and hasn't been back on Earth since." Hope said.

"Why not?" Natasha asked.

"No family left tying him down, apparently, or at least what he assumed given how long it's been." Wilson answered.

"Though he was rather interested to go back at some point in time." Vision added in. "Granted I may have been a part of this action with my last chat with him in terms of Earth's media content."

"So there's another guy from Earth running around in the galaxy that we gotta find now." Rhodey mused.

"And how do we do that?" Scott asked with his girlfriend snorting.

"The girl with the antenna, Mantis, she said that if we follow the explosions and chaos, it would lead back to them eventually."

"Oh, so basically… Avengers in space." Lang surmised with a nod. "Should be easy enough."

"Not exactly a ringing endorsement on our end, Scotty." Nat dryly said.

"He's not wrong." Pietro countered cheekily. "Lot of stuff goes boom wherever we go."

"Lovely." Hope sarcastically said.

"Anything else you'd like to share, Wanda?" Steve inquired. "We've still got a lot to cover with Ultron and the war as a whole. Just wanna get your side all said and done."

The Scarlet Witch pondered a moment before her eyes glanced towards the general direction of her shared bedroom.

She had thought of perhaps talking to her fellow team members about Ventress and how she interacted with her. And this would complicate matters, given Ilyana is her cousin.

But something else in her possession could be of some equal value.

"There was one thing I didn't mention about my time on Dathomir." She said, having her one hand glow. "Something which made a significant impact on me and my girls."

The bedroom door softly opened so it wouldn't awaken Wanda's wards. Shortly afterwards, the Avengers saw a pair of pyramid objects floating over before falling into open hands.

To a number of people in the group, the objects seemed eerily familiar to them given their past experiences with something relatively similar in nature.

Before anything could be voiced, Wanda used her powers to open up the Sith holocrons to reveal a pair of ancient spirits hovering over their respective devices.

"Everyone, I'd like for you to meet my mentor and an annoying pain in my ass, in that order." Wanda said, shooting a mocking look at the tattooed woman glaring at her. "This is Darth Kreia and XoXaan."

-Scene Cut-

The council had been gathered once again.

Or more as those who were present with the rest being present via holo-transmission.

The purpose of their gathering was simple.

To properly meet the latest and final missing Avenger that Obi-Wan and Anakin had brought back with them from Dathomir.

And to them, just like with Vision, it was easy to sense the power that she was radiating though it was substantially less than the synthetic Avenger.

Not to say that it still wasn't noticeable. Her power was unique, to say the least.

If there was one word that could be used to describe it was… chaotic.

When looking at her, they couldn't help but focus more on her attire.

While the typical Jedi generally wore brown, white, gray and beige for traditional sakes, others wore the occasional black and darker robes for some significance. And the Sith were heavily focused on black.

Ms. Maximoff's appearance with her heavily red attire was rather unsettling.

But then they had to remember she had been on Dathomir all this time. She couldn't have worn any other color since and may not have time since arriving on Coruscant to acquire any other attire.

The entire Council had been brought together for this meeting. All but one.

The seat belonging to Lannik Jedi Master, Even Piell, was noticeably vacant.

After some moments of silence, the Grandmaster of the Order was the first to speak.

"A pleasure it is, meeting you at last, Ms. Maximoff." Yoda greeted her with a cordial tone. "Much dismay and concern the Avengers have shown when looking for their lost comrades."

"I can understand that." Wanda politely said in turn, inclining forward slightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. Thank you for providing a home for my friends while they were looking for me."

"We owe a great deal of debt and gratitude to the Avengers." Plo Koon's baritone voice echoed in the chamber. "They have helped us a great deal in this tiring war."

Wanda only hummed in thought.

"We understand that you yourself have been busy." Mace Windu now spoke.

Her shoulders went up and down slightly. "Can't exactly sit around doing nothing all the time."

Yoda hummed aloud, eyes closed. "Much we can sense in you, Ms. Maximoff."

"The Force but… not the Force." Ki-Adi-Mundi stated. "Much like Vision, your brother and Peter Parker."

Wanda blinked upon hearing that. Peter had the Force?

Didn't they mention that everyone other than those touched by the Mind Stone have no traces of the Force in them?

What made Peter special?

"We are just as curious about this yourself, Ms. Maximoff." Windu said, appearing to understand her silent questioning. "But this isn't about Mr. Parker. We called you hear because we wished to speak with you *ahem* privately."

Looking past her, he eyed Steve, Pietro, Natasha, Vision, Rhodey and Sam who were all present at the meeting, standing back from the assembled Council.

"Let us speak on your arrival from Dathomir." Adi Gallia spoke up in a calm fashion. "With your return came a message from the Nightsister leader Mother Talzin requesting assistance in taking care of this Gethzerion."

"You are correct. And not just her but many of the other clan leaders."

"Anything you can tell of us about her?" The holo-transmission of Shaak Ti asked. "Whomever this Dathomiri Witch is, to get a number of clan leaders requesting our aid must hold serious danger."

Wanda nodded at the Togruta Jedi Master. "You are right in that regard."

She crossed her arms for a moment. "Let's see… centuries old, a significant member of the Nightsisters before she was banished for her actions, oh and yes she's somewhere out in the galaxy with some plot in mind." She soon used her powers to conjure an ethereal copy of Gethzerion so those present may know her appearance. "Not to mention she really sells off the sinister old crone look quite well."

It was quite interesting for the council members to see Wanda's powers on display for the first time, aside from Obi-wan who had seen a small glimpse beforehand.

"Like she was going to go all villain on me and detail her nefarious plans to me. All she did was find me, failed to recruit me and we had a small fight; just to see how weak I am compared to her. After that, she used some spell to warp off the planet."

"She went off planet from a spell?" Mundi inquired in slight disbelief.

"The witches of Dathomir utilize the Force in ways we know not nor understand." Windu pointed out. "They're not generally Dark Side focused. There's some clans who use the Light Side."

"Yet it's the stigma of their planet, their practices which labels them as such." Wanda added in. "They understand the Dark Side is not to be conquered externally but internally. The Dark Side is something that exists within all so trying to kill it is a fallacy. You can't kill a facet of the Force that exists in everything."

A number of councilors shared a look with each other before focusing back at Wanda.

"Knowledgeable of the Force, you appear to be." Spoke Grandmaster Yoda.

"To an extent. I have had some insight here and there to help me gain opinions on the matter since arriving on Dathomir."

"And I take it you have an opinion on our Order." Mace stated more than questioned.

"Maybe I do. Maybe I don't."

"And what do you make of our Order?" Shaak Ti asked.

Wanda didn't respond at first, looking down at the ground briefly before glancing back at her friends that were present for this meeting. They all held neutral expressions with none of them encouraging or discouraging whatever opinion she may have of the Order. Just for her to speak what's on her mind.

Looking back at the Council, she exhaled slowly as she gathered her thoughts on the question at hand.

"Truthfully… You are all… too restrictive and narrow minded in how you view the Force and how you view life itself." Wanda admitted without an ounce of reservation. "There I said it. No need to walk around it."

She heard her brother and most likely Sam and Rhodey snorting aloud at her comments with amusement and exasperation emanating from Steve, Nat and Vision.

It appeared that whilst the comment threw off the Council, they weren't responding as negatively as she thought they would.

"Restrictive you say, hmmm?" Yoda queries. "Restrictive how?"

"First of all, attachments. Having "none" of them is dumb but also a contradiction." Wanda listed off. "Don't you all care for each other? I mean, masters and students, right? The bonds you share to strengthen yourselves against practically so many dangers out in the galaxy?"

"Our duty is to share compassion for all, Ms. Maximoff." Windu said. "Not just a singular person."

"While also being apathetic and choosing to express as such ain't all that great." Said the Sokovian. "And your Order's progression seems rather stagnant if you ask me."

"Yet it has kept the peace for a thousand years." Oppo rebuked.

"Has it really?" Wanda countered. "God I hate what I'm about to say but… URGH, I think you guys have confused your peace with quiet. The Sith are still out there, aren't they? They've been around all this time and only now did you find out about them. Talk about incompetence."

She snorted derisively. "Then again, the Sith are no better with how they are. Manic, power hungry sycophants who gain power as quickly as they lose it. Merely blinded by their own corrupted ambition and never getting a better picture of what could be done."

Lessons from Kreia and XoXaan flooded into her mind, making her think more of the present situation at hand.

"It's like you're trying to play god with who you want to help or induct. Fearing what ripples will affect everything else around them because of your actions." She shook her head with a small snort. "It's what both you and the Sith have tried to maintain control and yet it's been done all so wrong. Even with everything you've done, war runs rampant, slavery abound, corruption in every direction."

"What you are asking for is for us to enforce our will across the galaxy in a forceful, almost tyrannical manner." Luminara Unduli spoke up, a cool inflection heard in her tone.

"No, what I'm saying is to be more proactive in the galaxy then holed up in your temples, day in and day out." Wanda shot back with her arms crossed. "Maybe the Sith would have been a distant memory by this point."

"The way you are implying it, it sounds to me that you're blaming the Jedi for a lot of the woes of the Galaxy right now." Windu said with a sharp edge to his voice.

It was at this point that the meeting was interrupted by a Mind Stone bearing Avenger coughing into his hand and walking forward to stand alongside Wanda.

"If I might interject, Councilors." Vision said respectfully. "What you said right now, Master Windu, it is something that I myself have pondered for quite some time now."

"Something to say, you do, Vision." Yoda spoke slower this time. "Something… more, perhaps? Beyond what is said now?"

"I do, Councilors." Vision said, a slight bow of his head. "With respect, I believe there is a level of truth to what you said, Master Windu and in fact, it is something that could even be applied to my own team."

Hearing them be brought up, the other five Avengers present in the room lifted their heads up more slightly as all had their attention on the wielder of the Mind Stone.

"As you are aware of by now, the team of Avengers you all have met are not the complete set, so to speak." Viz remarked. "There's several members you have yet to meet and with the additions of Mister Parker and Murdock and T'challa, it is reasonable to assume that there may be more Avengers and enhanced cropping up back on Earth."

The Council was silent as they listened with rapt attention now given the serious air Vision was emanating.

"Back on our world, many point to Captain Rogers as Earth's first superhero as he came into being to fight the megalomaniac known as the Red Skull." Viz spoke like a teacher recounting a history lesson. "Though they were not as in the open as he was, there were others that arose in the decades following his absence such as the predecessors to Ant-Man and The Wasp being Ms. Van Dyne's parents. But then came Tony Stark who outed himself as Iron Man. And in the eight years of Mr. Stark's appearance to the world as the armored superhero, the number of enhanced individuals have increased at an exponential rate. Conversely, in that time the amount of world ending threats have risen at a commensurate rate."

"Vision." Cap spoke up, yet the android was determined to get his point across.

"Captain," He looked back at him. "Steve… please."

The super soldier looked like he wanted to say something but opted to remain silent and respect his comrades wishes.

Turning back to the Jedi, Vision went on.

"Now, back to your Order and your ever present war with the Sith. Have you ever thought to yourself just why conflict came about?"

The Jedi looked at one another, not really answering the synthetic Avenger as he went on.

"There's a litany of reasons and patterns that I have seen from both the Bendu and my arrival here in the archives of your Order. Young Mr. Parker with Ms. Tano and Ms. Offee have been rather busy of late going through the history of your Order for several days now." Vision said, sounding rather fond of the trio in their pursuit of knowledge.

"Is there a reason for all this, Vision?" Plo Koon inquired, not unkindly but a bit anxiously.

Vision paused for a moment as he dwelled on the matter at hand before finally to his conclusion.

"I believe you are looking to narrow mindedly on the many conflicts and wars your Order has faced in the past for it is something that can be applied to my team or any enhanced individual from Earth." Vision stated. "We are, in it, ourselves, responses to dangers and threats that had been overthrown by our hands, establishing ourselves as the dominant power. What we hold, what we possess, the very nature of our organizations comes from our strength. And in that, there is a level of causality at play here. Our very strength invites Challenge, Challenge incites Conflict and Conflict? Conflict breeds Catastrophe. The Will of the Force has perhaps little to do with this notion as it can be an individualistic choice. Or maybe it has to do with the laws of the universe itself."

"And what would that imply, Vision?" Luminara calmly asked.

"The Prophecy of the Chosen One… a suit of armor around the World." Vision said with a frown. "These… these would maybe be only short term solutions. Threats, challenges, new adversaries are always going to arise. Sometimes in ways we are all familiar with and in others, new means that can catch us off guard. The fact is, even when one great evil or threat is taken care of, who is to say that others are not going to replace them? The Force is not needed in that regard. We ourselves will always be the architects in creating our own enemies. Be it directly, indirectly or playing no hand at all. Someone or something will always rise to face us. The question is will we always be strong enough to beat it back down and keep the innocent safe. The ones who have nothing to do with our conflicts."

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Obi-Wan asked. "Are you saying that all of our struggles, all of the loss that the galaxy has endured will always be for naught? I am quite certain that you share my sentiment when I say that I would not standby if the galaxy is in danger."

"But have we been truly upholding our duty as Jedi?" Kit Fisto abruptly asked, a frown marring his face. "This war happened under our watch, a war undoubtedly orchestrated by the Sith."

"It is their challenge to our power once again." Plo Koon muttered, arms crossed in thought.

"Jeez." Sam muttered quietly to the others. "Talk about relentless. How long have they been at this again?"

"Few thousand years give or take." Nat quietly said.

"And we have what, eight years? Seventy tops but Cap wasn't that active." Rhodey murmured.

"Let's go with ten, combining my two years in the war with the eight since Tony." Steve whispered, the team all silently nodding in agreement.

They refocused their attention on the meeting at hand and watched as the Council were discussing a number of issues now.

"Much to discuss, you have given us." Yoda remarked, showing deep contemplation. "Time on Dathomir, I wish to discuss with you Ms. Maximoff. But for a later time and date."

Wanda only nodded with an expression conveying that she honestly would rather not but she also knew they wouldn't really leave her alone until she told them about her time on Dathomir.

And she would of course but only so much.

She could only imagine how they would react if she told them about XoXaan and Kreia.

These Jedi Council members were stuffy to say the least. Most of them were from what Wanda was picking up on with maybe some being more loose, if she could call them that.

As the Avengers left, the Councilors finally had time to speak amongst each other.

"The Dark Side of the Force." Windu spoke up almost immediately as soon as the Avengers were out of the room. "She's surrounded by it."

"But not in the way we are used to seeing." Kenobi stated, arms crossed and in deep thought.

"From what I could sense, she's honestly suppressing much of her power." Spoke Plo Koon. "I dread to think what the full measure would be if she unleashes it all."

"Yet she isn't hostile." Fisto brought up.

"Unless provoked." Oppo said, clearly disgruntled by Wanda's presence. "She is dangerous."

"That's a bit too far of a thing to say, Master Rancisis." Luminara interjected. "Different as she may be, Wanda Maximoff is still an Avenger."

"And what does that entail?" The Thisspiasian Jedi asked.

"An ally and one who has our benefit of the doubt." Unduli said. "Are we to disregard the aid they have given us?"

"Or the enemy they had brought to our doorsteps?"

"That is not fair and you know it." Depa Billaba countered.

"Quite the mystery there is of Ms. Maximoff, of what particularly occurred on Dathomir." Plo Koon remarked in interest. "We all agreed on the shared thought that not every Avenger could've wound up in "safe" environments. The others were lucky with how they turned up, hers can be considered the opposite."

"Wanda being influenced greatly by the one she resided all this time." Fisto murmured.

"From what I got to know of Wanda since finding her, she was treated… well enough." Said Kenobi. "Yes she dealt with the vocational troubles, but nothing much more than that. The coven in which she stayed with seemed to regard her as one of their own."

"Nightsisters are not to be so easily trusted." Mace commented. "Especially one led by Mother Talzin."

"And what if she were to fall to the Dark Side of the Force?" Mundi inquired. "What are we to do then?"

"The Avengers are not like us." Obi-Wan rebuked. "They are not susceptible to the Force in the ways we are. Their abilities and powers stem from outside the Force with the twins, Vision and young Peter being the only ones we can identify as "force-sensitive" and even then, they're a special case."

"I hope we are not considering the possibility of turning on the Avengers simply due to one of them being unlike the rest." Shaak Ti said, eyes narrowed slightly.

"We can't rush in and do something reckless and stupid, even." Kenobi sternly warned. "If we suddenly feel threatened by Ms. Maximoff or any of the other Avengers, do you really think they would side with us?"

"A difficult decision this would be. One we wish will never happen."

"Are we really considering such an option?" Kenobi asked, now rather upset.

"No, no." Plo appeared adamant. "We should do no such thing."

"Is this something so easily brushed off?" Windu questioned, clearly still troubled by the last Avenger to be found.

"What I wonder about is what Wanda said in particular. I know the context and meanings, yet there's something else about it all." Kit Fisto said, looking towards Yoda. "The manner in which she spoke, does it not sound familiar?"

"Meetra Surik." The Grandmaster said straight away, nodding to himself. "A coincidence? Perhaps."

"Her holocron held many of the same lessons she learned and gained throughout her life and struggles in taking down the Sith Triumvirate and thereafter. Lessons she learned from her experiences during and after the Mandalorian Wars. Lessons from the Dark Lord Darth Traya or Kreia as she called her"

"It was uncanny." Adi remarked, humming aloud. "How much like her she sounds."

"Is there another Holocron of the Exile that we don't know about?" Fisto jokingly asked though a subtle hint of seriousness was evident.

"There's much that we lost during the Jedi purge four thousand years ago." Saesee Tinn spoke up for the first time, having been relatively silent for the majority of this meeting. "Whether or not Ms. Maximoff came across such an artifact is up in the air. What is of more concern is what her presence will affect not just the Order but everyone else at large."

"Discuss this, another time we will." Yoda said, tapping his cane to the ground. "Other matters and duties to attend to, we have."

With that, the Council dispersed for the time being with the Grandmaster staying behind for a time to be alone in the chamber.

After sitting by himself for a few minutes, the small green Jedi pressed on a panel in his chair, the seat floating up off the ground.

Guiding it out of the room, Yoda idly floated through various hallways and corridors in the temple, exchanging small greetings with any Jedi he saw in his path until he found who he was looking for.

Not hard really considering the insane Force signature he was giving off.

And he wasn't alone.

"Captain Rogers." Yoda announced himself, the super soldier with the yellow caped android turning to him. "Vision."

"Master Yoda." Rogers greeted respectfully, frowning slightly as they had just seen each other minutes ago. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing of the sort, Captain Rogers." Yoda shook his head. "A moment of his time, I wish to have with Vision."

Vision and Steve glanced at each other before the latter shrugged, silently saying "up to you".

The vibranium humanoid momentarily mulled it over in his head before nodding.

"After you, Grandmaster." Vision said, gesturing for the small green Master to lead on.

Steve quietly patted Viz on the shoulder, walking away from the pair as Yoda led the caped Avenger into a nearby room that was empty.

"Is something amiss, Grandmaster?" Vision asked as soon as the door to the room behind them closed.

"To be seen, perhaps." Yoda muttered. "Much thought, the meeting has given us. Given me."

Vision nodded quietly, thinking back to the meeting for a moment.

"What are your opinions on the matter of Wanda?"

The Grandmaster closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Too soon to formulate a response." Yoda admitted. "Reckless, uninformed, we must not be."

"How are you and the other councilors fairing with the Exile's holocron then?" Vision asked. "I take it you have learned a lot."

"Indeed we have." Yoda smiled slightly. "A great amount of gratitude, I still hold for you, Vision. Perspective and knowledge, your Holocron has given us."

"It wasn't really mine per say." He said with a slight huff of a laugh.

"Much on my mind, there still is from our first meeting." Yoda stated. "Your vision is one thing, seeing the Bendu. Another, being in person."

"I can understand that." Viz nodded. "I take it you wish to meet with him?"

"When the opportunity arises, yes." The Grandmaster confirmed. "Yours and Maximoff's discussion. Further insight, I seek. If possible, another perspective; another view. Much to learn there is. Much to rediscover, we must."

"It may prove difficult to go back to Bendu at this point in time with everything that is happening right now." Vision pointed out, the small green Jedi appearing troubled. "Perhaps… You and I can have sessions wherein we can delve further into all my time spent with the Bendu on Attolon before we get the chance to meet with him."

Yoda's ears had perked up slightly, his face lighting up with clear interest in the idea.

"To learn more about the Force, an opportunity I will not disregard." Yoda bowed his head forward. "Thank you, Vision."

"Think nothing of it." Vision said kindly. "Always happy to help."

-Scene Cut-

"What is this about, Commander Bly?"

Aayla Secura was walking towards the war room in the Temple with her first officer in Command of the 327th.

She wasn't alone as Commander Wolffe was next the yellow accented armored Commander.

Other than those two Clone Commanders, with them were Captain Rogers, Natasha Romanoff and Sam Wilson.

"Has something happened?" Steve asked, frown evident for all to see.

"In a manner of speaking, Captain." Bly said with a grimace. "Two to many, so to speak."

"Two to many?" Wilson parroted. "The hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Are we getting a double dose of dangerous crap all at the same time?"

Wolffe grumbled slightly. "Knowing our luck, you're likely not far off ma'am."

Nothing else was said as the group continued forwards though there was now a clear foreboding feeling permeating between them.

Soon enough, they arrived at the war room to find it practically full with Avengers, Jedi and Clones all inside.

"Oh boy, full house." Sam quietly muttered. "You know this is bad."

"We're all here." Obi-Wan announced aloud. "Then we can begin."

"What's going on, Obi?" Nat asked right away. "Got all of us here for what?"

"Several matters of great importance." Kenobi stated with a troubled expression for all to see.

The Jedi master started by speaking of two transmissions that the Temple received the day before, around the same time.

Now, messages and transmissions come into the temple on the daily, what with the war and such.

But these two in particular stood out from all the others.

The first transmission was one that had been intercepted far beyond the Outer Rim and was located deep in the Crelythiumn system.

Normally such a thing wouldn't garner much attention and be brushed aside as a glitch or useless static. Yet upon further inspection, buried in the message is a Jedi distress code which hasn't been used in over 2000 years.

"A 2000 year old message?" Ahsoka said in surprise. "A Holocron is one thing but a transmission code?"

"And from an area beyond the Outer Rim." Plo remarked with his arms crossed. "Crelythiumn is more in Wild Space than the Outer Rim."

"Bordering it at the very least." Skywalker commented, looking at the display of the galactic map. "I don't like the look of this."

"Me neither." Obi-Wan spoke up. "Reason why we're gonna need some back up."

"And what's the other transmission you spoke of?" Pietro asked aloud, seated in one of the many staircase seats of the room.

Mace Windu's expression was deadly serious, conveying a more grim countenance.

"We have reason to believe we may have found one of Ultron's foundries."

The entire room lit up with conversation, the Avengers tensing up now with many holding more determined expressions.

"How is this possible?" Rhodey asked for the team.

"Ultron is not someone who would be so easily found." Matt stated, many murmuring in agreement.

"ARC trooper Fordo with his new batch of ARC's," Kit Fisto revealed. "During their final mission in the midst of their "graduation" discovered a distress beacon sent to us by Jedi Master Even Piell."

"How can you be sure?" Rogers asked grimly.

"Tap and Karen with Vision's assistance helped us in deciphering the coded message Fordo and his ARC's picked up from Piell." Kenobi said, gesturing to the mentioned Avenger who stood right next to him.

Many in the room muttered between each other until Anakin spoke aloud.

"So what we're dealing with here is two transmissions, both of which are undoubtedly important and we gotta figure out how to go about dealing with them."

"But one is just an old transmission is it not?" Wanda asked. "What makes this as important as dealing with Ultron?"

"It could be a Separatist ploy to lure some of us in."

"Old tactics sometimes help out a lot, confusing the enemies of the present." Spoke the Super Soldier. "Perhaps someone from the Order could be using this particular transmission code to hide their whereabouts from Ultron and anyone else aside from the Jedi."

"Or it could be something from the past that has come back to us." Barriss countered. "In the last few months, a great deal of lost and ancient knowledge has been coming back into the Order."

"My Padawan's words hold merit." Luminara said, with a pleased smile directed at her student. "Unsure of whatever it may be, an Old Jedi Code like this one is not to be disregarded so willingly."

"Ok but say what you will, Ultron is a far more pressing matter, old codes aside." Rhodey stressed out. "We can't just send multiple fleets to answer an old distress beacon."

"But it can't be something so easily discarded." Ahsoka refuted, standing by her fellow Padawan.

"Then we'll just have to tackle both." Aayla Secura declared. "We'll have two teams with one checking out the distress beacon and the other going after Ultron."

"I'd rather we do it quickly then." Kenobi said. "If the transmission is nothing, the first team shall rendezvous with the other and we will mount an assault on Ultron's found base."

Many spoke of their agreement with the suggestion with Plo looking at the assembled group.

"Question is, who will go after which?"

-Scene Cut-

"Are you sure it's a good idea, Cap? We did just get back together."

"Trust me Wanda, we've been doing this for a while. Better to be safe than sorry with Ultron at play. Could be a trap so we need some of us to stay behind on Coruscant in case anything else might pop up."

"We'll be back faster then you'll realize, Wanda." Vision assured.

"Yeah, we've done this a dozen times already with you guys." Anakin remarked from his seat as he piloted the shuttle up to the Star Destroyer under his command.

"Ok, if you're certain about it." Her voice was clearly not certain.

"Alright, let's get this over with." Skywalker said. "We'll check the transmission out, see if it's nothing then link up with you Cap."

"Hopefully you'll come over when you can."

"And miss out on all the fun? As if."

After the meeting in the war room, it had been decided that two teams would be made in tackling these two scenarios that had presented themselves before them all.

Team one, which was composed of Anakin along with Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, Spider-Man, Black Panther and Vision with the 501st and 212th would make a quick run by in the Crelythiumn system.

They would come in bulk to see just what the code was and if it was a trap of any kind, they would at least have some firepower at the ready to counter whatever is thrown at them.

The second team was large but also more focused.

Captain Rogers and Aayla Secura would be leading a more covert infiltration of Ultron's base, taking with them Black Widow, Ant-Man, Wasp, Secura's former Master Quinlan Vos, Barriss Offee, Delta Squad, Commander Bly and the newly promoted ARC Troopers in Cameron, Flash and Lucky along with four other Clones labeled desirable traits for this mission simply called squad 99.

Their objective was to get in the base and learn as much as they were able while also rescuing Even Piell and other Republic Forces.

In further deciphering of the message sent to them by the Jedi Master, they had discovered that Republic and even other forces, Separatist, neutral and regular people were being held prisoner there.

So the mission had changed to getting in and getting them out until team 1 finishes their objective and comes in with the cavalry.

Though just to be sure, the 327th corps along with the 104th and 41st Legion were also on standby if anything were to happen to team one.

They were not taking any chances.

Reaching the Crelythiumn system took some time for the first team. Yet nothing was wasted as they were preparing for anything. A Separatist trap or Ultron's.

Reason why the shuttle containing three Avengers and three Jedi will come in from one side while the Star Destroyer will come from the other.

Everything was going according to plan…

Except…

"Rex. Rex, do you read me?" Said Anakin, calling his clone captain from their shuttle. "We're at the rendezvous point awaiting your arrival. Where are you?"

"Sir, we are at the rendezvous point, and there's no sign of you on our scanners."

"Oh, come on. That's impossible." Anakin countered.

"Have you guys bothered to check out of the window? You know, like the good old days?"

"It's not that simple, Peter." Ahsoka said with a roll of her eyes. "And we have a window in front of us."

"Or above us or even below." Pointed out Vision. "I can "breath" in space. Perhaps I can phase out of the ship and use the Mind Stone to fire a beam up for Captain Rex and Commander Cody to locate.

"We could also shoot up a flair if we're feelin' lazy." Peter said offhandedly. "Better to do that and just rely on a piece of tech that may malfunction due to our whereabouts."

Anakin hummed aloud. "He does give a fair point."

"Would you mind, Anakin?" Kenobi inquired.

Seeing no harm, Skywalker fired a flare from their ship and let it go into the void of space. It's a flash going bright for what will occur for a minute before dying down.

"Did you see it?" Anakin asked with some hope in his voice.

"Nothing."

"Okay this is getting confusing." Muttered out T'challa.

"Clearly. We're at the exact coordinates where the distress signal originated, but there's nothing here. Same with Rex and Cody, yet we can't see either of us." Said Skywalker.

All Kenobi did in response was stroke his beard. "This is getting interesting."

It was at this point did the holo-transmission with the Jedi Cruiser start to glitch out.

"-unable to find you. Where are you, sir?"

A moment later, it went out.

"Something's blocking the signal." T'Challa stated, eyes narrowing now. "This may indeed be-"

A split second later, everything within the ship went out, interrupting the Prince from finishing his statement.

Those manning the consoles immediately began checking everything. Yet nothing was responding at all.

"Everything's dead, even the life support." Kenobi said in alarm.

"And how long do you think we'll last without it?" Peter asked, worried now about their situation.

"Something is here." Said a foreboding voice.

Looking over to the Vibranium-synthetic Avenger, who had suddenly spoke up, they saw the Mind Stone was glowing with its wielder boring a more sterner face.

"What's here?" Ahsoka asked a bit nervously.

"I didn't sense it before, but it has finally made its presence known."

In an odd turn of events, everything started to turn back on before anyone was able to question Vision any further.

"...Huh, okay…" Peter scratched his head a little. "Did someone mess around with the breaker or something."

"I didn't touch a thing." Anakin said.

T'challa was looking at other parts of the ship.

"Everything seems to be in working order." He informed the group with Ahsoka looking things over on her end until she heard Peter inhale sharply.

She looked up at him, seeing him stare ahead in alarm. Frowning, she turned forward to see out the window to what could possibly have taken her friend's attention and she soon imitated his reaction.

"Guys… what's that?"

It appeared as an octahedron shaped station, one which had clearly not been there before. It would've been harder to spot, given it was primarily black in color; yet the faint red lines running along its surface had it barely pop out.

Or perhaps it was, yet something blocked them from seeing it.

In an instant, it appeared as the station seemed to grow larger, but in truth it was something else entirely.

"We're being pulled in." Vision warily said, the shop now moving directly towards the structure.

As they drew closer, their communications soon lit up with alarmed chatter.

"General?!" Rex's voice blared through the comms in alarm. "General Skywalker?! We see you! What is that?!"

Anakin looked down at his ship's radar and picked up on the fleet that had magically appeared behind them.

"Rex, we're being pulled in." The Jedi immediately informed his Captain, grabbing the controls and trying to make the ship turn in any direction away from the monolith to no avail. "We have no control of the ship."

"We're trying to get to you, General but… something's preventing us from following you!"

"Well that's not terrifying to hear." Parker commented, clutching his seat tightly to the point that he was slowly bending the metal in his grip.

From the center of the foreign station, it began to open up. And from that opening, a magnificent bright white light began to shine on through.

It didn't take much guess work for the ones inside of the shuttle to realize what's about to happen.

"Everyone, strap yourselves in or hold onto something. Looks as though we're going for a ride." Kenobi announced.

Anakin, Obi-wan and T'challa -being the only ones seated- fastened themselves in while Peter, Ahsoka and Vision braced themselves for what's to come.

The white light began to grow brighter and brighter, encompassing them all.

The last thing they heard were the voices of Captain Rex and Commander Cody shouting for them.

Next thing they knew, they were slowly regaining consciousness.

One by one, each person was trying to recollect their last known memories as some were experiencing some levels of migraines.

"Ugh… my head."

Ahsoka's eyes fluttered open when hearing this. She began processing that she was lying on something firm and warm. She could hear a strong and steady… heartbeat? And she had picked up something smelling nice?

Turning her head, she realized what she was on.

For at that moment, she and Peter's eyes met.

Both teenagers slowly blushed as the padawan quickly peeled herself off of him before getting her friend onto his feet.

The two awkwardly looked away from each other as they saw everyone else waking up. Anakin, Kenobi and T'challa waking up in their seats while Vision extracted himself from the floor from a position that would normally strain a person.

"Must've blacked out." Groaned out Anakin.

"Then who landed the shuttle?" Asked T'challa.

"No clue." Skywalker said, rubbing his eyes to get the blur out.

Obi-wan shook his head to clear up the fog. "Mmm, where are we?"

The Black Panther looked at the nearby console and gave out a report. "All of our readings indicate that it's bigger than an asteroid. Yet the atmosphere is breathable."

"Well, this is getting more unusual by the minute. I can't even lock down where in the galaxy we are… or if we are even in our galaxy." Kenobi stated.

"Please don't say that." Peter groaned out. "I don't want us to get even more lost."

Anakin was combing through the systems and gave a small report. "At least the ship's systems are fine, but, for whatever reason, nothing's working."

"I recall Captain Rex and Commander Cody calling out to us before we arrived… wherever this place is supposed to be." Vision said.

"Any chatter on the comms?" Anakin asked, watching his former Master try for it only to get nothing in return. "Great… now what?"

"We see where we are." T'challa said, his Vibranium Panther habit activating. His suit materialized around him save for his head as all stood up, the back ramp lowering itself.

Slowly walking out of the shuttle, the group of six was tense and ready for anything that might be waiting for them outside the ship.

Upon exiting the shuttle, it appeared that they were alone for the most part.

Once they took a moment to look around, a few things came of note for them to realize.

The feel of the air was rich, much like the environment.

It was as if they were in literal springtime.

Asides from this, there were a great many boulders and rock structures floating in the air, being entirely stationary.

"Whoa, are we on Pandora?" Peter commented.

"Huh?" Ahsoka looked at him in confusion.

T'challa couldn't help but snort. "Perhaps, Parker. Not outside the realm of possibility."

"What are you two talking about?"

"Movie." They both answered simultaneously, cueing an eye roll from Tano.

"Of course it is."

"Marvelous." The Android Avenger whispered, seemingly enraptured by the environment around them.

Peter titled his head, looking at him curiously. "Vision? You okay there?"

Viz shook his head. "Forgive me, I just couldn't help but comment."

"About what?" Ahsoka asked.

"A number of things." Viz vaguely said, the two teens sharing a look from his answer.

Obi-wan pulled out a pair of binoculars, hoping he could find anything remote for them to travel to.

"Hey, I think I saw something." Spoke the padawan. "A reflection on the hill."

The Jedi master glanced slightly to the general direction Ahsoka pointed towards.

"I don't see anything."

The Jedi Knight tried to assist his padawan to figure out what she spotted when-

"Are you the One?"

Anakin snapped his head around when he heard this.

"Wait… What?" Skywalker soon turned to the others. "Uh… did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

Getting this response, the Jedi Knight shook his head thinking it might've been his imagination.

He looked over to the Avengers, noting that Vision had a frown on his face.

Did he hear it too?

Or was it legitimately in his imagination?

Unfortunately for him…

"Are you the One?"

…it turned out to be real.

This time, it wasn't just Anakin hearing this, but the rest of his group.

They turned over and saw a beautiful, radiant woman in ornate, regal clothing with creamy white and golden fabrics. Her rich green hair reached towards her knees which was freely flowing as it was partially held back by a golden head piece. And there were a number of other pieces of jewelry on her.

And when mentioning radiant, it was quite literal as she appeared to be glowing.

"Hello…" He said in an unsure manner.

Obi-wan stepped up next to his old Padawan. "Who are you?"

"I am Daughter."

The others… didn't know how to properly respond to this. Practically silent in processing-

"...Okay… Quite the original name." Peter soon felt Ahsoka jabbing her elbow into his ribs. "Ow."

"Don't be rude." She admonished him.

"I wasn't trying to."

"Are you the One?" Daughter asked, looking directly at Skywalker.

"Uh, the One what?"

Anakin didn't get a response as Daughter soon focused her gaze at the three present Avengers.

"You… you are not what was meant to be here."

"I don't think any of us are meant to be here, ma'am." Vision said.

All the Daughter did was narrowed her eyes, momentarily glancing at Viz's forehead before turning around with a decision being made.

"I will take you to him."

"Him who?" Asked T'challa.

"Uh, did you bring us here?" Ahsoka added in.

"Only he can help you." Said Daughter. "There is little time. Follow me. We must have shelter by nightfall."

She began walking ahead, the others not following after her for a moment.

"And we thought the planet was strange." Anakin soon nudged his head to the greenette. "How about this one?"

"We'll be fine as long as we stay together." Said the Jedi Master of the group.

They followed along the path the Daughter took, staying close together and towards their guide.

As time passed on, the new arrivals in this world conversed with each other.

"Have you noticed the seasons seem to change with the time of day?" Obi-Wan pointed out, gesturing to some foliage that was changing its colors from vibrant green to an autumn-esque orange and brown.

"Rather unusual." T'Challa muttered out.

It was springtime when they arrived, yet as they walked through this mountain pass, he could feel the heat rising as if it were Summer. And when looking on ahead in the distance, he could slowly see the shift of greenery to become those appropriate for Autumn.

"And there are no animals." Continued the Wakandan prince.

"That shouldn't be remotely possible." Said Ahsoka.

"And you sense it?"

"Mm-hm, since we arrived." Skywalker said, responding to Kenobi's question. "The Force is very strong."

"Much like her." Added in Vision as he eyed Daughter. "Reminds me of the Bendu."

Obi-wan nodded and took that into consideration. "This is unlike anything I've ever felt before. Be wary."

"Don't remind me." Said Peter. "I'm already wary as it is since she suddenly popped up out of nowhere."

Curious about a number of things. Skywalker sped up his step to speak with Daughter. "Excuse me. Who are you taking us to?"

"The Father, of course."

"Of course." Ahsoka muttered out.

"And what exactly are you?" Vision asked with obvious intrigue.

"We are the ones who guard the power. We are the middle, the beginning and the end."

This only raises further questions with the group tailing her.

"Glad she cleared that up for us." Ahsoka quipped whilst Peter rubbed his chin in thought.

"Wait, are you guys like some ultra-Zen-buddha Gods or something?"

He received no answer, making him deflate slightly and having Ahsoka pat him on his back.

It was at this time did the Autumn setting swiftly came towards their position.

Moments later, the mountain seemed to tremble, not a lot but only enough for a large rockslide to occur from up high.

Peter's sixth sense blared in warning and he along with Anakin shot forward towards the Daughter.

"Hey! Look out!" Anakin cried out, him and Peter shoving the radiant woman forward just as the rocks from above came crashing down between them and the others.

Over with said others, Vision floated back whilst Obi-wan had lost his footing and was about to fall over the edge of the cliff when a black gloved hand shot out and grabbed his arm, pulling him to safety.

"Thank you." Obi-wan said, nodding at Panther who simply nodded back.

"You're welcome."

On the other side of the rockslide, the Daughter got up and bore a fierce look on her beautiful face.

"It is forbidden for you to touch me."

"Is it forbidden to save your life?"

"Peter." Anakin warned the teenager.

"I'm just saying…" Grumbled out the Web-slinger. "Clearly she doesn't know a good Samaritan when she sees one."

Not that he would voice it but Anakin found himself agreeing with the teen. That wasn't exactly how someone reacts when they have just had their lives saved.

Talk about ungratefulness.

Before they could say anything else, Daughter had looked up at where the rockslide had come from, expression morphing into that of worry.

"That was my brother's work." Her ethereal voice conveyed concern "You are in great danger. Wait for me. Do not leave this place."

With this said, the Daughter walked off, leaving Peter and Anakin dumbfounded and alone.

"Hey, wait!" Called out Anakin, trying to let them join her.

"I'm not even surprised really." Peter dryly said.

Obi-Wan's voice then chimed in through their comm links.

"Anakin, Peter, are you there? Are you alright?"

"We're fine. But our tour guide ran off." Parker stated, clearly annoyed by her actions.

"Go back to the ship and try sending another distress call. We'll follow Daughter and find out how to get off this rock." Anakin instructed.

Obi-wan frowned. "And if this is a trap?"

"Then I'm not gonna wait around to find out." Skywalker said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Please, stay where you are. Wait for us to find another way around and meet you."

Anakin chose to ignore this, and apparently Peter as well.

For the two ignored both Obi-wan and Daughter's request of staying put and moving onward.

"So reckless and impatient."

"Don't worry, we'll find them."

"Yes. And what else?"

"I'll go after them." Vision announced, levitating up into the air. "If they're with her, it's best if they have additional firepower."

"Are you certain this is a good idea?" T'challa questioned, with Vision shaking his head.

"No, but she has an interest in Skywalker." He said, thinking back to his earlier observation of her. "Whatever may happen to him and Peter, It's better to be safe than sorry."

Without another word, Vision flew off, spotting and quickly flying forward to join Peter and Anakin.

"Well great, now we're even more split up." Ahsoka deadpanned, shaking her head at their situation.

Rumbles of thunder quickly filled the air. Looking to the side, they saw dark clouds swiftly approaching.

"Those were clearly not there before." Noted Obi-wan.

"Storm's coming." Responded T'challa. "Let's move."

They were quick on their step, despite them trying to be careful of any possible rockslides like before.

It took some time getting back to where their ship was parked…

And yet…

"The ship's gone."

"Yes, I see that."

"It was here, no question."

T'challa was silent, looking around for anything that may pop up and surprise them.

Something about this place was strange. He definitely felt something off about this whole place.

And not just in his gut.

His feeling was… he couldn't quite describe what it was but it was unsettling.

"Look." Ahsoka pointed towards the nearby plant life and saw them rapidly deteriorating. "They're dying."

They silently watched the plant life wither away when-

"Did you lose something?"

The dark echo caused the three to whirl around to see the source. Ahsoka, meanwhile, activated her lightsaber as a response from being startled while T'challa whipped out his claws, his mask now forming around his face.

The first thing they saw were the bright red eyes, popping out from the bone white skin with red tattoo markings surrounding his eyes and running down his cheeks as if he were crying. And the same markings appeared over his bald head. He wore a skintight bodysuit composed of some red and black material.

"You didn't do as you were asked."

His voice certainly wasn't doing him any favors with them.

A bit too much on the menacing side.

"And what was that?" Kenobi asked, wary of this being before them.

"My sister said to wait."

"Did she, now?" T'Challa remarked, slowly spreading his legs apart and bending them, ready to pounce in case this newcomer tried anything.

"Unfortunately we were separated by a rockslide." Kenobi said diplomatically.

Getting a general feeling now, T'challa spoke up a demand. "We'd like our ship back, if you don't mind."

"Not… yet." The Daughter's brother walked towards Obi-wan with a curious expression. He did glance over to T'challa for a moment, as if taking the man's measure before focusing back on the Jedi Master. "Quite the unusual one, isn't he?" He soon spoke in a whisper loud enough for the others to hear. "Is it true that he is the Chosen One?"

Obi-wan widened his eyes, quickly stepping back and activated his own lightsaber with Ahsoka activating another.

"What do you know of such things?" The Jedi Master inquired, now guarded as he brandished his azure blade in the red-eyed beings direction.

"What is about to happen shall occur, whether you like it or not."

And with a wave of his hand, the stranger had deactivated the lightsabers, much to their owner's surprise.

"You are Sith."

Focusing at the man before them, Obi-wan could feel how dark he was. How deep he is in the Dark Side of the Force. It was as if he was born in it, molded by it. He was clearly unsettled by being remotely close to him.

"Sith?" This caused the pale man to let out a throaty chuckle. "Yes… and no." He turned around and began walking away from them as a downpour began to happen and accelerate. "The storms here are quite lethal. If you want to live, I suggest you find shelter."

He then took off at a dead sprint. A moment later, he leapt into the air as a flash of lightning appeared in the other's vision. In the man's place was now a gigantic bat-like creature as it began flying towards the distance.

"What… in the universe was that?"

"I'm not quite sure." Said Obi-wan.

Lightning began crashing down from the heavens. The sounds of thunder being continuous as it was rampant all over. Several bolts almost struck down the trio as it all went down.

"Quick. There's a cave over there." Called out T'challa.

The trio took off, running for their lives as neither of them wouldn't get killed by the unnatural force of nature.

Over with the others…

The trio consisting of Anakin, Peter and Vision had lost track of Daughter some time ago. Each did their best to locate her from Peter swinging around and climbing up the mountain top to Anakin and Vision reaching out to sense her. Yet their efforts were all for naught for a number of reasons.

Before any of them could continue further, a nasty storm erupted out of nowhere, causing them to seek shelter and plan out their next course of action.

And it was at that time did they spot something out of the ordinary from the rest of the planet: a monastery.

There was a gut feeling they may find Daughter at the structure or someone else entirely. Who's to say as they took the gamble and headed straight towards their destination.

They found it rather strange the freak storm wasn't touching the mountain where the monastery was built upon. Yet neither of them could argue as once they were near the vicinity of the mountain did they feel marginally safe.

It was only when they entered the structure did things shift considerably.

From their perspective, everything suddenly shifted and expanded yet… it seemed like nothing had changed.

Inside the monastery was a grand room and in it, a sole occupant.

"Mmph." Peter flinched, hand up to his head with Vision shaking his own as the Mind Stone pulsed.

Anakin was about to ask if something was wrong when he felt something as well, making his head whip back to the lone individual inside the chamber they had entered.

"You guys all felt that, right?" Peter asked.

"Yeah." Anakin slowly said, Vision quietly nodding his head. "How can you feel it, Pete?"

"I don't know." Peter was clearly uncertain. "But… maybe it has to do with my sixth sense. It's been acting really screwy since we got here."

Anakin was aware of this having seen Obi-Wan give lessons and assist in Peter learning to hone this sixth sense of his.

His former Master spoke of how Peter's additional ability reminded him of the type of precognition a Jedi gets in regards to sensing immediate danger.

So for Peter to be reacting like this, was this ability tied in with the Force?

Or was it something else?

Regardless, they had more pressing matters on hand.

Slowly making their way towards the center of the chamber, they got a clearer look at the long individual within the Monastery.

Seated in a meditative position was a wizened old man with a long, neatly braided beard. He wore ornate silvery-gray robes with gold trimmings with a matching hat.

Opening his eyes, the old man revealed his bright silvery-blue eyes to the trio. They held much power within them as he inspected them.

"Welcome, my friends." He spoke in a way as his voice reverberated an echo, much like Daughter.

"Were you expecting us?" Vision quietly asked.

The old man gazed upon Vision for a brief moment before focusing on the Mind Stone. His attention then moved towards Peter before landing on Anakin.

"Only you, but not them." The aged man said, turning back to the two Avengers. "They… I did not foresee their arrival nor would an ingot of infinity make its way here once again. A wielder of the Mind and… fascinating… a totem of the web."

"Huh?"

A totem… of the web? Was that supposed to mean something to Peter? Was this old man referring to his outfit or what?

"You were expecting me?" Anakin was guarded. "Is there a reason why?"

"To learn the truth about who you really are, one that maybe you have known all along." He soon rose up from his seated position without moving a muscle, revealing his full height of being a head taller than Vision and Anakin. "One you must believe in order to fulfill your destiny."

"Enough with the riddles, old man. Tell us what's going on here." Anakin stressed out.

"Beginning with… who should we call you?" Viz said with respect.

"You may refer to me as the Father."

"At least we now know who Daughter was referring to." Parker commented. "But what was that thing about us earlier? You called me a totem?"

"And you know what this is." Vision spoke up, hand trailing over the Mind Stone which was now glowing quite brightly now.

"I do and more." The Father's voice reverberated off the walls of the large hall. "Your arrival here, all of your being here, what has been foreseen is no longer what it once was. You have changed things."

The storm raged on outside of the monastery, which could be seen from the nearby window.

"As you can see, there is nowhere else to go." The Father soon walked away, prompting the three to follow. "You will be my guests tonight."

-Scene Cut-

Inside of a cave, a litany of crystals sprouted out of the ground. The minerals surrounded the impromptu encampment constructed by T'challa and the Jedi. At the center of it was a roaring fire.

Obi-wan had the first watch while the others slept. He volunteered, given he had a lot on his mind and didn't know how to process it all.

It has been a common occurrence for the Jedi Master.

His eyes briefly felt heavy when he sensed something strange. Something which he hadn't felt in years.

Obi-wan was more awake now, being more on guard as he wondered what was making him feel so alert.

"Obi-wan."

That… that voice.

"Obi-wan."

Turning around, the Jedi master froze in his spot.

"Obi-Wan, have you done as I asked?"

Kenobi's eyes widened considerably, almost not believing what he was looking at.

If one were to describe his expression, it would be that of someone who had just seen a ghost.

And in reality that was exactly it.

It was undoubtedly a ghost.

Because standing in front of him was none other than his deceased Master Qui-Gon Jinn.

"Have you trained the boy well?"

"M-Master?" Obi-Wan then jumped to his feet, igniting his lightsaber. "How are you here?"

"I am here because you are here."

"That… that doesn't explain anything, Master." Obi-Wan was put off by the brief moment of warmth that bloomed in his chest.

He could feel it. This was his Master.

But he had to be sure.

"I don't understand, how are you here?" Kenobi then gestured to the cave or moreover, the world they were on. "What is this place?"

"Unlike any other." Qui-Gon answered. "This world is a conduit through which the entire Force of the universe flows. The Power Cosmic as it is truly called."

Obi-Wan looked troubled, now more than ever. "...Are we in danger?"

"This planet is both an amplifier and a magnet. Three are here who seek Skywalker. They, like me, believe him to be the Chosen One. And it is they who will now take notice of your companions."

Deactivating his lightsaber, Obi-wan looked away from his former mentor. "You were right. The Force within him is stronger than any known Jedi. I've trained him as well as I could, but… he's still willful, and balance eludes him. But most of all… I wasn't the one to rightfully train him."

"How so?"

"Because I'm not you."

"And is that so bad?"

"What?"

"You can never be me, my young apprentice. Only yourself." Qui-Gon shot him a proud smile. "It's why I entrusted his training to you." Said smile became solemn. "And if Anakin is indeed the Chosen One, he will discover it here."

"And if not?"

"Then you must realize with his power, this is a very dangerous place for him to be."

"But you mentioned our companions," Kenobi looked over to a sleeping T'challa. "What is their role in all this?"

"Ah yes, the Avengers." Jinn murmured in open interest. "They have changed things greatly, Obi-Wan. Drastically even."

"What does that even mean, Master Qui-Gon? What have they changed?"

"You felt it when they first arrived here, no? The way the Force reacted to their arrival to this galaxy. Nothing shall ever be the same with their actions here."

"I agree but…"

"You are worried if that is a good thing or bad thing." Jinn surmised, Obi-Wan not responding but it was easy for his Master to deduce that was exactly what was on his mind. "Amongst their numbers reside those of the Nexus. Those who will greatly change not only the galaxy but everything beyond it and further."

That ended up troubling Kenobi considerably. He had been discussing this type of issue with the rest of the council, and yet this bombshell was just dropped on an unprecedented level.

"How stressful for you, my former Padawan." Qui-Gon's voice was now laced with humor. "To train not only one but two Chosen Ones. Well, maybe not a Chosen One but young Peter holds greater importance than you realize."

Obi-Wan's head whipped up at his Master upon hearing this.

"What?" Kenobi was now worried but also intrigued. "What's this about Peter? What's his role in all this?"

"Fret not, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon reached up and to the shock of his former apprentice, he felt a solid hand placed upon his shoulder. "Just continue your duty as a Jedi above all else and Young Skywalker and Parker will become greater than they already are. I have faith in you, Obi-Wan. It's why I entrusted Anakin to you and it appears the universe with Peter."

Kenobi stared, greatly conflicted by all this, hanging his head for a second.

"That doesn't exactly fill me with con… fidence."

Obi-wan was only met with silence when he finally realized the ghost of his former master had disappeared to rejoin with the Force.

-Scene Cut-

Tossing and turning in his assigned quarters, Anakin was having a hard time falling asleep. He was relatively used to this sort of thing, given the war and old nightmares. Yet this time was completely different.

"Can't sleep?"

Anakin sat up grumpily, looking at Peter leaning on the doorway in his room.

"Yeah." He muttered, crossing his legs and hanging his head. "This whole place is making it impossible."

"Same here." Spider-Man said, walking into the room with a shake of his head. "This place gives me the creeps, ya know? How can we sleep in a place like this?"

"Lest we foolishly lower our guard."

The pair looked back to the front of the room and saw Vision walking in.

"Have you gotten any word from Obi-Wan, Ahsoka or T'Challa?" Anakin asked the android, seeing him shake his head and stare out the window to his room. "Great."

"Something is blocking our means of communicating with our friends." Vision surmised. "Or more likely, someone."

"The Father?" Peter guessed.

"Or perhaps The Daughter or her brother, who I may assume -with their unique theme- be called The Son." Vision stated. "It is difficult to discern who is our enemy and who isn't."

"Didn't that green haired lady say it was her brother who separated us?" Parker brought up.

"That could be what she wants us to think." Skywalker countered. "This whole place is really starting to set me off."

"And that old dude knows something about us." Peter crossed his arms, clearly disgruntled. "Stuff that we may not know about ourselves."

"Well that alleviates all of my concerns." The Jedi sarcastically said.

The third member of their group had fallen silent all the while, still looking out the window, watching the storm rage outside.

His mind was a whirl with activity almost to the point that you can almost hear the machine aspects of his head at work.

"Three…" Vision muttered.

"Hmmm? You say something, Viz?" Anakin asked, looking up at the synthetic Avenger.

"Three beings…" He muttered to himself, apparently not hearing Anakin. "Three that remain… it can't be… can it?"

"Vision?" Peter now waved his hand in front of his comrades face, breaking him out of his thoughts.

"Hmmm? Yes? Is something wrong?"

"That's what we should be asking you." Anakin remarked. "You looked all spaced out there for a moment. Everything alright?"

Vision didn't respond straight away, instead having his eyes now trailing down the ground.

Anakin and Peter looked at each other, a silent questioning gaze exchanged between them both before turning back to Vision, patiently awaiting his response.

"The Bendu." Vision said, the name confusing his two companions. "When I was with him, he spoke of beings that were known as Celestials. Individuals of extraordinary and unimaginable power. Beings who can shape the cosmos, move the stars and create galaxies. And how thousands of years ago, they no longer dwelled here. They had departed from this galaxy."

He looked at the two brown haired humans, eyes glimmering. "All but threewho were forced to stay here."

"Wait, so," Peter pointed behind him towards the door. "Do you know what they are?"

"It is only a theory." Vision admitted. "But perhaps we shall find out if we ask."

"And just how would we do that?" Anakin wryly asked. "Just go up to him and say "Hey old man, you wouldn't happen to be part of a super race that could weave the very fabric of the Universe by any chance now would ya?"."

Peter shrugged. "We can ask politely."

Anakin shook his head, amused by the suggestion and patted the teen on the shoulder. "How bout we try to get some shut eye this time around, huh?"

Nods were given out by the two Avengers before leaving the Jedi alone to eventually fall back to sleep.

-Scene Cut-

Back at the cave with the other trio of this team, Obi-wan had remained awake, deep in thought after his conversation with the spirit of his deceased Master.

He was so engrossed in what he had just experienced that he didn't realize that his two companions were going through supernatural experiences of their own.

Prince T'challa was lying still yet his closed eyes were darting about rapidly despite being closed.

He was undergoing a familiar sensation, something he had not gone through since he had first become the Black Panther. A vision he hadn't had since partaking of the heart-shaped herb to grant him the powers blessed by the goddess Bast.

Though in the physical world, T'challa was in a deep slumber, within a world of ethereal dreams, the man shot awake.

There was a cold sweat visible upon his forehead and a heaviness to his very being that he did not understand where it was stemming from.

He knew where he was but…

Instead of just the typical starlit purple sky with the clear wilderness, or at least signs of a gorgeous sunrise/sunset, there was something amiss to it all.

The skies above were pitch black with few stars being perceived in the piercing darkness of the skyline.

Yet everything else was still visible to be seen.

Rising from the grass, he looked around in curiosity.

Why was he here? Such a thing shouldn't be possible. He wasn't dead or had taken the herb ritual again.

Getting to his feet, T'Challa looked around the Wakandan Ancestral Plane and saw no Panthers in any direction.

Where were the Kings and Queens of old?

Why was this place of grandness and majesty so barren and empty?

Something was wrong.

T'challa's mind was moving at a mile per second rate as he began trying to figure out just how he got here and why was the Ancestral Plane so empty.

He was slightly disturbed by the emptiness, a feeling of unease creeping upon him until he heard movement behind him.

Spinning about, T'Challa couldn't help but jolt back slightly at the sight of a strange man dressed in rather plain clothing.

Plain being a simple shirt, pants, shoes and such.

A far cry from the lavish or simplistic robes and royal garbs that the past rulers of Wakanda had worn when he had last seen when he first became the current incarnation of the Black Panther.

This man… he was a stranger… So why did he look so familiar?

Not only did he look familiar but he felt some sort of deeper familiarity with this man.

Before T'challa had a chance to speak, the odd man chuckled, sounding rather fond.

"You look like him." The strange man said with a small smile. "But… maybe a bit more handsome." The man snorted. "Don't tell your father I said that. You must've inherited the better part of your looks from your mother. Your father couldn't quite ever learn to restrain himself from bragging about Ramonda."

T'Challa eyed the man warily. He knew of his father and his mother but… he wasn't a King he was familiar with.

"Who… are you?" The Prince finally asked, watching as the man exhaled in a bit of disappointment.

"Surprised my brother or your mother never spoke of me." He murmured quietly. "But I suppose they had their reasons."

"Brother…" T'Challa parroted, eyes widening upon now knowing who stood before him. "Uncle? Uncle N'Jobu?"

"Ah." The now identified family member had a wide grin for his nephew to see. "They at least had the courtesy of telling you my name, good."

T'Challa almost couldn't believe it.

His Uncle was standing in front of him. Someone that his father almost seldom ever spoke of.

Family.

Without even realizing it, the Prince had walked right up to his blood relative and pulled him into a hug.

N'Jobu seemed surprised by the gesture but returned it all the same.

Pulling away, T'Challa was at a momentary loss for words as he stammered out.

"H-How are you here Uncle? Why did I not see you last time?"

"Truthfully? You can thank your father for that."

"What?"

"I shall tell you… for another time." N'Jobu turned, beginning to walk away and T'Challa instinctively followed him.

"What do you mean? That is not a fair thing to say, Uncle, stating something like that and then walking away."

N'Jobu chuckled, shaking his head with a reminiscent smile in place.

"Baba used to do the same to me and my brother when we were children." N'Jobu remarked. "I believe he did it to teach us a lesson in patience… or maybe to get a laugh out of our frustration. I am leaning upon the latter at this moment."

T'Challa frowned as he looked ahead towards the near endless plane that they were walking in.

"Why am I here, uncle?" He quietly asked. "How am I here? I thought it was not possible to be here unless the ritual of the Heart-shaped herb is enacted."

His Uncle became deadly serious as he looked his nephew in the eye. "Because someone would like to speak with you." Was all he said before walking away from him.

T'Challa then froze up with his entire body tingling from head to toe.

He sensed something… large was nearby. It hardly made a sound which came from behind. Turning around, he froze at his position.

It was a black panther, but nothing he had ever seen before.

It was enormous, as tall as he was. Fierce and dangerous yet elegant and graceful. Its paws barely made any noise as it approached, rich golden eyes fixed upon the Wakandan prince. It stopped and sat down, the panther's height towered over T'challa given how close it was to him.

"You are a long way from home, my child." The voice was that of a mature woman with a reverberating echo similar to the Daughter and Son yet far less louder.

The Wakandan stood ever frozen, feeling rather nervous on this magnificent creature- no, calling this being as such felt extremely off.

"Bast above." T'challa whispered.

The gargantuan Panther Goddess standing before him let out a small chuckle.

"What is that fanciful phrase that humanity has developed over the many centuries?" The feminine growl that came out was both powerful and soothing. "Ah yes, that's my name, don't wear it out, as you mortals say."

Hearing the enlarged panther speak caused his mind to pretty much shut down. It rebooted as he had to remind himself he was in the Astral Plane and more or less anything could happen.

And yet… he knew her. It was all coming back to him. The feeling he obtained when taking the heart-shaped herb and the blessings from them. He felt them in full force and originating… from her.

"Do you know who I am, young cubling?"

"You are Bast, the Panther Goddess of Wakanda." He stared at the enlarged entity as he soon knelt down and bowed his head in respect. "The Devouring One. She of the Sun and the Moon. One of the 'Eyes of Ra', as is your sister, Sekhmet. Wife to Ptah and mother of Mihos."

The newly identified Bast smiled, as it appeared to be in her present form. The action had her razor sharp white teeth be shown and partially glint in the light.

"Very good, cubling, very good." Bast congratulated him, speaking as if she was an ancient, wise grandmother rather than an incredibly powerful goddess. "Not many would remember that much about us. Not even your fellow people, I'm sad to say."

This was certainly confusing to hear.

How can Bast say such a thing when she is the deity revered above all others in Wakanda.

Every school and educational program within the country always has it that they pray to Bast, to her gift and her legacy that is still present to this day.

Much as he wished to ask about what she had meant, there were far more pressing questions on his mind.

"Bast, how is it that I am here in the Ancestral Plane?"

The Panther Goddess hummed aloud, lifting her head up to the blackened skies above.

"The place in which you reside is a special place in the cosmos." Bast spoke slowly. "A Nexus in the Universe that allows for greater impossibilities to become possible."

That answered one question, vaguely as is, so T'Challa had a more important and personal one in mind now.

"Shuri… our parents… how are they?" He quietly asked, looking up at the Goddess of his people with hope and fear in his eyes. "Are they well? Are they-"

"They are all alive and well, Prince T'Challa."

The future King slumped and fell back onto the grass, letting out a tearful laugh.

"Thank you, Bast." He said with utter relief and joy. "Thank you."

"Think nothing of it, cubling." Bast said in a warm voice. "Some good news can go a long way."

Indeed it can.

But that didn't assuage all of his concerns.

"And what of the title of the Black Panther?" He asked. "Has anyone taken it up since my departure? Father? Mother? Shuri?"

Bast nodded, specifically at the last name.

"Your sister, Shuri, has been a decent stand-in since your abrupt departure; despite her troubles in being the new Black Panther. Her not being entirely capable of her training as she had started out rather late, but what can you expect with what happened."

"Has she-"

"She has only taken a small dose of it. Barely enough really but it should come as no surprise considering the company she keeps at this point. The archer is proving to be an amusing sight to say the least in bothering her." Bast revealed. "But in the end, the title of Panther at this time would suit her ill. She is not you, Prince T'challa. Her strength comes from her mind, not from her body and heart. At best, she will only be that. A momentary placeholder until you return."

T'challa nodded and was both saddened and worried about her having to take up the role of their people's protector and icon.

"And if I don't?"

"Do you really believe that?" Bast ended up exhaling a sigh. "Though since you're curious, in the worst case scenario, she will have to work hard to maintain the throne in more ways than one. At least she will have the support of her fellow members of these Avengers back on Earth."

"Avengers?" T'Challa was certainly surprised that the Goddess Bast of all deities would be aware of them.

Then again there's Thor who is a member so…

"Wait," T'Challa held up his hand. "Are you telling me that my sister has joined the Avengers that are still on Earth?"

"She has. She sought their help in finding you and in turn joined their ranks."

The older sibling let out a strained chuckle. "Of course she would. Reckless as ever."

"It runs in the family, Avenger." She smirked at him before continuing. "As for your parents, they still pray for your return while seeking to maintain stability with your absence."

"I greatly hope it will be soon. I miss home and my people."

"Yes, from here of all places." Bast looked above. "You've traveled far Cubling. Farther than any Panther who had come before you. I guess a new precedent has been set. Next time your father enters this domain, I shall inform him that you are alive and well."

That certainly surprised him yet it shouldn't come as such.

His father would indeed go to great lengths in making sure his family was safe and sound.

"But we shall speak again, Prince T'Challa."

"Hmmm?" Was his only response until he felt himself lurch backwards and seemingly plummet into an endless void.

"Be wary, young cubling. This realm holds dangers and mysteries better left untouched."

That was the last thing T'Challa saw before he felt himself fall back into his own body.

-Scene Cut-

Anakin tossed and turned in his bed, having fallen asleep some time ago. His mind being plagued by old nightmares, which didn't help with the roaring thunder being heard from outside of the monastery.

"Wake up, my son."

Skywalker did not respond right away. He only rose out of it when he felt a hand caress his face.

"I must tell you a secret."

Startled, the Jedi quickly rolled and saw a dark figure in his guest quarters.

"Who are you?" He said sternly. Getting no response, he spoke again. "I said, who are you?"

"It is me, Ani, your mother."

As if to prove the point, the lightning flash from outsight brightened up the room from the nearby window to illuminate the person. Blue eyes widened in shock and disbelief when they drank in the form of a person their owner hadn't seen since before the Clone Wars.

His mother, Shmi Skywalker.

Practically leaping from his previous spot, Anakin landing on the far side of the room and was swiftly wary. "What kind of black arts is this? You're… dead."

"Nothing ever really dies, my son." Said Shmi as they were circling about each other. "Haven't you realized this in your lessons with the Force?" Anakin said nothing as she continued. "I have a secret to tell you."

"Tell me."

"Everything you have done, everything you have learned has led you here."

"Whatever you are, my mother is… is dead." The pain, the ache in his heart was almost too much to bear.

"And you blame yourself." Said his mother. "Your Jedi training has served you well, Ani, but you are more than a Jedi." Anakin looked away, causing Shmi to look on in worry. "Tell me, where is your pain, so I might take it away."

"People I have fought alongside with, them being programmed to essentially be our slaves. I unknowingly became a slave master, something which I became horrified to realize. And I was… too late to save you. I failed as a Jedi, and I failed you."

Shmi reached out and gently cupped her hand on her son's cheek. "How so?"

He gently grasped her wrist and pried it away. "I tasted only vengeance when I slaughtered so many to avenge your death."

"It is time you realized that your guilt does not define you, my son. You define your guilt."

"The only love I feel in my heart is haunted by what would happen should I let go."

"Then it is not love. It is a prison."

"But I… I have a wife." He revealed to her. "You've met her. She's everything to me."

"She's not your destiny."

"But I love her."

It was at this point did Anakin feel a massive spike of the Force in the room.

"No! She is a poisoner!"

Anakin backed away from her, realizing this person was not his dead mother, who could've been a Force spirit like what he learned about. No, this was only someone wearing her appearance.

Lightning flashes in the bedroom, illuminating Shmi(?) and revealing a monstrous bat-like creature for a brief moment. Another flash later had the appearance change to a tall dark figure with red eyes before going back to his false mother.

"ANAKIN!"

Peter and Vision suddenly rushed into his room and the red eyed monster let out a shrieking roar that made Parker and Skywalker wince and cover their ears.

Vision was unperturbed, Mind Stone glowing brilliantly before he fired a beam at the monstrosity.

Wings blocked the beam and a flash of light blinded the trio until it subsided a second later.

The trio saw the entity that was imitating Anakin's mother was gone.

There was a beat of silence within the room and Peter opened his mouth to ask just what that was until the Jedi collapsed onto his hands and knees and began weeping.

The two Avengers were surprised by this sudden action with this being rather uncharacteristic of not only a Jedi but Anakin of all people.

They had never seen the Knight in such a state.

"Anakin." Peter was kneeling down next to the distraught Jedi who was on all fours, his head hung low as he choked out a sob.

"What kind of a monster am I?" Anakin shuddered out. "How can I call myself a Jedi after what I did?"

Tears now freely streamed down his face, the young man pounding his fist on the floor.

"Why couldn't I save her?" Skywalker sobbed. "Why wasn't I there for her? I had the power to do so but I couldn't. I didn't make it in time."

Anakin kept on talking until he couldn't speak any more, devolving into quiet sobbing of pure anguish and distress.

Peter and Vision were silent all the while, simply allowing Anakin this moment to just let out his emotions that appeared to have been repressed from their guess. The way he was sobbing and weeping whilst berating himself was a rather telling indicator of their assumption as he kept going on about his failure as a Jedi and as a son.

Something that resonated with the wall crawler, the teen's shoulders sagging slightly.

He had seen this before.

He had felt this before.

And right now, Anakin needed to know he wasn't alone.

"My Uncle Ben was killed." Peter's voice was barely above a whisper yet Anakin heard it all the same, his body freezing up for a second.

Vision silently looked at the teen as well, watching as his shoulders slumped down even more if that was possible.

"It was my fault." Parker murmured, downtrodden now as he remembered that day so vividly. "I was just acting selfish, ya know? Getting all this power suddenly, hoping to make a quick buck, not be the loser anymore. But the night Ben died, we talked about how things were changing for me. How I needed to be careful in what kind of man I was gonna become."

Anakin had lifted his head up now, looking directly at the somber and now teary-eyed Avenger.

"I didn't listen of course." Parker went on, tone tinged with pure self-loathing. "All I cared about was that match that was gonna get me a few thousand bucks in order to get something for myself. But I barely got anything out of it. Just a few hundred and a snide comment."

The teen's eyes now held a faraway look as if he wasn't presently here but reliving the memory as he continued speaking.

"And then I saw him…" His voice came out in a slight croak. "Running down the hallway with all the money I selfishly thought belonged to me. Stole it from the promoter and what did I do when he got near me? Could've tripped him up, stopped in his tracks with my pinky. But no. Like a rotten brat, I let him run right by me. 'Wasn't my problem.' That's what I said to the guy who got his money stolen."

Now Peter had several tears silently fall down his cheeks.

"When I got to where Uncle Ben was supposed to pick me up, I saw a crowd." Parker's voice shuddered but he kept talking. "And in the middle of the crowd was my Uncle with a hole in his chest and blood pouring out of it."

His eyes shut tightly now, using his sleeve to wipe the tears away only for them to be replaced a second later.

"It didn't take long for me to find him." Peter looked directly at Anakin now, the two locking eyes. "I wanted him dead for what he did to me, to Uncle Ben. I got what I wanted."

Skywalker couldn't help but flinch at how hollow his voice was when it was normally upbeat and friendly.

"But it didn't make me feel any better." Peter whispered now. "And it still haunts me to this day."

There was a beat of silence between the two, Vision all but forgotten as both of these damaged heroes now saw one another in a completely different light.

"I know I'm still new to all this and since Uncle Ben, I've always had this," Parker held up a trembling hand over his chest. "This darkness inside me that is always there, always present. Always threatening to consume me."

By this point, Anakin had risen up yet remained on his knees, reddened eyes remaining solely focused on the Queens native.

"But… but you can't let that guilt define you." Peter stressed out. "Letting it drown you over and over again and turning you into something you don't wanna be. Letting it tarnish the memory of who your loved one once thought of you." His focus was back at the Jedi. "But I know that's not what Uncle Ben would want me to become. That's not the man he saw me as. Or believed I can be."

Peter snorted, shaking his head. "At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I told this to Viz, Ahsoka and Barriss not too long ago but, With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility."

Anakin blinked, ignoring the slight stinging he still had in his eyes.

"Wha- what's that supposed to mean?"

"My Uncle used to say that to me."

Anakin was unable to help himself. "What, like before breakfast or something? That sounds like something a Jedi Master would say."

Parker chortled at the comparison. "Ahsoka said something similar. But yeah, he used to tell me that even before I got bit by that spider. I heard him say it so often but I never could wrap my head around what that could possibly have meant until he died."

Spider-Man shook his head, the internal guilt clear as day to see.

"I didn't know what that meant until some idiot with the gun that I could and should have stopped ran by me." There was a slight tremble in Peter's form as he said that. "Ever since that day, I've been trying to live a life that resembles what those words mean. And I can tell you they mean everything. I can also tell you this… You can live everyday of your life trying to think of something more profound or more on the nose; but for us, for the people like us, who suddenly find themselves looking out at a cray world and not knowing what the Hell we're supposed to be doing in it. I can tell you that just remembering that with great power comes great responsibility… can completely define you."

Peter patted Anakin's back, offering him an understanding and kind smile.

"I know that my Uncle Ben and your mom wouldn't want us to hate ourselves for our own failures. They would want us to keep going and make sure that we did as much as we could before we bit the dust ourselves."

Anakin was silent as he couldn't quite explain the emotions he was going through right now as he was still trying to process everything Peter had just said.

Someone younger than he was, the same age as Ahsoka offering wisdom far greater than that of most Jedi Masters.

It was almost comical as it was unfair, also comical.

It was then at this time did Vision finally speak up.

"It can't always be sorrow, can it?" Vision soon explained, the two brunettes looking up at him now. "For a while I have been alone, yet I found some forms of comfort since I became who I am today. I never experienced loss, as I never had a loved one to lose; yet I do fear the possibility after all this time with the bonds I have made. But if I do lose someone or… I hate to say this, when I do lose someone, I will feel grief, will I not? Yet in that light, what is grief, if not love persevering?"

Anakin's eyes widened slightly when he felt a great weight being lifted off his shoulders.

He didn't understand but there was a feeling of contentment, brief as it was, that the Jedi Knight was experiencing.

Following that, there was a new sense of determination washing over Skywalker. Rising to his feet, he made his way out of the guestroom.

"Where are you going?" Peter asked.

"Getting some answers from our host."

-Scene Cut-

Back in the cave, Ahsoka was tossing and turning in her sleep. She was feeling troubled and no amount of effort could really put her to rest at the present time.

"Are you happy?"

Blinking awake, Ahsoka looked around in confusion. Was that a voice?

Looking around for a moment, she saw nobody around.

It must be her imagination.

"Your master, does he treat you well?"

Or perhaps not.

"And your friends?"

Subconsciously, Ahsoka brought a hand up to the hidden necklace around her neck. The gift Peter gave her, like what Barriss has as well. One she hadn't really taken off since receiving it.

After moments of searching, Ahsoka soon found someone standing close to the roaring fire, illuminating their features.

For some reason, the padawan knew her and yet did not.

From what she could tell, this person was fifteen or so years older than her of the same species. Her montrals were longer as they hung over her shoulders and reached slightly past her breasts while the one behind reached her mid-back. She wore an armored attire with a pair of lightsabers on her hips.

Standing up, the younger Togruta addressed the stranger. "What concern of it is yours?"

"Mine, which would eventually be yours." Came the simple response which only served to bewilder the young Padawan.

"...Excuse me?"

"To be more clear, I'm your future, your potential."

Ahsoka narrowed her eyes at her older counterpart(?) and whipped out her ignited lightsabers. "This is a trick." She said to her.

"Not really." Her older self said simply. "Things are complicated with how the Force works in these types of places."

Ahsoka scowled, clearly not believing her. "Uh huh."

Her "older" self-shook her head. "Haven't you even paid attention to your studies alongside your friends?"

The younger Ahsoka was silent, not really giving much of an answer.

"You have been learning much in your studies of the Jedi but only in its history and not in the ways of the Force as you should be but perhaps, you can do so on your own." The "older" Ahsoka hummed slightly. "Your potential is limitless as is your fellow padawan and friend. But you didn't answer my earlier questions. Your Master? Does he treat you well? Is he a good and proper mentor?"

That was a rather odd thing to ask but she may as well humor her.

"He's… okay. Couldn't stand him at first but overtime he just grew on me." Younger Ahsoka lowered her lightsabers as she reflected on some past experiences. "We occasionally butt heads, but it's due to us being very similar. He's passionate, impulsive, but I trust him with my life."

"Like Peter."

Hearing this threw the younger Togruta off.

"What?"

The possible future of the Padawan gave off a playful smile.

"At least you have Barriss to balance you out."

This only served to further throw the Padawan off, feeling a heat rising from her chest.

"What are you even talking about right now?"

Her question appeared to have gone unnoticed.

"If you think about it more, Barriss and Peter compliment you very well. Giving you an anchor to keep you a bit more grounded; given they're at your same age range, making you feel more relatable with them than anyone else. Spending more time with them than you could have realized."

All these words were really starting to fluster the younger Ahsoka who couldn't quite form a counter to what her supposed older self was saying.

"And yet because of them, you've begun questioning a number of aspects about your life." The older Jedi murmured. "Conflicted feelings, those of which you had never been trained to deal with are beginning to grow within you. You are facing quite the number of contradictions, many of which you share with Barriss."

Younger Ahsoka stuttered. "W-What are you talking-"

Her older counterpart interrupted her with a warm, happy smile.

"Search your feelings. You know them to be true."

"N-No. But I-I'm not-"

"If you keep denying them, the more hurt you will suffer in the end." The smile soon shifted to a frown. "But be warned, you must keep those you care about close, for they will be all you have for what dangers you will face. A darkness is coming, one that threatens all whom you hold dear."

It would be only then will the Older Ahsoka Tano vanish, causing the padawan to wake up with a startled gasp.

"Are you alright, Ahsoka?"

The Padawan looked up to see Obi-Wan standing over her and beside her was T'Challa on one knee.

"You woke up in a rather dramatic fashion." Kenobi pointed out.

"You had a dream, no?" T'Challa surmised, seeing Ahsoka's gaze trail down.

She was silent for a few seconds until answering the two older gentlemen.

"I had a vision." Said Ahsoka. "I think the others are in trouble."

"Likely they are." Obi-Wan remarked. "This entire planet is proving to be a greater danger."

"On that much we…" T'Challa paused in his sentence as he momentarily looked at Obi-Wan until he focused entirely on him.

Obi-Wan blinked at the attention.

"Is everything alright, T'Challa?" He slowly asked, a bit off put by the inexplicably intense gaze Panther had directed towards him.

After a few more seconds, he cleared his throat and shook his head. "It's nothing. We must go now."

-Scene Cut-

Where the Father meditated with his eyes closed, the sound of an igniting lightsaber was heard before it was aimed directly at his face.

"Cannot sleep?" Said the Father. "To strike an unarmed man is hardly the Jedi way."

"Kinda hard not to do this after what I saw in my room." Skywalker then gave out an accusation. "You're a Sith Lord, aren't you?"

"You have a very simple view of the universe. I am neither Sith nor Jedi." Silvery-blue eyes opened as they soon bore into Anakin's very being as he saw Vision and Peter behind the Jedi. "I am much more… and so are you and your companions."

"Look, we already saw the freaky bat monster freak in Anakin's room." Peter spoke up, shooting the man a distrustful glare. "Tell us what's going on here already."

The Father didn't answer right away, only reaching up and grasping onto the blue lightsaber blade barehanded. The confined plasma blade practically screeched as it was being held all so tightly as the old man rose to his feet. Anakin and Peter, meanwhile, were starting to become startled by what they were seeing.

"Some who couldn't comprehend us called us Force wielders." The Father then shoved the plasma blade back into the lightsaber hilt. "In truth, we are more Celestial."

Anakin looked down at his deactivated weapon before gazing up at the man before him, who suddenly appeared as if he was far taller than the Jedi Knight.

"Um…" Peter squeaked, looking at Anakin's lightsaber. "Do you know any Jedi who can do that?"

"Not unless they are made of Vibranium." Came Vision's wary comment, having the Mind Stone glowing and at the ready if anything were to happen.

The Father regarded them all, taking a few seconds to look them in the eye, almost as if he was staring into their souls.

In all likelihood, he was doing just that.

"What are you really?" Anakin questioned. "The Jedi never spoke of you."

"Hmm. Few still know of our existence."

"Like the Bendu?"

The Father paused, eyes widening momentarily before they saw him smile reminiscently.

"Bendu? My old friend lives?" The Father chuckled. "I should have realized it sooner. You were in his presence, weren't you? No; you were his student."

Vision inhaled sharply, narrowing his eyes at the being before them.

"You are one of them, aren't you?" Vision shook his head slightly. "No, you're what's left behind. You are the three Bendu spoke of. The Celestials."

"Ah, so he has mentioned us." Father nodded his head. "Hmmm, though it should come as no surprise with you at least. The stone that you bare in your head. The knowledge that you possess yet haven't even begun to access."

"Hey, uh, not to be that guy but what the hell was that back there in Ani's room?" Peter spoke up, ignoring the small twitch of Anakin's brow at that nickname. "There was someone in there, who looked like his mother, but it wasn't her. It was something else."

"Ah." The Father then stroked his beard. "My son, I suspect. We can take many forms, you see. The shapes we embody are merely a reflection of the life force around us. For our true appearances are hard for others to comprehend."

"And what would they be exactly?"

"In terms of size… any normal planet is dwarfed by our own full presence."

"So you guys can turn big?" Peter remarked. "What, like Scott?"

"I do not know who you speak of, but big is an understatement."

"Alright, alright, enough with the riddles and games, old man." Anakin groused out. "What is this place, what's going on here and why did you bring us here?"

"What makes you assume we had anything to do with your arrival here?"

"It is a rather easy assumption to make given your clear interest in Anakin and us." Vision said in a rather dry tone.

The Father hummed once more, lip twitching upwards.

"We have been silently studying, watching from afar as the great shift in the galaxy has been felt by all who are tapped into our power."

"Our power?" Anakin's confusion was evident. "Is it not the Force?"

"It is and it isn't. My children and I can manipulate the Force like no other. We harness its truest form, its true potential." Said the Father, speaking of the Son and the Daughter. "And yet you assume there is merely just the Force. But there are more powers out there than you'd never believe possible." The Father focused towards the Mind Stone on Vision's forehead. "Take the Infinity Stones for example."

The Father stepped forward to the Android Avenger, eyeing both the being and the stone that is a part of him.

"An ingot that was there when it all began." The Father spoke in a more reserved manner now. "When there was nothing but primordial energy before what you would call it to be the Force. The Power Cosmic as it is called. A power that can shape the fabric of the universe itself. And each stone focuses on a single element of the ever expanding cosmos we presently reside. All six together would truly manipulate things which us Celestials could ever really dream of or perhaps barely reach."

"That sounds very interesting and all but what does that have to do with us being here? What is all this about?" Anakin felt a growing sense of frustration now. "You call yourselves Celestials but I don't even know what that is. What is this place supposed to be? The Force… it's beyond anything I had ever felt."

"And it's giving me a killer headache." Peter added, rubbing his head.

The Father was silent for a second. "Do you know the story of this galaxy?"

"Huh?"

"This place was special, it was unique and held unbound potential." The Father recounted like an old man telling an old folktale. "A galaxy where the many denizens that inhabited it could tap into the Power Cosmic naturally and could use it in a new method we did not recognize. You went on to call it the Force."

"The Bendu spoke of the Celestials having observed and experimented on the denizens of this galaxy before all but you… and your children left and never returned."

"It wasn't that we had a choice or at least… I didn't." The Father seemingly aged even further before their very eyes. "I was a fool. I was too ambitious, too hungry to see what can be done here, what could be accomplished. Creating Celestials without the need of so many planets dying out. My leader judged me for my crimes and I, along with my Children were sent here. Eventually the three of us chose to withdraw from the temporal world and live here as anchorites. To never interfere in the going's on in this galaxy ever again."

"Is this place a sanctuary?"

"And a prison… and something more to manage the one mistake which haunts us to this day."

Vision thought back to what he recalled from Bendu's story and came to a conclusion. "The one who saw herself as your children's Mother?"

Father exhaled haggardly, a forlorn and remorseful expression being seen by them. "Yes… her… the queen of the stars… my queen…"

The Father's eyes closed, head bowing down low.

"You cannot imagine what pain it is to have such love for your children and others, realizing that they could tear the very fabric of our universe if left unchecked."

"That doesn't fill us with a lot of warm feelings, you know." Peter couldn't help but quip.

"You're still not making any sense." Anakin rebuked. "Why are you here other than this "punishment" you speak of."

"It is only here that I can control them and monitor the mistakes we have made. A family in balance, the light and the dark, day with night, destruction replaced by creation; order matching chaos."

"Then why reveal yourselves to us?"

"There are some who would like to exploit our power and gifts. The Sith are but one. Too much dark or light would be the undoing of life as you understand it. When news reached me through the Force that the Chosen One had been found, I needed to see for myself at some point in time."

"The Chosen One is a myth." Anakin said sternly.

"Is it? I should very much like to know." The Father smiled a bit more. "Why don't we find out together? Pass one test, and I shall know the truth. Then you and your friends may leave."

The elder Celestial moved along, motioning them to follow.

"I have a feeling I'm not gonna like this."

"We've got your back, Anakin." Peter assured him, Skywalker giving him an appreciative smile.

"It's best not to keep him waiting." Spoke the synthetic Avenger.

As they prepared for whatever it was the Father had planned, the rest of their friends were out of the cave, wandering across the bizarre world.

"The longer we stay here, the stranger this place gets."

Walking through the valley, Obi-wan, Ahsoka and T'challa saw the shifting environment as the daylight stretched even further. What was once dead was now coming back to life from the odd progression of Winter to Spring.

"It appears the planet is renewing herself." Kenobi noted.

"What about the others?" Ahsoka questioned. "We still need to find them."

"Have faith, young one." T'Challa said patiently "They are more than capable of handling themselves."

Yet as the Prince said this, a pair of airborne creatures flew overhead and came down upon them.

Both Obi-Wan and Ahsoka were caught flat footed when they were grabbed, hoisted into the air and took off. The Avenger of the trio soon went after them with determination to get them back.

Over by the monastery…

The Father was leading Anakin, Vision and Peter in the middle of what could be described as an arena of sorts, the floor somewhat resembling that of the yin yang symbol found on Earth on a few elements.

"So are we like gonna fight some cosmic lions or something?" Peter commented, looking around the area. "You sit up on a throne giving us a thumbs up or down?"

"You are quite the jester, young one." The Father said in a slightly fond tone. "But beneath that mask is that of a heart burdened by guilt. A guilt similar to yours."

Anakin's jaw clenched yet he remained stoic.

"It is here that you will face your guilt and know the truth."

Before they were able to ask anything as to what that could possibly mean, the flutter of large wings were heard overhead.

Flying above them were a pair of large animals. One was a monstrous bat-like creature, the other appeared like a griffin.

And in their clutches…

"Ahsoka/Obi-Wan!" Anakin and Peter shouted at the same time.

Without needing any prompt Vision took to the skies only for the Father to shoot his hand out and his eyes went from black and blue to a cosmic red and yellow.

The Mind Stone pulsed and in an instant, Vision froze up in the air and his body became heavier than Mjolnir itself.

He crashed onto the ground, struggling to move.

Witnessing this halted action, Peter looked over to see the perpetrator orchestrating all this. "Hey! What are you doing!?"

"An incentive for the test." The Father then looked at Peter and with a slight tense up of his face, sent Peter hurtling back.

"Peter!" Anakin and Ahsoka cried out, seeing the teen crash hard into the wall and fall to the ground, appearing to have been knocked out.

"You'll pay for that!" The Togruta Padawan shouted.

"Will you be the one to do it?" The Father goaded, smirking at Skywalker. "Or can you do it, Chosen One?"

Ahsoka was now panicking. "Whatever he wants, don't do it, Master!"

"Let them go." Anakin growled out. "I will not play your games."

"Oh, but I think you will." Said the Father as he began circling Skywalker. "I have ordered my children to kill your friends. The question is…" The celestial disappeared before reappearing at a ledge above them, "which one will you choose to save? Your master? Your apprentice? Or your new friends? You must now release the guilt and free yourself by choosing."

"How about he doesn't have to decide and we free them both instead."

The Father blinked upon hearing that voice and looked over to see the spot where Peter had been thrown to be vacant.

A moment later, the bat-like form of the Son shrieked out as it was suddenly blinded by some sort of sticky substance that went over his eyes.

Spider-Man jumped down from above, rolling beneath the large head of the Son and uppercutting him right in the jaw.

"Shoryuken!" Peter exclaimed.

The batty creature sailed upwards, flapping his wings to right himself in the air whilst not realizing his grip on Ahsoka had loosened.

Sensing this chance, Spider-man jumped into the air and fired two webs at the Padawan and yanked her free and into his arms.

"I gotcha." He said, Ahsoka smiling at him before they both landed and turned their heads up at the monstrous form of the Son glaring down at them.

The Father watched all this and was about to intervene when he sensed something coming towards him.

Diving from above, the elder Celestial avoided a black projectile which crashed towards the ground. He did rear back to avoid a few attacks from the new arrival to the monastery.

"Good to see you, T'Challa. What took you so long?" Said the Web-slinger.

The Black Panther didn't give a response at all, only continuing his assault in trying to strike down the Father.

The Father scowled at these attempts, thrusting his hand forward just as T'Challa swung his fist at him.

The fist that struck the palm expunged the built up kinetic energy Panther's suit had built up around the two.

"Fascinating." The Father remarked. "The connection you have is different from the others. Another unique being."

"I care not for your words." Black Panther retorted. "Only that you are holding my friends against their will."

"Am I?" The Father rhetorically asked and with a flick of his finger, sent Panther flying back.

The superhuman flipped in the air, landing on the ground and using his claws to prevent himself from going back any further.

Obi-wan sought to free himself from the Daughter's talons, yet he felt her connection with the Force was overpowering his own. He was tiring himself out on the continued effort, but it was all for naught.

Thankfully, he was freed by Vision who himself had managed to get up due to Panther's intervention.

"Are you alright, Obi-Wan?" He asked the Jedi Master, quickly moving to assist him to his feet.

"No, but I'm alive." He then called out to the others. "Their powers are too strong for us. We cannot fight them like this!"

Anakin was having a hard time trying to help, yet the chaos made it hard for him to take part in.

He looked back and glared at the Father, giving out a demand soon after.

"Let them leave! They have nothing to do with me."

"They have everything to do with you." The Father countered. "Only you can make my children stop their actions."

Anakin looked over to see Ahsoka, Peter and T'challa fending off the Son whilst Obi-Wan and Vision prepared to face off against the Daughter.

He looked back and forth between the two groups, feeling torn at having to choose something that his former Master picked up on.

Remembering his conversation with Qui-Gon's spirit, Kenobi remembered something significant. Something which may hopefully turn the tide.

"Anakin, the planet is the Force." Obi-Wan said, seeing Anakin turn to him. "Use it. Remember, let it flow through you."

Anakin looked to his old Master one last time until he nodded and closed his eyes.

Halting his actions, Anakin focused through the Force. Unlike the previous times, he felt something more flowing through his very being. It may have been being on this planet or something else entirely.

Whatever the case was, he was going to use his power to save his friends and comrades.

"You will leave them alone." Anakin now spoke with seemingly several voices, similar to that of the One's.

Whipping out his arms, a shockwave emanated off of Skywalker. It stretched throughout the area, impacting both the Son and Daughter. Both bestial Celestials felt themselves snagged and frozen in place in the air.

As this happened, the daylight swiftly shifted to nighttime. The stars in the sky were now seen as they appeared ever brighter, which reflected off the area everyone was presently at.

Anakin used the strengthened Force to pull both the Son and Daughter closer to him before launching them towards the opposing walls.

Each Celestial crashed and toppled to the ground. They got up and sought to retaliate when Anakin spoke once more.

"Down!" Anakin's voice bellowed around the area yet it seemed to only affect the Son and the Daughter.

Instantly, they were slammed down hard to the pavement with cracks emanating from the hit. The Father's children struggled to get back up and yet-

"On your knees!"

The Son and Daughter were soon forced to submission as they reverted back to their humanoid forms instead of their bestial ones.

"Whoa." Peter whispered, eyes wide at the display of power Anakin just displayed, his amazement shared with Ahsoka.

The rest of the adults were on guard for anything that may occur as they watched Anakin completely dominate the two whilst the Father appeared to beam at the sight.

Everything eventually came to a close as the starry night swiftly went back to the daylight hours.

"And now you see who you truly are." Said the Father, appearing behind Skywalker. "Only the Chosen One could tame both my children."

"You sure about that, old man?" Asked Spiderman. "We sure were-"

"Peter." Ahsoka sternly cut him off.

"What? You know we could have taken them."

Anakin, all the while, was glaring heatedly at the Father.

"I have taken your test. Now fulfill your promise and let us go."

"Ah, but first, you must understand the truth." The elder Celestial then gazed towards the others. "Now, leave us."

"I'm sorry, what?" Spider-Man walked forward. "How can we trust Anakin with you after that bullcrap "test" you just pulled on us?"

"I will not harm or test him any further."

"That's not exactly reassuring." Obi-Wan couldn't help but snark out.

"You haven't given us a reason to trust anything you say." Panther tacked on.

Before the Father could get another word in…

"Guys." Anakin said in a sharp tone. "I got this. I'll listen to whatever nonsense he has to say then we're leaving."

The Father scoffed. "Nonsense he says."

Ahsoka leaned close and spoke low enough for her Jedi master to hear her. "Do not trust him."

"You think?" Anakin said back to her.

"I said, leave us."

"We're going, old man, sheesh." Peter blurted out. "Grumpy much?"

Ahsoka smirked alongside a few others in response.

The two Jedi and the Avengers soon left with the Celestial siblings following suit. One was more willing while the other was rather annoyed.

Once the others were far away, the Father finally spoke. "Do you feel your destiny? You must see it now."

"I don't."

"I am reaching the end of my lifespan and you must replace me."

"...Replace you?" Anakin said in utter surprise. "I can't stay here. There's so much going on with the rest of the galaxy that I-"

"But this is yours. It has been foretold. The Chosen One will remain to keep my children in balance and safeguard the-"

"I'm sorry, but I cannot."

"...I cannot force you to do this. The choice must be yours. But leave, and your selfishness shall haunt you and the galaxy, nay the universe."

"...What's one more burden for me to carry?"

"You don't understand, you are it." The Father now sounded a bit desperate. "You are the culmination, the answer that I have been searching for the entirety of my existence. You are proof that what I have come here to do can succeed. The creation of life and death without the need of extinction. Can you not see it?"

Anakin could yet could not. He did not know just what it was the Father wanted from him. It wasn't just to keep his children under control.

There was an ulterior motive that he wasn't telling him. And for that, he could not trust him.

"Even if what you say is true, the responsibility for me is too much for me to bear. I wouldn't be ready to even take on such a task. Especially now with the galaxy being in the state as it is." Anakin firmly stated without any waver in his resolve. "My duty is to be out there on the frontlines, not in some prison you reaped for yourself and for me to take your place."

The Father's expression fell upon hearing this and wordlessly turned away from the Jedi.

Anakin took that as his cue to leave.

Walking out of the Monastery, he got out in time to hear Peter's usual brand of confused commentary.

"So did the ship park itself or-"

"It's better not to question things here, Peter." Vision succinctly summarized.

"Agreed." Obi-Wan stated. "Let us be grateful that it is back with us."

Walking down the steps, his footsteps alerted the others to his presence.

"Master/Anakin." Came the varied greeting from the group.

"What did the man want?" T'Challa queried, watching as Skywalker crossed his arms.

"A last ditch attempt at getting me to stay here." Anakin scowled until he took a second to look around. "Where are the Son and Daughter?"

"Licking their wounds, I believe." Vision surmised.

"You did give them a good beating." Kenobi pointed out, Anakin shaking his head.

"Not good enough it seems." The Jedi Knight scoffed. "Since their dear old dad wanted me to stay and administer them on the daily."

"Talk about tough love." Peter quipped. "Come on, let's leave already. We still got another mission, remember?"

Hearing this, the rest of the group quickly filed into the shuttle.

All but Anakin entered the ship, something Obi-Wan took note of.

He walked back to his old apprentice, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Ready to get out of here?"

Anakin only looked back at the monastery before nodding, the pair entering the shuttle together.

Hopefully they'll be away from this planet and back where they belong.

Unfortunately for them, their troubles on Mortis have only begun.

AN

And thus, we have arrived at Mortis, a long awaited arc and its opener was as big as we expected it to be but we are only just beginning.

This arc is gonna be important for obvious reasons, more of which will be explored in the coming two chapters cause boy oh boy, do we have special things planned here.

Jebest4781: Things will be brought up here and there for later events and plans. Though of course some things we did promise wouldn't happen in previous chapters… somewhat will. Yes we made those proclamations but that was before coming to realization that some elements would actually be better used by these points instead of sooner. Won't say which ones now, cause spoilers, so please don't get angry at us for these decisions.

FMW: Yeah, when we got to this arc, we kinda jolted and realized shit, we got to be more meticulous with how this one goes about as this is a very important arc both in Clone Wars and also, in this story as a whole. A lot of what will be seen here will reverberate throughout the story as a whole and… well, then again, that's a majority of this season but yeah, honestly, not much more to say really other than finally, another Arc we have been dying to get to.

Here we GO!

Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.