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.

89. Divided Attention

Hey, hey folks, back again with another one, the start of the next arc and the start of something really special to come in this particular arc.

Lot of awesome moments that we're gonna get to at last.

And also, loving how everyone laughed their ass's off at our portrayal of Asajj Ventress' horror in learning who her brother is. Doesn't get any funnier than that.

Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.

Avengers Infinite Wars Chapter 89: Divided Attention.

Things have been rather interesting as of late for the Jedi Order and their Avenger allies.

So much has come to their attention to consider that they're at an odd moment right now.

A moment of brief peace.

It feels like there is a bit of a grace period with the recent cease-fire between the Republic and the CIS. Gives everyone some breathing room for a change. A means of having better time and effort in taking out their common enemy, i.e. Ultron.

On top of all that, there is the underlying hope that the Avengers hope to make contact and reunite with their earthbound comrades soon. Thor would have gone back by this point had it not been for Heimdall having been draining himself considerably with these constant trips between here and Earth.

They were curious as to the status of their friends and allies on their progress with that Infinity Gate they have back home. Hopefully, they can get a status report in the coming months, if they were lucky, weeks or days.

Yet not everything can work out as intended, as there's bound to always have something happening.

Primarily, the insurgent responses from many systems and individuals to the upcoming ceasefire between the Republic and the CIS.

One of which pertained to a certain droid general with a propensity for killing Jedi.

Through some sources and channels, General Grievous has been reported to be traveling to the planet Nelvaan, deep in the Outer Rim territories as of late.

As usual, if defeating and capturing Grievous occurs, the galactic war may end to a degree. Would be near definite if it weren't for Ultron.

But at the very least, a step towards the lessening of hostilities between the two warring factions that started the conflict.

One could only hope.

However, with the ceasefire, trying to capture Grievous may cause issues and unsettle the CIS, reigniting the civil conflict.

Nevertheless, this reconnaissance mission is something that may be detrimental to them. Seeing if there are some "nefarious" plans Dooku and his people are working on under the table.

On the Venator Star Destroyer called the Negotiator, Obi-wan Kenobi was overseeing things through one of the windows.

Around him was the ever-faithful 212th corps, the loyal clones of the Jedi General diligent in their duties.

"Sir. The scan shows no enemy forces in the area." Reported a nearby Clone Pilot, making Obi-Wan frown at this.

"You're sure?"

"Yes, sir. Just strange geothermal readings in Sector 8."

Rubbing his beard in thought, Kenobi turned to Commander Cody who stood next to him, helmet off. The two shared a silent conversation with one another before both nodded, the Commander slipping on his helmet.

"We'll check it out." The Jedi general declared that he and his second-in-command exited the bridge of the Venator.

Minutes passed on by when he and many other clones made their landing on the planet's surface.

It was rather cold with fresh snow littering the earth. The troopers and the Jedi Master were walking through it. Their movements were a tad slow, courtesy of them walking through six inches of snow.

*TWIP*

One, however, didn't go through this little trouble.

Swinging and leaping through the trees, Spider-man was scouting ahead. His suit was a stark contrast with the winter atmosphere all around. Yet with the lack of sunlight and coloring in the environment, it would be hard to blend in unless he fully called out his symbiote suit.

With this mission, he was the only Avenger available to accompany Obi-wan. In fact, it was only the two of them.

The reason being that this was a simple reconnaissance mission, meant to only check and confirm if Grievous was indeed here and if not, whichever splinter Separatist element remains in operation, not adhering to the call for a ceasefire.

'Still feels strange with no one else helping us out here.' Thought the Wall-crawler. 'Though I'm feeling something else while here.'

There was this bizarre sense he was feeling while being on this planet. He didn't know why, but the Queen's native had this unexplainable sensation of reunion or something remotely close.

He landed on a tree trunk, not that high above the other clones and Obi-Wan. He glanced down at them seeing several of them shiver despite their armor being made to resist such temperatures to a degree.

"You guys alright?" Peter asked from his perch.

"We should be asking you that. How are you not cold?" Waxer asked the webhead, the Avenger patting his spider emblem.

"Built-in heaters." Parker cheerfully said. "Cool, right?"

Despite his black suit being on him, his normal outfit and its functions were all operating as per usual with no signs of malfunction. The symbiote didn't enhance the workings of his other suit, just his powers directly.

"And the black suit?" Boil came up from the side of his fellow ARC trooper. "You never really explained to us what it is."

"Well…" Peter held up his hand, looking at the shifting, living organism that has bonded with him as it seeped out of his typical red and blue outfit to reveal itself. "It's not hostile. And it's making me faster, stronger and all that. So… it's not bad?"

"You don't sound too certain." Waxer pointed out.

Spider-man shrugged. "Hey, it hasn't hurt anyone and has helped me out a lot. If anything happens, I can deal with it."

"If you say so, Peter." The ARC trooper with the small Twi'lek tattoo on his helmet remarked.

After what happened with the second invasion of Geonosis, the clones and Jedi have been wary of parasites. The implications of them being how the Geonosians easily retook their planet the first time to their attempt to infest many clone squadrons for a potential swift end of the civil war.

Though this symbiote isn't "parasitic" with what it's done to the young Avenger, it was still something many were wary of; not that Peter could blame them.

They continued on their trek through this planet, occasionally encountering the wildlife now and then but none of the locals nor any battle droids or bloodthirsty General.

Either this planet is inhabited or-

Some commotion seemed to happen nearby, causing some clones to react.

It was soon wasted, seeing some small critters coming out of the bushes and running elsewhere. And moments later, some avians followed suit from the higher areas.

"I don't think they're lethal." Peter said with a small laugh, Boil grumbling under his breath with Waxer chuckling at the expense of his brother.

Obi-wan, all the while, kept his senses sharp, soon feeling something amiss. He saw a number of other small critters make noises, quickly fleeing the area.

"Sir?" Cody spoke up, sensing his General's discomfort. "Is something wrong?"

"Something's startling these creatures." Said the Jedi Master. "And it's not us."

"Peter, do you have anything?" Waxer asks, seeing the webhead swing up to the top of a tree.

"My senses are tingling."

"You're what?"

"Yeah, could have worded that better." Peter said self-deprecatingly. "All my senses are going off. Especially my sixth-"

*GROOOOAAAR*

Heads whipped around to the source of the beastly bellow.

"WHOA NELLY!" Spider-man exclaimed, jumping back from what came charging out at them.

Crashing through the trees was this behemoth of a creature. Large tusks jetting upward from its lower jaw. Many horns along its face, particularly the snout. Its blue hide seemed fatty, yet thick. And its yellow eyes showed the anger it bore as it began stampeding all over.

Practically made others wonder how they didn't hear this sooner.

The clones began firing at them until several were unfortunately crushed by one of the large feet of the beast.

"NO!" Spider-man yelled out in horror, firing multiple web lines at the clones and pulling them all away to safety.

He then leapt into action, delivering a powerful spinning kick that sent the behemoth crashing down to the ground in a heap.

Without missing a beat, Spider-man began jumping around rapidly, throwing several disks that were web grenades with additional webbing from his wrists adding to the substance. It soon encases the monster in its entirety, with even its mouth being muzzled.

The nose remained open allowing it to breathe yet it struggled, all the same, to get free.

"Is everyone alright?" Peter asked, landing on the ground.

There were some murmurs and grumbles but a majority were alive and well.

"Nice response, kid." Cody praised. "That could've gone a lot worse."

Spider-man only nodded when they heard additional movement.

Everyone tensed up, ready for whatever may be coming next after that last beast.

Coming from the treeline, the Jedi, Avenger and clones were met with an assembly of people, wearing indigenous attire and particularly large masks.

"Seems we finally found the locals."

One of them came out of the assembled crowd, revealing it was a young teenage boy wielding a spear. He growled as he thrusted the spear into the snow and yelled in his native tongue.

As this went on, some of these people pulled off their masks, showing their unpleasant looks, all aimed right at Spider-man.

"I don't think you should have done that."

"I didn't kill it." Peter argued, looking at the struggling behemoth trying to free itself from his webs.

"I know, but they appear to be rather crossed with you."

"Yeah, well tough for them." Peter snipped irritably. "A few good men died 'cuz of this big jerk."

Kenobi couldn't really refute that. He was glad the casualties were at a minimum but still, he would have preferred it where none of his men perished.

Next thing either of them knew, both were riding on these giant yak-type beasts as they were making their way to the nearby village of the locals. Their settlement was built alongside a cliffside, sheltering their homes from the winter snow.

Getting deeper into the village, the young Avenger was quick to notice something in particular.

"Obi-wan…"

"Yes, Peter. I know. There are only women and children."

Being led into some hut, Parker and Kenobi were seated in front of a bonfire with two of their escorts conversing with what appeared to be the village elder.

As the women were conversing with the elder, Peter felt a tad agitated for some reason. It might be the factor of him not knowing what they were talking about or something with the odd heat in the hut.

"It seems you've interrupted the boy's rite of passage, or test."

Peter gave his mentor a look. "How do you know what they're saying?"

"When you travel the galaxy as long as I have, you tend to learn a few things."

The Jedi and Avenger stayed quiet as the natives kept conversing. At one point, Kenobi began talking, translating what he can make out of the dialect.

"Something plagues their land. Champion after champion has been sent out. Yet none have returned. They were choosing another one when you intervened."

"Talk about poor timing."

Soon enough, the village elder began to speak, raspy as it is.

The Jedi scrunched his face a little. "I'm not sure if I've heard this right. It seems you have to journey into fire."

Peter blinked in confusion. "What?"

"I think he means that you now have to do this task in their stead now."

This caused the Queen's native to drop his jaw.

"WHAT?" Peter said with his jaw-dropping. "B-but, but why me?"

"You did interfere." Kenobi airily said.

"Ah come on, that's bull and you know it! That monster was gonna kill us. How is that interfering?"

"Responsibility." The Jedi cheekily retorted, grinning at the flat look he got from the young teen.

"Do not pull that card right now. That doesn't count in this situation."

"Uh-huh."

"Hmph." Peter crossed his arms, cheeks puffed up and shoulders raised, much to the amusement of Obi-Wan. "I should never have told you that."

"But you did."

Pulling out a bag from his robes, the village elder pulled out certain powders and tossed them into the bonfire as he spoke.

"What's he saying?"

"They're summoning the spirit of the fire. The mother weeps, she is sick. Our warriors have failed. Failed to heal the mother. Into the never-ending winter, a stranger comes. But tell us why he has come. What is his purpose?"

More powder was tossed into the bonfire. And from the added mixture, more smoke emits into the tent.

Thankfully, the smoke was able to escape through the opening up top or else it would be too hard to breathe in here.

Yet the smoke from the fire formed some sort of creature. It was hard to make out at first. But at one point, the elder stopped talking as both he and the escorts looked towards Peter's chest as they resumed speaking, but in unison.

"They're saying… an avenging spider?"

"Avenging Spider?" Peter parroted. "So… are they seeing me?"

"Prophecy is often a fickle thing to understand." Obi-Wan pointed out. "But this seems a bit clear. Maybe too clear."

Peter was feeling rather lost on how this oddly escalated in such a way. "And… now what? What am I supposed to do?"

"I believe you must undergo their ritual that was meant for one of their own."

"Combating their weird animal thing ain't it?"

"Oh, it was. But I'm referring to another one."

Soon enough, Peter was bare-chested, revealing his upper body to the freezing elements. Even his mask was taken off.

"Why do I need my shirt off?" Peter asked, shivering from the cold.

"It's part of their ritual."

"Does it have to be so…" The teen couldn't finish the question as the elder of the tribe came up to him with wriggling critters in hand.

He spoke in his native tongue, his tone sounding apologetic.

"He says this may hurt a bit."

Peter looked a bit disgusted. "Uh, yeah, leeches."

"I wouldn't say leeches-"

"They look like 'em to me, Obi-wan."

The Jedi sighed. "Alright, leeches. They'll mark you."

As this was said, the village elder tossed the leeches onto Peter. Several more followed as they began moving about over his exposed flesh.

"Oh great, my first tattoo. Not just that, but a large one at that. Hooray for me."

God, if Aunt May were to see this, she'd faint. If Ahsoka and Barriss witnessed this… they'd find it rather appealing for some reason.

'Wait, why would I think they'd like that?' He thought, trying to distract himself from the itching pain he was feeling.

After minutes upon minutes, his upper body was covered in a large blue tattoo. Inspecting himself, he saw it oddly looked like an intricate tribal web design. And while he couldn't see it, some marks appeared on his face to finish things off.

"Is this really necessary?" Peter asked, fingers trailing over the blue markings.

"It's part of their ritual. You must be respectful." The Jedi Master plainly said.

Peter rolled his eyes as he slipped back on the rest of his hero attire to help deal with the cold and elements.

Oddly enough, the symbiote didn't seem to help relieve him of the itching pain he underwent. Made him a bit curious.

"So what must I do now?"

"You must follow the wind, for it is the mother's cry. Travel her tears, they are frozen with fear. Enter the mother's mouth, to awaken her inner flame."

A thought then occurred to the Avenger, one that seemed to have been completely ignored.

"Wait, wait, wait," Peter waved his hands about. "Look, I get helping these people and all with… whatever this is but don't we have something else to do? Aren't we here for Grievous and if there's any more Separatist stuff we gotta take care of? This feels like a serious distraction."

"Perhaps but at the same time," Kenobi frowned in thought. "The Force, there is something here, a tainting of the natural order that must be corrected. And I believe it starts with helping this village."

Much as he wanted to argue against it when he took the moment to see the state that the people of Nelvaan were in, any pretenses of going against this melted away.

These people needed help now.

And even with the war still raging on despite a coming ceasefire, there were many that still needed aid to just get by in everyday life. That's why Peter became a hero in the first place. To help those who can't get it immediately or when they needed it most.

With a reluctant sigh, he turned to the Jedi General.

"Do I have to do this alone?"

Obi-Wan simply nodded, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Sadly, you do."

Peter let out an exasperated sigh. "At least do me a favor and keep searching for Grievous while I'm gone."

"Don't forget Peter, I am the general here." Kenobi refuted with false seriousness, before chuckling with his pseudo-protege. "May the Force be with you."

With a nod, Spiderman took a mighty leap and plummeted off the ledge before firing off a webline.

Time passed as the young Avenger was doing all he could to navigate to… someplace.

All that he could do was follow the vague directions for this apparent quest of his.

'You must follow the wind, for it is the mother's cry.' Peter recalled in thought. 'Well, the blizzard is clearly this, hopefully.'

Traversing through a snowstorm was not something Peter was enjoying. He was thankful his suit was helping him deal with the cold. He didn't have to fight against the wind but follow it.

'Travel her tears, they are frozen with fear.' Spiderman recalled next, once coming across the frozen rivers.

They were good paths to follow. But walking across them was a bit hazardous if they weren't thick enough. And they led to a mountain range.

'Enter the mother's mouth to awake her inner flame.'

Getting closer to the mountains, Peter found a cave that seemed to be brightened from within, which was an indication of where he needed to go next; given there was nothing else after.

Traversing through the cave system was alright in some sense. Yet he didn't know which pathway led to a dead end or somewhere else. He did jump back a few times when some natural air vents went off, letting loose blasts of steam.

Walking forward, Peter paused at a sudden sensation washing over him.

He couldn't quite explain but…

"Is this you?" Spider-man held his hand up, the symbiote shifting about with an unspoken voice that confirmed his suspicions.

"What are you… my spider-sense." Parker frowned, closing his eyes to concentrate on his sixth sense. There was something strange about it and… was it… pointing him to go somewhere?

"What did you do?" Peter found himself asking, not in an accusatory fashion, simply being curious.

This was different, to say the least, but also natural, somehow.

Though the symbiote didn't "speak", per se, what it did was convey its response in a manner only Peter was able to understand.

It took what was already there, waiting to be tapped into and simply sped up the process.

And right now, his enhanced Spider-Sense was pointing him down a cavern that went deeper into the mountain.

Reaching a certain point in the cave system, Peter halted when he saw very old cave paintings lining the walls. They looked very similar to the local inhabitants of this planet, both the wildlife and the indigenous people. Within the area, a mist lay over the ground until it began to move.

The steam around him began to burst all around rapidly. As things were settling did something occur?

It might have been some weird supernatural trick or the weird splitting sensation in his head, but he was beginning to see something; a vision.

Life was normal and tranquil for the people of this planet. There was not a care of the world, aside from the usual conflicts and issues.

This all changed when something fell from the sky and struck the earth. One of the villagers went to check it out.

Finding the crash site, the villager found what appeared to be a dark black meteorite. As he grew too curious on the inspection did he not notice something seep out of it and latch onto him, which gained his attention. He grew frantic and tried to pry the substance off, even as it appeared to swallow him whole.

It wasn't long before the villager calmed down and saw he wasn't harmed at all. In fact, he felt stronger and faster than before.

From what Peter could see in the vision, the villager was… wearing a black suit?

Returning to the village, the man thought things would be alright, despite the new addition to his person. Yet issues arose with dangerous animals wandering into the vicinity, and he was quick to act in defending his people.

The villager became a hero, more so when he kept defending them left and right from predators to rival tribes coming into their territory.

He was praised and loved for his actions. But the "worship" slowly got into the man's head, making him believe with his suit, he'd be unstoppable. His arrogance slowly gets the better of him, having him push all of his loved ones away through his actions. And as time went on, many believed the warrior was becoming a monster with how he started to act and how dangerous he became throughout various fights.

No one knew how this may end. On how the warrior could be defeated, or at the very least changed for the better.

This all came to a head when… he showed up.

A man from the sky appeared one day. He was powerful and dangerous.

Seeing the depictions of this heavenly being, Peter knew this was the Son of the Mortis Celestials.

The Son killed the villagers of many settlements, seeking out what he was here for in the first place.

It wasn't long before the warrior clad in black came forth on the apparent summons. Him trying to rectify some wrongs with his actions. And from there, they met in combat.

The battle seemed long, but it was rather short in actuality. The warrior wasn't as skilled and enhanced as he would've thought, even with his "gift from the stars". And in truth, the Son was merely testing him, seeing his worth.

Soon enough, the Dark Celestial pried the dark suit from the dying villager and departed from this world to parts unknown.

Despite his actions of saving his people, the "warrior in black" would be described as a cautionary tale with one's strength and being humble. Despite trying to become a hero, he fell from grace due to his actions. Him not having proper guidance to know how to be responsible with his gifts. Because of this, so many lives were lost and affected as a result.

As the vision ended, Peter found himself back in the cave system. He didn't realize it but he was on the floor right now, his arms propping him up whilst breathing heavily.

"What…" Spider-man was unable to make heads or tails of what he saw other than one thing.

The Son. He came to this planet at one point millennia ago and did unspeakable acts of evil and…

*vvvvvvv*

What relative silence that surrounded him before was now replaced with unnatural sounds.

Sounds which came from large machinery. It broke the teen out from his thoughts on what he saw and turned his attention to where these sounds were coming from.

Traversing through the tunnels, the young Avenger came into a large cavern opening where he found a massive sphere-like machine in the distance. To him, it was very similar to the Techno drome. Above it was a litany of floors that reached towards the ceiling which weren't natural at all.

"Seems I found the Separatist base here." He muttered to himself. "Wonder if I can get in touch with the others. Hey, Karen, do you read me?"

"I read you, Peter, what is it you need?"

"Can you get in touch with Obi-wan and the 212?"

"I have been attempting to do so yet I'm detecting various jamming arrays from the facility. Any attempts of contacting our allies will be wasted until those are taken care of."

"Have you tried working around it?"

"I have but have yet to find success. Whatever they're using to keep themselves hidden is preventing me from working around their jams."

"Ain't that annoying." He grumbled.

Shaking his head, Spiderman soon took off.

With a few web swings and leaps, the young Avenger got to the facility levels up above in record time. Didn't hurt as he crawled his way up with little to no issue at all.

Once at the closest level, he checked his surroundings and went on a sprint toward the nearest form of cover.

Peter was thankful the droids never bothered to look up toward the ceiling. This made his sneaking around easier as he ascended the levels. However, there were a few close calls, given he was swiftly going through the place without stopping.

"-he brain modulations aren't fully integrated or tested yet. Specimen control cannot be guaranteed." Peter's head tilted slightly to the sound of the voice.

Looking toward the general direction of the conversation, Spiderman spotted a pair of Skakoan scientists walking through the corridor with a pair of battle droids flanking them.

"No matter. Grievous grows impatient, especially with recent events. We must deliver the prototypes."

"But we're just not ready." A timid Skakoan argued.

The lead one appeared to be unperturbed by such reservations. "Our concerns are of little consequence to General Grievous. Begin the final phase and bring the last specimen forward. I will perform the procedure myself."

"Yes, sir."

Seeing them leave, Peter released his hold from the ceiling and dropped. "What are they up to?" He questioned aloud.

When he made a turn in a dark hallway, he nearly came face to face with a glass tube chamber holding a hulkish blob-looking creature.

"What the-"

Taking a closer look, the young Avenger soon took notice of several discernible features about the creature. Before long, he came to a startling discovery.

"A Nelvaan warrior?" Peter said in shock, placing a hand on the container. "What did they do to you?"

Taking a sideways glance, he saw this one warrior wasn't alone. The entire hallway was composed of captured Nelvaan warriors inside of these glass tubes. Not only were they being mutated and disfigured, but they were being cybernetically altered.

"How long has this been going on?" He asks himself, disgust welling up within him. "Has to be prior to Ultron's horrific experiments, cuz I don't know if these guys took inspiration from him on this happening here."

Passing by each container, Peter soon realized these Separatists were making super soldiers in order to change the tide of some future battles. However, this was a mixed bag.

Whatever thoughts Peter bore came to a halt when seeing the apparent procedure soon occurring in another room. Various battle droids stood guard as a normal-looking Nelvaan warrior was strapped inside a containment unit. A green liquid rapidly filled up the glass tube. Once it was completely filled, the native of this world was getting electrocuted.

White eye lenses widened before dangerously narrowing. "Not on my watch!" He growled out, having his symbiote suit form and cover him.

Leaping into action, Spiderman crashed into the battle droids and began tearing them apart. After breaking several of them by hand, black tendrils shot out of his back to form the long spider-legs. Each swiftly pierced and wrecked the droids as they came rushing in.

Up above in the observation room, the scientists from the Techno Union were surprised and startled by the unexpected arrival. They watched as the young Avenger tore into the containment unit, liberating the Nelvaan warrior trapped inside with the green liquid rapidly spilling out.

"I gotcha." Peter assured the warrior, whose body was slightly deformed from the procedure.

The Nelvaan was slightly taller now with some blubbering muscle added to his physique yet nothing as drastic as his brethren in the tubes. Whatever tattoos he bore were no longer present.

The warrior gave the Avenger an appreciated nod as he was being taken out of the restraints.

The pair were unaware of the mad scientists observing them from their lab. Not really on the Nelvaan, but on the rescuer.

"What the-"

"Who is that?"

"That attire? The Spider-man of the Avengers!"

"Unleash the specimens." The lead Techno Union scientist ordered, alarming several of his subordinates.

"But they're not ready."

"I said unleash them!"

One of the Skakoan scientists reluctantly complied with the request, having every specimen come out of their containment units.

"Attack!" The lead Skakoan yelled into the speaker system. "Attack the interloper!"

Hearing this command, the altered warriors marched forward to take care of the intruder.

Once the last battle droid was destroyed, Peter's senses flared. Whipping his head to the side, he saw a doorway open up to reveal the controlled Nelvaans approaching.

"Wait! I'm here to help. You've changed, you're not yourselves!" Pleaded the Wallcrawler as he began backing away. "Those sick bastards changed you! Please, I don't want to fight you!"

The mutated Nelvaan warriors only roared in response, charging to attack the superhero and the slightly altered warrior.

Switching from offensive to defensive, Peter was leaping, flipping and diving away from the blaster fire aimed right at him. Despite these warriors being enemies, he didn't want to live with the guilt of harming these poor, tortured and mind-controlled people.

The only way he could take care of them was by immobilizing them.

Swinging and leaping all over, Peter fired off a litany of webbing at the altered Nelvaans. Some instances were more effective than others. Said moments needed stronger stuff to have them no longer harm him and his temporary ally.

"C'mon guys! You are Nelvaan warriors! You gotta stop and control yourselves!" Yelled out Spiderman. "Fight it, please!"

His pleas were ignored as the young Avenger kept doing his best to immobilize them.

Through this conflict, the slightly altered Nelvaan grabbed hold of the harness of one of his fellow warriors and pried it off. This got the mind-controlled fighter to roar out of pain and agony before collapsing onto the ground.

He turned to the Avenger, calling out to him in his native language. Peter turned to him, seeing the warrior holding up the harness that was removed from the heavily mutated Nelvaan. Witnessing the present factor the altered warrior was no longer hostile.

"Thanks." Peter said in response, instantly getting what was being told to him.

Spiderman began destroying the harnesses the Nelvaan warriors were wearing. One by one, the control devices were being severed in the process. Either by his own hands or through the symbiote's tendrils.

Once all of the present opposition no longer attacked them, Peter saw every warrior stand around in confusion. Them rubbing their heads, relieving themselves of the pain they once endured.

From there, the young Earther saw the slightly altered Nelvaan speaking to his fellow people.

Despite not knowing what the Nelvaan warrior was saying, he understood the context of the speech. Him rallying his people and fellow warriors to liberate the others to take down this facility.

With the altered Nelvaans going elsewhere to cause mayhem on their oppressors, the one Peter saved approached him.

"Yeah? What's up?"

The slightly altered warrior pointed to a contraption in the distance. Looking over, Peter saw an energy chamber surrounding some sort of object as it was hanging idly from the top of the facility. Sparks were emanating from it and were all by its lonesome for some reason.

"Right… I'll go check that out."

With that said, the slightly mutated Nelvaan warrior took off to join his brethren in liberating the others.

"I have no idea what he just said." He muttered to himself. "Gotta find a console and figure out what these guys were really doing here."

Didn't take long for him to find a good computer system and hack his way through it.

With his skills, he was able to get the general gist of what this facility was doing to the planet. How "eco-friendly" it was and making such weather conditions worse than naturally intended.

"Time to do my part and fix the planet." He said, leaving the console and heading right to the central power generator.

Along the way, he could practically hear the Nelvaan warriors rampaging through the facility, tearing battle droids apart with their bare hands, and freeing their comrades from captivity. And through this liberation, the Skakoan scientists were fleeing for their lives.

The Avenger would join them, but they can take care of themselves for the time being.

Reaching the highest level of this hidden facility, Peter took a mighty leap and plummeted to the central power generator. Once close enough, he fired a webline, swinging around the pole, landed and performed a recovery roll on the metallic shielding above the initial power generator.

Making another webline along an opening, he slid upside down and looked at what was initially affecting the planet.

"That is quite the big Kyber crystal."

He knew these crystals were used to power lightsabers and sometimes other machinery, the latter sometimes used for stereotypical nefarious means. Okay that last bit was just something that popped up for exaggerated purposes, but with what Ultron apparently did with the crystals he took as of late, the ideas were endless.

What he was seeing right now, behind the electrified barrier was a Kyber crystal the size of his hand.

Poking and prodding the barrier, Spiderman hissed a little from what he was feeling.

"Karen, is there any way to bypass this?"

"I'm not able to breach the system, Peter. It's self-propelling once the generator is activated. What needs to be done is physically prying it out."

"...It's gonna be painful, isn't it?"

"Excruciating. I am sorry."

"Don't be." The young Avenger flexed his left hand, having his fingers rub against each other in a slightly nervous manner with what he was about to do. "Be sure to back yourself up or something."

Not waiting for a response and reaching out, Peter made contact with the energy barrier and instantly gave out a stinging yell.

The pain was indeed painful. The electric shocks going through his one limb were agonizing as he got further in. The wiring for his one suit was instantly fried from his present actions as the power the Kyber crystal gave out to the energy barrier overloaded his systems.

With the bond he shared with the symbiote, it was far worse. The Earth teen could practically hear the alien suit hiss and wail out of utter agony. If he wasn't entirely focused on obtaining the crystal, Peter would've seen the excess amount of the symbiote flail out of control while trying to maintain consciousness.

Gritting his teeth, Peter kept reaching forward before his left hand grasped the Kyber crystal. He pulled back hard to get the crystal out of the barrier and kept his hold of it, despite his arm shaking like crazy. His limb bore a lot of electrical burns, given his initial suit was torn up from his recent action. The symbiote was slow to cover up the limb and slowed down the shaking he was experiencing.

Suffice to say, what occurred wasn't as bad as him being beaten up by Ultron.

At the very least he wasn't gonna try and break the crystal. That would be stupid. It might blow and rip apart his hand if he did so.

'Wonder why I thought of that.' Was the thought.

Pocketing the large Kyber crystal, Peter swung away as the facility began blowing itself up.

"Wow~ Talk about a failure protocol."

With the generator for the facility no longer operational, the effects it was causing on the environment were swiftly noticeable.

The snowstorm ceased, the ice-covered rivers began to crack and warmth slowly returned as the clouds parted.

Making his way out of the facility by reaching the exposed cracks to the surface, Peter saw the Nelvaan warriors attacking the Skakoan ship stationed here. The natives were quick in apprehending the retreating scientists. And one by one, the Nelvaan warriors began prying off the robotic attachments from their bodies. It was painful but necessary to be normal in a sense.

With a pained smile, Spiderman approached the mutated natives.

Time passed as the environment of Nelvaan was slowly returning to normal.

At the one settlement, Obi-wan was waiting patiently for Peter's return. He felt the shift in the weather was his doing but wondered what exactly had occurred. He tried contacting him throughout his absence, but there was some form of interference and complications.

All he could do was wait and hope things would turn out alright.

Taking a walk through the settlement, the Jedi Master heard a commotion among the locals. He looked over and spotted something in the distance alongside everyone else.

On the horizon, he saw a great number of individuals walking toward them. Eventually, Kenobi saw Peter at the front and took notice he looked rather ragged given part of his red and blue outfit was torn up with the symbiote forming some sort of cast on his left arm.

Before long, the Jedi saw who was flanking the young Earther. And like the Nelvaan villagers, Kenobi was surprised to see the mutated and mutilated warriors.

It was hard to watch for Peter and Obi-wan. All these men were finally returning home and none of their loved ones were stepping forward to greet them. They were scared and disturbed by who was before them. And the mutated warriors were feeling it.

Then something unexpected happened.

A child stepped forward and came to one of them.

Silence surrounded the area before the child spoke. From what Peter could perhaps tell, the child was saying "father" in their native language to the warrior.

Just like that, the tense atmosphere began dissolving once the "father" embraced his child. From there, the floodgates opened as the mothers rushed forward to find and embrace their husbands with the other children coming to their respective fathers.

The sight melted the hearts of the Avenger and Jedi yet they couldn't deny the lingering anger and remorse at what the men of the tribe had been forcibly transformed into.

Some time passed for the off-worlders as they were awaiting their transport to arrive and pick them up. As this went on, the pair conversed with Peter retelling what occurred during his time away. Near the end, he handed Kenobi the large Kyber crystal he procured from the Separatist facility, much to the Jedi's appreciation.

"You've done a great thing for these people." Says Obi-wan, giving his pseudo-padawan a smile. "Well done, Peter."

The young Avenger was quiet for a time, observing what he could with the villagers.

"Do you think they can be fixed? Changed back to the way they once were?"

"I am uncertain nor can I be definitive. Even if they were to be changed back, the scars aren't just limited to the physical. What matters is that as long as each of them is willing to accept themselves, then things will heal much easier."

Peter could only nod as he and Obi-wan were seeing the mutated warriors try to adjust to their new way of life.

"But tell me more of your experience in the cave."

"Not much, I think. I merely got a vision. One showing the Son came to this planet years ago, probably before he and the others were forced to stay at Mortis." Peter then patted the symbiote suit occupying his left arm. "And this guy found his way here back then before the Son took it for some reason." He then looked to his mentor. "I wasn't the only person to have worn this guy. One of the warriors here was a host and things didn't turn out well in the end, all due to him being consumed with power and not listening to others when needed."

Obi-wan could only nod, digesting these bits of information.

"Peter, the most difficult trial a Jedi must face is to look inside oneself. This applies to anyone. Often we see things we don't like. But these aspects are not set in stone. It is our decisions that shape our destinies."

A nod was all Kenobi received as their transport finally came to the edge of the village. With a parting wave, the two humans left Nelvaan to return to Coruscant.

-Scene Cut-

"It has been a long time, hasn't it?"

"Hmmm?"

"Since it was just the two of us simply talking."

"Heh, yeah, you're right. Been so caught up with everything else I never even realized it."

Palpatine simply chuckled, reaching forward to pat the young Jedi on the back.

"I am glad you had time in your busy schedule to stop by and see an old friend. These bones aren't getting any younger."

"And you're not getting any free time." Anakin Skywalker shot back with his usual smirk.

The Chancellor's expression became one that was far more sullen now. "Yes, that has become a luxury seldom afforded to just about anyone in the galaxy now, hasn't it? The war with the Separatists was one matter but Ultron? Ultron changed things."

Anakin released a sigh, running a hand down his face.

"That's all everyone's been thinking about and I don't blame them." The Jedi knight looked disgruntled. "Have you heard about the Citadel?"

The secret Dark Lord of the Sith put on a false look of pure disgust.

"Dreadful," He shook his head, hand over his heart. "Positively dreadful. To think that droid, no, that monster is doing this to the Clones and the Jedi-"

"And other innocent civilians." Skywalker had a disturbed look in his eyes. "This is just-"

Now it was Palpatine that interrupted him, placing a hand on his shoulder and shaking his head.

"My boy, that vile being will be brought down." The man put on a fierce expression of determination. "But that is not why I wished to speak with you. I simply wished to see how my friend is doing in the midst of this respite we so rarely are afforded now."

Anakin found himself blinking at this before his face morphed into that of appreciation.

Yet in the eyes of Palpatine, he saw it. It was subtle, barely noticeable if not an outright mirage but to someone like him, a Sith Lord who prides himself on reading people, he could see and feel it.

The influence, the sway he once held over Skywalker had been slipping and now he was seeing it.

Where once Anakin seemingly found comfort with him and only him save for his secret wife Padme Amidala, now, there was something else that was playing a larger role in the Jedi's life. One that had overshadowed him in a short span of time. A group that some would deem that is composed of some of the most remarkable people in the galaxy.

The Avengers.

They've changed the very foundation of this galaxy to a drastic degree and above all else, changed the complexion of Sidious' plans. Both in terms of the thousand-year revenge implemented by Darth Bane and by their interference in swaying the Chosen One to the Dark Side.

Just thinking about these meddlers, these insects coming in to interfere with everything Sidious had been working towards was beyond infuriating. The rage he felt every time he thought about them only increased tenfold and it is now at an unquantifiable level after seeing Anakin today.

The Sith Lord saw it immediately.

The posture, the tilt in his voice, the confidence and comfortability he now possessed.

For years, Sidious was always able to sense the tension, frustration and litany of other emotions that were buried deep within the boy. The ambition, the want, the arrogance, the confidence, all of it that always either had to be kept in check or outright buried due to the dogmatic doctrine of the Jedi Order.

So much just waiting to explode out from him.

And he festered and nurtured these feelings.

Where the Jedi told him to keep his ego in check, to be mindful of his emotions, Palpatine always sought to encourage everything he felt. There was nothing wrong with what he wanted to be, to accomplish and that the Jedi simply viewed him with a jealous lens.

He had built such a trust with the boy that in one of their many private moments together, the Chosen One revealed something truly shocking.

The death of his mother at the hands of a village of Tusken Raiders, leading to his slaughtering of them all. Coincidentally, it occurred shortly before the first Battle of Geonosis.

On the surface, Sheev Palpatine played the facade of the kind old man who spoke candidly and carefully to assure the man that what he did wasn't out of the ordinary and that he should hold no real shame in it. As for the inside, the sadistic glee Sidious experienced was nothing short of euphoric.

In his eyes, this was the long-awaited first step the Chosen One needed into being molded into Darth Sidious' ideal apprentice. The one who would finally enact the Revenge of the Sith and exterminate the village once and for all.

And with the advent of the war, Palpatine was self-assured that by the time of its conclusion, Anakin would willingly take that step.

…

…

…

But now things were different.

Anakin was different.

And once more, it all goes back to those blasted Avengers.

Since their arrival, they have been unknowingly undoing the millennia-long plan of the Sith by simply being as they are. Being the disgusting heroes that they paraded themselves to be.

When learning of the Sith order and becoming the Dark Lord, there had never been a group he had despised more than the Jedi. Weak-minded and weak-willed fools who had the power of the universe at their fingertips yet they choose this self-righteous path of service to others rather than to themselves.

That was until meeting Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Never before had Sidious experienced such vitriolic rage in his life than he did after every single thing these bastards did.

Befriending the Jedi, Clones and well-known senators, influencing many that they knew quite considerably, throwing themselves into a war, not of their own and displaying heroism that even the Jedi had a hard time matching.

And then there were their powers.

If Sidious were to equate his hatred to the Jedi, it would be that of a flowing river. With the Avengers, the only proper comparison was a raging ocean entering into a Force Storm.

Their powers were God-like, quite literally for one of their members being a God of Thunder.

Each and every one of them, even without an enhanced power displayed abilities that matched any and all Jedi that has come before them.

And they use it to help people. To protect and save them when they're too weak to even be considered to be saved.

It made Sidious almost vomit at the thought.

The Jedi were one thing but the Avengers using their powers for others and not themselves was the biggest insult a Sith like Sidious could experience. With the powers they had, the galaxy would have fallen to its knees in an instant. It could have all been theirs for the taking.

Yet they had "noble" hearts.

'Disgusting.' Was Palpatine's thoughts on the matter, the word constantly coming to mind whenever the notion of those Earth freaks came up.

All that power wasted on the insignificant specks on the everyday person.

And once again, the Dark Lord found himself in a mental spiral of everything that was coming undone before him.

Anakin had inadvertently become distant from him, with there actually being an awkward start to their conversation since they haven't spoken in so long.

The Jedi, whom he would usually see on a consistent basis, came only once or twice a week now.

Grandmaster Yoda, who at one point spoke with him almost as frequently as Anakin had not spoken with Palpatine in over two months.

Dooku had been acting more aloof in how he addressed him and his suspicions on the Count began to rise. Not that he never held any before, viewing the apprentice to a Sith Lord with a skewed eye was common practice in the order. Only now, it was becoming more noticeable.

Then there was Krennic who no longer communicated with him and Sidious didn't understand or know why. He had already tried reaching out to him on numerous occasions only to be met with static.

And finally, Ultron. The pure, unadulterated hatred the Dark Lord possessed for him couldn't be properly articulated.

So much so that he-

"Chancellor?"

The Sith's thoughts were cut off by the sound of Anakin's voice piercing through them.

Palpatine jolted from where he stood, seeing a concerned look of Skywalker.

"Pardon?" Sheev managed out.

"I asked if you were alright." Anakin stressed out. "You suddenly stopped talking and then you just froze up and… you looked angry. Like really angry."

Palpatine had to curse at himself for letting such a thing slip, brief as it was.

Thankfully, years of political training allowed the Chancellor from Naboo to regain himself and answer smoothly.

"I'm sorry you had to see that side of me, Anakin." He said with an apologetic smile. "I had thought that part of me had long since left my person through years of discipline and dedication. Just… the recent issues with the galaxy's mutual and shared enemy have truly got under my skin, more than I would ever imagine."

Before responding, Anakin paused as he scrunched his face up in thought.

That was strange… something… what was that just now? Something felt really off about the Chancellor.

Was he… nah, he was probably just imagining things.

The Chosen One gave him a sympathetic smile, one Palpatine couldn't really recall ever getting such a thing. "I don't fault you for that, Chancellor. What everyone has been going through, it hasn't been easy. And it probably won't get any easier for a while."

Palpatine released a mirthful chuckle, shaking his head.

"Any words of Jedi wisdom you have to share, my boy?"

"Endure." Anakin said with a shrug. "And make sure everyone is working together. This can't be done alone. Ultron wants to rip us apart. It's our job that he fails and that's how we'll bring him down."

Sheev shook his head with a false smile. "So simple yet perhaps that's what's needed at times. Nothing needlessly complicated."

"I try." Anakin said with a faux smarmy grin.

The Chancellor chortled, shaking his head, patting the Jedi on the back.

"Don't let me keep you any further then, Anakin. We have this moment's respite, best use it before things inevitably fall into further madness."

"It's sad how much that doesn't bother me." Anakin admitted with a heavy sigh, moving to leave the office. "It just pisses me off."

Palpatine stared at the back of the Chosen One, raising a brow at the odd statement until chalking it up to more Earth-based lingo from the Avengers.

Now he was glowering at Skywalker when…

Hold the phone…

What was that just now?

Something peculiar caught his attention when sensing the Jedi Knight.

Even if Anakin had a light shining brightly from within, it was beginning to cast a rather dark shadow.

Blinking, Palpatine saw the shadow Skywalker casts was large and intimidating for some apparent reason. He was sure he wasn't seeing things.

In the briefest of moments, he swore he heard something amiss as he stared at the shadow longer than he should.

And with Anakin's departure, the feeling was no longer around.

That dark pressure that was here vanished as quickly as it came up.

"Curious." Sheev mutters, taking a seat at his desk, placing his hands together. "Very curious."

The Sith Lord was deep in thought once more, going over everything that is coming fairly soon.

The Ceasefire between the Republic and Separatist armies.

Ultron.

The Avengers.

The state of the galaxy and Force itself.

Everything was out of balance in the eyes of the Chancellor.

He also needs to get in touch with the other projects he had planned going around. Ones he's been working hard in the background for his future plans for the galaxy. Some of which he had to rework, due to Ultron's meddling.

And that started with his agent in the Outer Rim.

Why wasn't Krennic answering his summons? He's been trying to reach him for two months now. Either he's long dead, due to his long-term mission, or something else is afoot.

Hopefully the former, resulting in having one less issue to deal with.

Elsewhere in the senate building, while one Sith Lord brooded and contemplated his plans, one Senator was meeting with a speedster and a recently returned webhead.

He had reached out to them in regard to his defensive recruitment bill and the standard armor that is to be distributed.

Now one might ask, why would these two Avengers known for wearing skin-tight outfits have any hand in armor for soldiers?

Well, that would be because they had been the ones who came to Cham Syndulla when he was in the middle of developing the law and offered their services in designing the armor for the future soldiers of the GAR.

Thrown off by this initially, the Twi'lek Senator was unsure as to why they would do such a thing, calling them out on this being a rather odd proposal.

Both Avengers promised the man that their suggestions would not only be great but the standard bearer for the armor that the common Republic civilians would soon be wearing as soldiers.

And now was the time to show the fruits of their labors.

With Captain Keeli in tow, the four men stood within the office of Senator Syndulla as they went over the armor of the Grand Army of the Republic.

"I do admit, Pietro, Peter, the designs for these armors are sound." Cham praised, looking at the schematics of the baseline armor that the pair had thought of together.

"Yeah, real nice work here, boys." Keeli approvingly said, examining several armor pieces that would be worn by the average trooper.

When the Senator for Ryloth got the offer from the two Avengers on designing the armor for the first wave of conscripts, volunteers and draftees for the new defensive recruitment bill, he was unsure of this.

Not that he didn't trust the two men, far from it, but designing armor for soldiers felt like something out of their forte.

Yet what they just presented to him was nothing short of a stellar design, capable of being outfitted onto just about anyone who may wear it. Helmets would need obvious alterations depending on the species but as a whole, the armor design was sound.

Easy to put on, customizable in every sense of the word, quick to produce and improve on.

Spider-man and Quicksilver really knocked it out of the park here.

"With how these are made, we can start getting these made by months end." Cham said with a grin. "Pietro, Peter, I don't know how to thank you both."

"Dah shucks, Senator, you're gonna make us blush." Peter bashfully said.

"Just make sure that our patents and trademarks are there." Maximoff said in overdramatic seriousness, pointing at the Senator. "I want to make sure that I'm as rich as can be so I can rub my credits in Starks face."

"Uh… what?"

"Ignore him, he's just joking around." Parker said. "We're just real glad you guys took our suggestions. We have other ideas in mind for later."

"I'm real interested in what else you will produce." Cham freely admitted, looking back to admire Peter and Pietro's work.

Quicksilver grinned at this, turning to Peter and the pair high-fived, exclaiming "Halo!" triumphantly.

Syndulla turned to them, brow raised.

"Clearly we're missing something."

"Don't worry about it. Just know we know what we'll be going for next." Parker said with a wide grin.

"Consider me hooked then." Keeli said, heartily slapping the fastest Avenger on the back.

The superhero pair departed after a few minutes, showcasing their designs a bit more until they were walking down the corridor ecstatically.

"I can't believe they bought it." Peter proclaimed, repeatedly pumping his fist in victory. "We made Halo a reality! Can you believe that?"

"Oh~ This is a great victory for nerds the universe over."

"Got that right!" Spidey jovially said, rearing his hand back again for another emphatic high five with the silver-haired Avenger.

The pair were chattering excitedly for a few minutes, not noticing a blue-skinned senator coming up to them, an amused expression present. Her gaze was focused solely on the older of the two, the man walking arm in arm with Peter as the pair spoke of their future ideas from their favorite sci-fi franchises they hope to make a reality in this galaxy.

It wasn't long before the two Avengers took notice of her.

Pietro's expression brightened even more than it already was, separating himself from his fellow Avenger to sweep his girlfriend into a spinning hug.

"Riyo!" He happily said, grinning at her with Chuchi giggling at his gesture.

"You seem to be in a good mood."

"Hell yeah we are!" Pietro declared. "Peter and I just met with Syndulla and Keeli about the armor plans for the defense bill that we offered and they loved it."

"I didn't know you could design armor, Pietro."

Peter shrugged. "We had some help. It was mostly pulling the concepts from memory."

"Nope, nope, All~ us." Maximoff boasted. "Everything was our idea cuz anything on Earth that doesn't exist here is fair game with no threat of copyright."

"Right~"

Seeing her boyfriend here, a certain thought popped up. Something which she had wanted to discuss for a while now.

"Pietro, can we talk?" Her demeanor shifted now into a more serious, albeit nervous one.

The Sokovian blinked, sensing her changed mood yet complying all the same with Chuchi's request. Parting ways from Parker, he followed after her, going in the direction of her office.

"What's up?" He asked during their walk until they reached the front of her office door.

It opened up for the two yet Chuchi bit her lip nervously, face away from her boyfriend, shaking her head before pulling her boyfriend inside.

He said nothing, simply waiting for her to speak first.

The speedster watched as his girl paced about her office with a clear sign of anxiousness until she finally spoke.

"Pietro." Her voice was low.

"Hmmm?"

"What are we?"

Maximoff blinked upon hearing this, tilting his head considerably.

"What?" He asked in bewildered uncertainty. "What do you mean? What kind of question is that?"

Chuchi wrung her hands nervously, looking a bit conflicted as she tilted her head down to prevent him from meeting her gaze.

"Us. Our relationship." She elaborated, gesturing to herself and him.

This only served to confuse the superhero more.

"Alright, Riyo." He patiently said. "What brought this on? What's eatin' at ya?"

"I've just… I've been thinking a lot lately and you mentioned how the means by which you reconnect to your homeworld draws near and…" She hesitated, looking down with a conflicted look. "Pietro… would you leave me?"

The speedster's eyes widened, his jaw dropping at such a question with him immediately zipping around to stand in front of her in response.

"Whoa, whoa!" He said aloud, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Chuchi, baby, what in the world brought this on? Why would you ask or even think of such a thing? How could you even ask that? You know I love you right? You're my girl, how can you even think that?"

"I just… it's not that… I'm scared, Pietro." Chuchi hugged her small frame, trembling slightly. "Scared about everything that's happening and I guess… I just wanna know there's at least one thing in my life right now that's still good. That isn't stressful or-"

She was abruptly cut off by Pietro pulling her in for a loving kiss that cast away her worries for the moment. The Pantoran melted into the kiss, wrapping her arms tightly around her boyfriend, moaning almost desperately.

He pulled back after a few breathless moments, panting slightly with a roguish grin in place at the sight of her blush.

"Better?" He quietly asked, Riyo biting her lip and looking up at him that only caused to stir his wanting emotions for her more intensely.

She moved her hands around for them to rest on his chest and she leaned forward with Pietro holding her close.

He gave her a reassuring hug, whispering into her ear.

"Riyo, you're the only girlfriend I've ever had. You're the best thing I've ever gotten in my life and I wouldn't want to end it on a whim. Hell, I'd be a fool to leave you."

And Pietro wouldn't say it out loud, but Wanda would probably kill him if he were to do such a thing.

Riyo giggled tearfully, burying her face into his chest.

"I know things are crazy right now, God knows when they aren't." He said that last bit to himself. "But you don't ever have to worry about us going downhill. Rough patches, sure, no couple's perfect but I'll always want to be only with you. You're the love of my life, Chuchi. There's no one in this universe I'd rather be with."

"And… if I were pregnant?" Chuchi was almost inaudible but he heard her all the same. "What would you do?"

A metaphorical record player in his head let out a massive screech when this was said. He practically pulled away from her to look at her directly with disbelief on his features.

"Wh-what was that last part?" He said with a slight squeak in his voice. "A-Are you? Are you really?"

"It was a false alarm." She said quickly, looking like she regretted saying that. "Was just feeling stressed, I guess. I had some symptoms that could be equated to it but I did that to myself. They checked me over three times to be sure."

At that, Pietro released a breath and appeared to deflate, certainly surprising the Pantoran Senator. She looked intently at him before blinking in realization.

"Wait," She squeezed his hands lightly. "Are you… disappointed?"

"Well, kinda but also not really." Pietro earnestly said. "As much as I'd like to be a father, I'd rather do it when there are fewer issues going around. Preferably without a war and genocidal AI running around. Let's us have a better focus on raising the little tyke."

Chuchi was pleasantly stunned, to say the least. This was the last kind of response she had expected to hear from him and to see this response.

"You do know that even with time, that's a luxury few would ever get."

"Call it a stereotype and be romantic, depending on how typical a reaction may be. But I do mean what I say in this as I'd take responsibility in helping raise the baby."

"I'd take responsibility." Riyo parroted, lightly nudging him. "What, you're gonna raise our kid all by yourself?"

"I am amazing enough to do so." Pietro said in faux smugness, getting flicked in the head in response, the speedster laughing at the gesture.

He hefted her up, loving her surprised "eep" that turned into laughter as he twirled her around.

Setting her down, the pair held each other in an embrace, their forehead leaning on one another.

"So~ if we were to have one…"

"Well, I guess I'd have to speed up my marriage proposal."

Riyo went bug-eyed, blushing heavily, blabbering out an incoherent string of sounds until she managed to find her voice again.

"M-ma-marriage proposal?!"

"If we're gonna have a kid, we should do it proper, right? Husband and wife, that sort of jam?"

Chuchi shook her head, feeling like she would be steaming by this point. "No, it's not -I appreciate that part- it's just… you wanted to marry me?"

"Wanted is a past tense thing, Riyo." Pietro said with a loving smile. "I do, right now, really."

Riyo now felt as though her head was spinning but she focused on the last tidbit.

"Right now?" She wanted to make sure she didn't hear things, seeing him nod. "What's stopping you?"

"A lot, really." He freely admitted. "Ultron, the war, getting home and that's just the surface-level stuff. But I just need to get back home first and take care of something important. When that's all said and done," He wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her briefly. "I'll come right to ya. I don't care what you're doing, who you're with or where you are. And I'll be on my knee, looking up at the best girl I'll ever have in my life askin' her to consider spending her life with the most reckless Avenger."

Chuchi giggled at this proclamation, knowing her boyfriend all too well to know that this isn't a boast. Likely, this may be a possibility in the future.

That made her pause.

The future…

A future with Pietro Maximoff as his wife and him as her husband.

To one day be called Riyo Maximoff.

'That does have a nice ring to it.' Were Chuchi's thoughts as she pulled Pietro down for a loving kiss, the two remaining in her office for the remainder of the day.

-Scene Cut-

At the Jedi Temple, Ahsoka and Barriss were in the former's room with the latter laying atop her as the pair shared the Togruta's bed.

Barriss had her forehead leaning onto Ahsoka's cheek, eyes closed with a content air radiating off her, something her girlfriend picked up on through the Force. Tano snuggled in closer, hugging her lover close, pecking her forehead as they resumed their peaceful moment.

Though it had only been a week, the Force Bond the two shared had become far stronger than either could have even imagined. The bond they shared was always there, having been forged since the start of their friendship only really properly forming after their time on Geonosis. After Ultron's attack and the battle of Jabiim, the Force Bond was all but cemented and a connection was always shared between the two.

It only strengthened as time went on but after last week, after finally becoming lovers with each other and Peter, the bond they shared deepened to a degree they didn't think possible.

For the past few days, whenever the pair spent time together, be it through meditation and sparring, there was a natural flow they shared, knowing what both would do and it becoming a dance. When they spent time together, there was a feeling of serenity as they simply enjoyed each other's presence.

And when they got intimate, the bond was like that of a raging supernova. It felt as though every cell in their bodies were alight with flames and connected in every possible aspect.

This was only heightened when it was the two of them with Peter.

Though the girls weren't sure what it was, there was something about their boyfriend that was really starting to confuse them.

It wasn't anything bad, none of that, it's just ever since he came to the galaxy, he always felt like an odd outlier within the Avengers.

They were all void from the Force for the most part save for a few exceptions.

Vision for the Mind Stone, Wanda and Pietro due to their connection from said yellow rock, T'Challa strangely enough and he chalked it up to the connection those of royal blood have with his culture's astral plane and Thor because he's a literal God.

Which was why Spider-man was an oddity.

He has a presence within the Force just not one any Jedi or Force user had ever encountered.

It was bizarre really and something that the pair along with even Obi-Wan at several points investigated. This became especially prominent after their time on Mortis, they just haven't had much time to properly delve into this unusual anomaly.

But right now, they just wanted to have this moment to themselves as it was their first in the entire day. For most of it, they've been feeling a sense of unease.

They were aware of Peter having been sent out on a small recon mission with Master Kenobi to inspect a planet that had insurgent Separatist activity. But by this point in the war, even a simple recon op could escalate into a desperate life-or-death situation.

Not that it wasn't before but the feeling and possibility have simply escalated.

And it's not like they didn't have any faith in their boyfriend. He's been put through tougher situations than a simple patrol and reconnaissance mission with Master Kenobi.

But the feeling still remained.

A feeling they knew they had to learn to come to grips with. The worry and concern for each other's safety have always been a present thing but it tends to grow once becoming lovers.

In the midst of their moment of silence between them, they failed to hear the window to Ahsoka's room being opened up and crawled in the teen of their affections.

Upon seeing his girlfriends, a wide, loving smile bloomed as he moved over to the pair.

"Just the gals I wanted to see." He softly said, alerting the two to his presence.

Seeing Peter here made the two padawans brighten.

"Peter." Barriss softly said, sitting up with Ahsoka, the duo being embraced by their boyfriend.

"Hello, Snips." He said before claiming Ahsoka's lips for a brief peck. Breaking away, he gave a cheeky grin to Barriss. "Hello~ Nurse."

"Peter." The Mirialan padawan said with a smile before kissing her male lover.

"Hey, Tiger." Ahsoka greeted him in turn once he broke away from their girlfriend. "Did you miss us?"

"How could I not?"

One may wonder about the nicknames these three share on a more personal level.

Snips was already present, given that Anakin gave her this nickname. And while she originally hated it in the past, out of sheer annoyance, she grew used to it and accepted it. But when the Mortis situation came about, Ahsoka seemed to like the idea of her boyfriend and girlfriend calling her this.

Tiger was something that felt oddly random. Ahsoka didn't know where it came from as Peter didn't associate with tigers in the first place. Webhead was one idea that came to mind as an option, but it felt more towards friends with some villain backtalk.

As for Nurse, it seemed to work quite well with Barriss. Her being a healer and her desire for such a trait was well known through a number of the Jedi Order. It can be used for passing between them and no one would bat an eye. Of course for the more flirtatious feel, Peter blamed it on when he was a kid, recalling an animated nurse that was far too promiscuous looking for a kid's show that he grew up on.

"When did you come back?"

"A while ago. Had to go to the senate building to help out with something before coming back."

"And the mission, how was it?"

Their boyfriend released a tired sigh, sitting down to tell them everything that happened while on Nelvaan.

Meeting the locals there, learning of their plight, going on a journey to assist them, learning of the Separatist presence and what they did to the males of the tribe of the Nelvaan.

"Sometimes I really don't want us to make peace with the Separatists." Ahsoka bitterly said, completely disgusted by what she just heard.

Barriss was simply disturbed by what she heard, leaning on Peter's shoulder when she noticed something about his left arm.

She gently took hold of it and held it up slightly, fingers trailing over the wounds.

"Your arm-"

"A result of prying the Kyber crystal out of the facility's main generator." Peter explained, placing his hand over hers. "I submerged in bacta tank water to help out on the healing. Better that than waiting for a day or two."

Barriss frowned at that and without missing a beat, held up her hand, letting the Force flow out from her and into Peter.

Whatever markings or leftover injuries remained vanished in a number of moments.

Peter looked on in wonder, Ahsoka smiling at the gesture.

"That's never not cool to look at." Parker said, taking Offee's hand into his. "God I love you two. I feel spoiled right now."

"Well we wish to be spoiled too." Ahsoka said, leaning down to rest her head on his lap. "We demand to be serenaded."

Peter was quick to play along with her "demand", bowing his head in his best impression of a butler.

"What is thy bidding Lady Tano?"

She grinned at his voice, silently gesturing her finger in a "come here" motion. He bent his head down, Ahsoka reaching up to place her hand behind his head and pulled him to her, locking lips with him in an upside-down position. She let out a small moan of satisfaction, the two separating a moment later.

"I think that's an adequate start." Ahsoka chipperly said before glancing elsewhere. "What do you think, Barriss?"

Barriss only hummed aloud, leaning down to capture Tano's lips before doing the same to Peter a few seconds later.

"A good start." Offee remarked.

"You two are incorrigible." Peter commented with an amused shake of his head.

"You know you love it." Ahsoka cheekily said.

"I'd be branded a liar if I said I didn't." Was his response, wrapping one arm around Barriss whilst the other took one of Ahsoka's hands. The contact remained as he leaned back and took Barriss with him to lay down on the bed.

They remained this way for a time, basking in the moment with each other until it was interrupted by the strangest of beings.

Abruptly, the Symbiote appeared around Peter's chest and from what the webhead felt, it was almost as if it just woke up from a nap.

"Hey there," Peter greeted with a bemused expression. "Something wrong?"

His two girlfriends had sat up at the abrupt appearance of the Symbiote, looking at it with a degree of reservation.

"You know, we still haven't exactly figured out just what this slime is supposed to be." Ahsoka pointed out, cautiously leaning forward to better look at the black glob with white eyes resting in Peter's hand.

Peter hummed aloud, lifting his hand slightly. "We know it's called a symbiote, thanks to the Son. It enhances its partner to some capacity. There are bound to be drawbacks, I reckon. Like I felt excruciating pain back on the Nelvaan Separatist facility when pulling out that Kyber crystal from its force field. Normally it would be what comes to mind, but it just felt utterly worse."

"What?" Barriss quietly said. "You didn't mention this."

"Sorry." Peter gave her a strained smile. "Just wasn't the first thing on my mind after what I saw. But you don't need to worry, I'm fine now."

The Mirialan Padawan frowned at this, gently pushing against him.

"Just don't forget next time. I know how you and Ahsoka can get reckless."

"Hey~ I'm not that bad!" Ahsoka complained, cheeks puffed out.

"Ahsoka, I love you with all my heart and soul but we both know who you've gotten a lot of your reckless tendencies." Offee admonished knowingly.

"Well, how else am I supposed to keep up with Master Skywalker?" She rhetorically asked with a pout.

Barriss only shook her head, reaching forward to rest her hand on Ahsoka's cheek.

"Out of the three of us, someone has to be the mature one."

"Hey!" Both Peter and Ahsoka said at the same time, eliciting a laugh from their Mirialan girlfriend.

It was then that they heard an unusual warble, causing them to freeze up as the sound came from seemingly nowhere.

One of them was about to ask what that was until they felt movement coming from Peter.

It was the symbiote and rather than spreading itself to its usual full-body suit of the webhead, instead, the black substance was moving down his right arm.

Bewildered and intrigued all the same, Peter held his hand forward, watching the symbiote wrap around his palm and took the shape of a bulbous head. White lines came together to then form white lens eyes, akin to the ones on his mask.

"Whoa~" Peter said in quiet awe. "It's never done this before."

"This is a first for you?" Ahsoka asked with equal intrigue.

The Queens native nodded, bringing his hand closer, squinting his eyes at the symbiote. Adorably, its white lens eyes mimicked Peter's facial expression, even angling its head in the same manner as him.

The teen laughed slightly at this, finding the action to be rather adorable, a sentiment shared with him by his girlfriends.

"So do you have any idea what it wants?" Ahsoka curiously asked, leaning her chin on Peter's shoulder.

The Symbiote that rested in Peter's hand abruptly nudged itself forward, making Peter, and in turn, his girlfriend's pause to look down at it.

They saw the black slime bobbing its head continuously in the direction of the Togruta.

She noticed this, becoming perplexed as she was a bit nervous now.

"What's it doing?" Barriss curiously asked.

Peter wasn't entirely sure but he was able to pick up on its want and intention.

It seemed to wish to interact with Ahsoka and Spider-man gave the Padawan a look that was a silent statement of "I think he wants to say hi".

Apprehensive but equally as curious, Ahsoka held out her hand, watching as the symbiote's "head" tilted at this, having several tendrils come out from its body and directed them to her.

Reaching the tips of her fingers, the Togruta shivered slightly at the tendrils probing her fingertips before it slowly moved over from Peter's hand over to hers. It rested there for a time, the white lens that was its eyes looking up at hers.

Honestly, it kinda looked adorable.

A moment later, it wrapped itself around her hand and then passed up her arm and then down to her chest. She shivered for some moments, due to the crawling feeling going everywhere, inspecting every part of her, making her blush before reaching her head.

She was uncertain as to what it was doing but she knew it wasn't hostile. There was a feeling the slime gave off that displayed it wasn't doing this with the intent of harming Ahsoka.

It wanted to know her.

And when it reached her head, it spread itself atop her forehead and expanded into two circles on either side of her head.

The last thing the Padawan and her two lovers expected was the Symbiote to release a calming hum that seemingly vibrated down to Ahsoka's core.

It was… actually pleasant as she felt a connection of some kind clicking into place. The Togruta found herself exhaling in a satisfied fashion, allowing the pleasing sensation to wash over her.

Then, the Symbiote flattened itself and began spreading all over her body.

She let out an embarrassed "eep" as now it was moving over to cover her entirely. And in this process, as it started to connect with her senses, Ahsoka unintentionally emits a pleasant moan, but it was mostly mistaken as perhaps something unpleasant due to things shifting for her.

Moments passed before the black substance formed a bodysuit around the Togruta.

"Wooow~" Peter couldn't help but utter out, eyes widening at the sight of the changed Padawan.

"Ahsoka?" Barriss tentatively said. "Are you alright?"

Her fellow Padawan didn't respond at first, taking a moment to inspect herself.

"Yeah, it's just… This feels so weird." Says Ahsoka, turning around at every angle to get a more proper look at her body.

From Peter and Barriss' perspective, Ahsoka's bodysuit was reminiscent of the former's when it fully encompasses him. The spider insignia present on the chest and back portions with the subtle webbing design on several locations along with the eye lenses. What was different however was the white markings on her flesh were copied over onto the black suit and were visible. The same seemed to occur with her Lekku markings. And whatever marks were on her chest were melded with the insignia for a unique appearance.

The symbiote adjusted itself to better reflect the Togruta padawan who was feeling unusual right now.

"I didn't even think it would do that." Peter commented, going over to her with Barriss. "How do you feel?"

"Really… I dunno." Ahsoka admitted, flexing her fingers experimentally. "This is one of the strangest things I've ever experienced and I… kinda like it."

Her mask retracted and it actually made her boyfriend and girlfriend pause.

Ahsoka looked… healthier somehow. Her skin pigmentation actually looked as though it had a glow to her.

She was also sporting a blush right now, delicately running her right hand over her left arm.

"I wanna say this is freaky but it's real natural, actually." The Togruta Padawan commented. "Is this how it usually feels for you, Peter?"

The Queen's native could only shrug. "Wouldn't really know. Just felt natural for me."

Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "Well duh, that's what I said too, dummy."

She jumped up and down slightly, feeling the symbiote moving and adjusting as she did so and it was starting to feel really good.

Why did she also smell something extremely enticing?

This scent…

She glanced over at Peter and that enticing feeling only intensified.

What she didn't notice was her Mirialan girlfriend approaching her, a tentative hand outstretched until she gently trailed her fingertips over her arm.

Ahsoka shivered at her touch, turning to face Barriss who held a look of concentration. That turned to surprise abruptly as the Symbiote now latched on to her.

It slowly removed itself from Tano and jumped into the surprised hands of Barriss, who certainly wasn't expecting this.

The symbiote's white eyes returned, the slime gazing at the Padawan in wonder before it flattened itself on her hand. Barriss was startled by this but recovered a second later and she too was treated to the same "inspection" that it gave to Ahsoka.

The feeling was small once making proper contact. Making the connection for the coming bond, which she was quick to accept. This all led to the over-encompassing feeling happening like wildfire as it began to spread. The sensations happening all at once. The Mirialan had lost focus on her surroundings and was more attentive inwardly.

By the time she regained her senses, Barriss had begun registering and vocalizing her thoughts.

"Not as disturbing as I would've thought."

"What were you thinking about? The time with the Geonosian worm?"

Barriss shivered at the memory, shaking her head at that. "Hard not to. But right now, this feels… pleasant, I think."

"Yeah, it really was." Ahsoka unabashedly admitted, her skin still tingling from the experience.

Barriss had the same treatment as her girlfriend. Same kind of appearance as the spider logo and webbed theme. There were even the diamond freckle markings that were naturally on her face were oddly present on her mask. There were other ones which appeared on her arms and chest to adjust some of the arachnid designs. However, what was more interesting about her rendition of her attire was the hood as it was reminiscent of what she previously wore in the past. And on top of this feature was rather interesting as the hood was long and tattered -in a sense- with a white border on the outside with the web design more present on the inside.

The Mirialan padawan traced her hands over her body, feeling the extra silky layer. She let out pleasant hums as she unintentionally moved her body in a sensual manner. So much so it made her partners shift in place due to them feeling uncomfortable… in a good way.

"In fact, I feel so good and fantastic~" Moaned Barriss. "It's like I'm on fire~"

"...Didn't recall feeling that way when I was wearing it." Said Ahsoka, a bit befuddled by Barriss' choices of words. That sounded so unlike her.

Seriously, how her girlfriend just said that was something she didn't expect from her.

"Seems you're more confident now than before." Noted Peter. "Guess the symbiote really agrees with you."

"Yes, and…" Barriss blushed, a small smile appearing -once her symbiote mask receded- as she hugged herself in a small swoon. "It feels like you're both holding me. Like your arms are around me right now and I love it."

"Oh, so it's trying to steal our thunder, huh?" Peter spoke up in faux offense, walking forward and pulling Barriss into an embrace, the Padawan giggling at the gesture.

"Oh~ bold aren't you?" She lightly teased.

Ahsoka couldn't help but laugh slightly. "Where's this coming from?"

"I think it's the suit." Barriss murmured, placing a hand on her chest. "I feel so… it's just-"

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Peter said with a knowing smile. "I've felt the same sometimes."

A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. "I don't think you do. Not all of it, just yet."

The Mirialan soon grasped the sides of Peter's head and brought him into a searing kiss. He was briefly surprised by the action but accepted it. What he didn't expect was her practically shoving her tongue into his mouth right away, battling him for dominance. And what neither of them knew -but Ahsoka witnessed- was Barriss was curling up against Peter, wrapping all limbs around him as the symbiote was shifting about both partners.

To have called this a kiss would have been a grave inaccuracy, for this was more akin to a predator trying to devour their innocent prey. Although this was rather strange to witness, given the stark contrast with Barriss being the one to enact this.

Breaking away from Peter, Barriss giggled when seeing Peter's flushed face.

"Okay, I clearly got the idea now." He said before looking over to Ahsoka. "Do you-"

The human didn't get a clear response as Barriss unclung from him and latched onto the Togruta via a leaping tackle. Ahsoka -once balancing herself- got the same treatment as him moments ago, which in turn got Peter to see how enthusiastic the Mirialan was about the whole thing. And it wasn't long before Ahsoka reciprocated the motions as she was moving her hands all over her girlfriend. They both emit moans and groans in the process while heavily petting each other.

And Ahsoka, while being honest to herself, she was feeling rather excited doing this. It feels like a drug or drink she needs more from the source.

Not long afterward, once the two pulled away, there was an odd hum that emanated from Barriss yet was not her own.

It was the Symbiote making a pleased sound as the body suit Barriss had retracted to her right shoulder. Once there, it jumped back onto Peter, the black suit forming around him once more and the Avenger felt the satisfaction it held in bonding with Ahsoka and Barriss.

"...I don't know if this symbiote will be the death of us with this pleasant high I'm getting from you of all people."

No longer wearing the black suit, Barriss was quick to return to her usual calm, serene and more reserved self.

With the symbiote back on Peter, the boy wondered about the girls and why the suit took a cosmetic change for the both of them. While similar in the overall theme, there were obvious differences.

Probably reflected the host to a degree yet it was clear that he as Spiderman was its base.

'Huh.' Peter thought, eyes glancing over Barriss briefly 'What's with that posture?'

Barriss stood a bit more… pronounced if one can use that to her stance.

It was an odd thing to notice with her but… it felt different suddenly.

And it wasn't just her, but Ahsoka as well. Whereas it was noticeable with the Mirialan, the Togruta in the room had a subtle one while it was hidden underneath her embarrassment with what happened earlier.

It was shortly after his bit of pondering did he inhale sharply, registering something new with the alien symbiote.

There was a new addition that he was picking up on and… was it a scent? Yes, it was a… no, there were two scents now.

Two different scents invaded his senses and he soaked it all in. Taking in a deep breath, he processed these new scents and after a few seconds, the two images of Barriss and Ahsoka popped into his mind.

This… these were their scents.

Peter's eyes widened upon finally realizing what the Symbiote had done.

The alien being had bonded with his two girlfriends, to some unknown capacity; marking them whilst also copying their scents and assimilating them into its own.

He didn't need to verbalize his question as to why the symbiote detected this query as it responded with one simple word.

"Mates."

The young Avenger's face was as red as a tomato upon "hearing" this and the powerful dual scent of his two girlfriends didn't help him in getting himself under control.

He really needed something to distract him right now cuz he was about ten seconds away from pouncing on an unsuspecting pair of Padawans, consequences be damned.

Thankfully, that came in the form of LAAT gunships flying by from above and the familiar voices of Commanders Thire and Thorn chiming in from Peter's commlink.

'Thank god for small miracles.' He thought, once climbing out of the window and web-slinging away.

-Scene Cut-

Stress.

This was a word that is thrown about inconsistently and at times, unsuitably depending on the context.

Being late for say, a doctor's appointment, contingent on what the health issue in question might be, can be construed more as a small annoyance than full-on stress.

Being stuck in traffic just grates on the nerves more than being stressed.

Dealing with the result of a war stemmed from decades of tension, trying to make peace, end it quickly while also making sure the people were accounted for, balancing a secret marriage and-you get the idea.

Stress defined the life of one Padme Amidala at this moment in her life as it did many close to her. The advent of the Clone Wars was something Padme had been at the epicenter of, quite literally being present for the Battle of Geonosis that kicked off the war.

She had hoped the galaxy would never have fallen into such a state after nearly a thousand years with no large-scale galactic war being waged in between that time.

There was a small hope that maybe, just maybe, peace could be achieved in spite of the war kicking off. Of course, that was a tall task to be sure, one that she knew would take a good amount of time and progress to achieve.

And achieve it she did… though, obviously, in a way that she found to be less than ideal.

A ceasefire between the two factions in hopes of surviving long enough to take out an even scarier threat in the form of Ultron.

It was great that they weren't fighting each other. It's just that it was a simple "let's focus on taking out this enemy before we may likely resume trying to kill one another."

Less than ideal.

But this wasn't the first uphill battle Padme had faced in her life. Her entire political and personal career was defined by these overwhelming obstacles.

In her office at the Senate Building, Senator Amidala was going over many data pads sprawled over on her desk.

Things have been rather busy for her and many of her fellow colleagues quite recently. In fact, every politician out there in both Republic and Separatist space is working overtime.

While it may seem like an exaggeration, in comparison with how things were in times of war, the present time wasn't a joke.

The bags under her eyes were clear as day for anyone to see, showing the lack of the proper amount of sleep she's been getting on a comfortable bed. And no amount of caffeine and tea is able to properly make things better before she eventually crashes out of exhaustion.

'Hopefully, I can make enough headway on this before finally going home for the day.' Padme let loose a yawn from her lips. 'I have a date with my mattress to look forward to. Hopefully Anakin will be there to help.'

Childish such a thought may be, it's a form of luxury for a person such as her. And while it would be nice to relax with Anakin, if he were available, her body greatly desired rest above all else. Her husband has helped her when he was able to, utilizing the Force to allow for easier and quicker rest.

When she thought about it, she actually recalled never remembering him using such an ability. As a matter of fact, this came after his time spent on Mortis and a newfound wariness and wisdom with it.

She was so absorbed in her work and thoughts, her holo-communicator went off, absentmindedly answering it as she was drinking her soothing beverage whilst moving on to the next data file.

"It's good you're answering my call."

Hearing the familiar voice, Padme nearly choked on her tea. Coughing a few times in response. She then looked over, seeing the holo-projection of her old mentor and friend, Mina Bonteri of Onderon.

"Mina!" Was the Naboo Senator's joyful and surprised response. "I didn't expect to get a call from you."

"Did I call at a bad time?" Bonteri asked sympathetically.

"Not at all." Padme used a handkerchief to dry up the spilled liquid. "Forgive me. I've been distracted lately and I'm extremely tired. Haven't felt this way ever since my time in the academy and around the beginning of the Clone Wars."

Her old mentor and close friend held a strained, understanding smile. "I've had similar experiences, Padme."

While it was good to talk to a long distant friend after quite some time, Padme knew better.

"I take it this isn't a social call." Amidala said expectantly.

The tired sigh Mina released all but confirmed her suspicion. "Oh how I wish it was."

"What's wrong? Does it have something to do with the Separatist parliament?"

"Something more close to home." Bonteri clarified. "As you may know that while I am a Separatist and serve as Onderon's representative in the parliament, King Dendup remained neutral throughout this war. I respected his decision and never forced or coaxed him to change his views on what side to take part. It's the reason why I have a mixed relationship in our Parliament."

"A change occurred." Padme surmised.

"We have a new king." Mina stated in a grim tone.

This got the Naboo senator to blink in some level of surprise. "Has King Ramsis Dendup passed away-"

"No, he was deposed and as far as I know, he's under house arrest and silenced." Mina revealed to her former associate. "The new king, Sanjay Rash, has changed our system's allegiance."

A worried feeling slowly formed in Padme. "Is he fully shifting Onderon to the Separatist Alliance?"

"I somewhat wish he were. Would make things more manageable. In truth, he's amongst those who are insurrectionists with this latest ceasefire."

This made Padme's worry increase.

"This doesn't sound good at all." Said the Naboo senator. "From what I know with the ceasefire, both sides are trying to assuage or quell the sectors breaking away so we can be unified to take down Ultron. Multiple Republic fleets have actually been dispatched to Separatist systems in case of violence breaking out."

"Yet not everyone believes as such. Either they are trying to hunker down and hopefully survive Ultron's genocide or side with him out of desperation."

Such an idea shocked and disgusted Padme, her facial expression contorting into that of fear and anger.

"Don't they even know what's even happening with those he's been capturing?!" She nearly yelled. "How he's experimenting on people to become abominations?"

Bonteri visibly shuddered at that, only hearing the horror stories that Padme relayed to her through those who have bore witness to such atrocities.

"I can only make assumptions."

"Can't you do anything about it?" Padme inquired, seeing Mina shake her head in response.

"If I could, I would. However, Sanjay Rash is pulling out several old laws which are making it difficult for me to act and interfere."

"That's gotta give you quite the headache." Padme muttered. "Anything else in particular-?"

"Lux is gone."

Padme nearly shot up from her chair in alarm. "What?! How?!"

The distressed look of the mother only served to further worry the Naboo Senator upon the reveal of where he had gone to. "He ran away from home. He's on Onderon right now, helping the rebels try to retake the capital city of Iziz."

For the briefest of moments, the Republic senator thought Lux was kidnapped or worse, killed. There was some bit of relief that came up for her, but it was squashed down when digesting the last bit of details.

"He's what?! Why would he do such a thing?!"

"I can only imagine it's youthful ignorance or possibly something more. You know he idolizes you and everything you've done when you were younger."

"...Please don't tell me he's focusing on my time retaking Naboo from the Trade Federation."

"Not just that. Even when you were a child, the relief missions you went on with your family." Mina had a fond look as she said this, recalling the stories herself when she and Padme first became friends. "But now, he has new heroes to aspire to. Peter, Ahsoka and Barriss have left quite an impression on him. Seeing the actions of the Avengers has only bolstered such beliefs. My son… I don't want to say he is enamored with what they are doing but he has been watching much of their holo-net coverage far more often than not. He sees the good they're doing. Their rescue of Jabiim natives sympathetic to the Separatists and what Peter did for us on the orders of that team to put up a safety net from Ultron being unable to hack into our systems has inspired him. He feels that if he has the influence, ability and simply the will to act, he wishes to do so."

Padme was as exasperated as she found herself ironically flattered and amused.

"There must be something you could do. Can't you perhaps appease Dooku for possible support?"

"If only that were easy. His influence is already removed from Onderon, making it difficult for him to simply order Sanjay Rash to comply. And if he were to send a droid army, I dread to think of the full implications." Mina bemoaned. "Unfortunately, the only way to reclaim Onderon is through armed struggle. But the rebels lack sufficient hardware and supplies."

Hearing all this, Padme soon realized what the call was really about.

"You're asking for my assistance."

Mina looked apologetic. "Yes. I'm calling in an old favor."

"...And here I thought I was done with those." Padme then glared at her old mentor, playfully. "Are you sure you aren't making one up out of desperation?"

Mina chuckled with a smile on her lips.

"Alright, I'll let this slide this one time. What is it you need from me?"

"With Dooku's hands tied on the matter, I need the Republic's help. A guiding hand to help the resistance group. And I believe outside assistance can be more than welcomed considering the individuality of Onderon practices." Says the Onderon senator. "I'll await your response on the matter."

With this said, the holo-call ended.

Silence filled Padme's office, with its lone occupant pondering on the plea for help.

Knowing the history of the planet on top of the current state of the galaxy, the only way for things on Onderon to be liberated is to take Sanjay Rash off the throne and reinstate its rightful ruler. And for that to occur, in a better light, the people need to make it so. Not in a means of them being labeled as terrorists, but as an insurgency.

With Mina's request, Padme needs to be sure her actions won't spread terror through dangerous possibilities. She can't merely fund the rebels to overthrow a legitimate government and she is able to tell Mina won't do the same, despite her son being amongst the rebels.

A comparison came to mind when thinking about how Cham Syndulla worked with his people retaking Ryloth-

'That's it.' Padme thought, a smile slowly forming on her lips.

The timing couldn't be better.

The doors to her office opened and in walked a Clone Trooper guard, colored not of the red Coruscant Shock battalion, but of the Naboo green and blue. "Senator Amidala?"

"Lieutenant Buck?" She said in surprise. "Something the matter?"

The Clone Trooper shook his head at that.

"No Senator, just telling you General Syndulla wishes to speak with you."

'Wow.' Padme couldn't help but marvel at this, just having thought of him.

"By all means, send him in." She graciously said, seeing Lieutenant Buck nod, stepping back outside and signaling Cham Syndulla for the go-ahead.

The Twi'lek nodded appreciatively, patting the Trooper on the shoulder before walking into the office.

"Cham." Padme greeted happily. "How are you? To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I hope I'm not disturbing your work, Padme." Cham said, hands together with a small bow. "I know how busy you are right now. I'm just here to ask about the matter of the defense bill in the upcoming vote."

"Well," Padme gave a coy look, one eye closed as she looked at the Twi'lek Senator. "It's funny you should mention that. An issue has sprung up that I believe needs to be addressed. And it plays into your bill."

Syndulla frowned at this, now curious. "What seems to be the problem?"

"The bill sounds good written down, but people desire actual results before proceeding further." Padme pointed out, Cham silently nodding at this. "And there has been a recent development that just may serve as the perfect means of getting the bill ratified and preparing the influx of draftees, conscripts, and volunteers for the GAR."

Now she had the former freedom fighters full attention, eyes sparking with intrigue.

"You have something that can be used?"

"A recent development came to my attention. The local government are like many other worlds being insurrectionists. However, it's people are against this practice and are seeking to liberate their planet from the new regime."

"A factor many of us have guessed right away. Which world are you talking about?"

"Onderon."

"Onderon?"

"Are you familiar with that world?"

"Somewhat." Syndulla admitted. "I understand it has quite the storied and complicated history with the Republic, if not the galaxy. You mentioned something about Insurrectionists?"

"Onderon's king -who has been neutral throughout this war- was deposed and replaced with an Insurrectionist…"

From here, Padme told the Twi'lek representative much on the Onderon crisis. How it may be a good opportunity to practice and refine the Defense Bill before officiating it for voting.

Cham stroked his chin, deep in thought on the matter at hand. It was a complicated issue to be certain but it's in these types of scenarios where opportunities were formed.

When he proposed the Defensive Conscription Bill, he did so after deep thought and contemplation. This wasn't a notion he did so haphazardly.

During the occupation of Ryloth, he gained a deep respect, appreciation and brotherhood with the 71st Legion. He didn't see the Clones as the meat droids as some bantha fodder opted to call them but as men who were very much beings of their own who had died in droves for the people of Ryloth.

The Twi'lek people greatly revere and respect the sacrifices they had made for the planet and when Cham forwarded the bill, many Twi'leks put their names forward, waiting to be assigned to their legions/battalions/corps when the time came.

But as much as his people are warriors in their own right, they don't hold a caliber to the Clones.

Few groups and armies did and that was a hurdle that he needed to find a way to overcome with this Bill.

The conscripts and volunteers are not replacements but supplements to the Clone Army and if they were to fight by the side of these brave men, they needed to be up to snuff with them. He knew that the Clones would be apprehensive about the idea and that a majority are going along with it simply because the proposition was made by someone well-known, liked and respected by them.

Had it been anyone else, they may not have taken to the idea as they did.

If it was someone like the "fabled" Jedi Master Rahm Kota, known for his anti-Clone trooper attitude, the troops would not have accepted such an offer.

"A rather difficult position you've placed me in, Padme. An opportunity such as this is too good to pass up." Cham mused aloud. "From what you've told me, I see that a small number of clones would suffice to get this resistance group up to standards."

"They will need to be picked carefully then." The Naboo Senator concurred. "Perhaps you should speak with Captain Keeli on this matter. I shall see what I can scrounge up on my end."

Syndulla nodded appreciatively on this until another thought came to mind.

"What of the Jedi? They need to have an input in this just as much as the Clones do. They'll be leading new soldiers after all."

"Will be quite the conversation to bring up with them, having some tag along to oversee the operation."

The Naboo senator had a good, mutual relationship with the Jedi Council. But what she intended on discussing with them may be problematic. They could be fine sending some of their own out, but it depends on the delivery and who is present. And with the current circumstances, say what you will about Onderon, the wider galaxy demanded their attention.

"But how many would even come? Would anyone even be able to?" Cham questioned. "Last I heard, a number of them were with their fleets along with the Avengers scattered across the galaxy trying to maintain a semblance of order before the ceasefire can be officially declared. Even then, the Jedi and Avengers can't exactly fight the war for them or else it'll defeat the purpose of getting the Bill passed."

That was a serious conundrum.

Padme hummed a little, thinking of what good Jedi and Avengers are available and can be reached out to.

'Might have to make some calls.'

-Scene Cut-

In its earliest ages of civilization, Onderon was a world located in the inner rim marked with savage jungles that were filled with dangerous creatures. To survive, the primitive human inhabitants of the planet protected themselves behind the walls of fortified settlements. Over time, these became enormous walled cities, like the planet's capital, Iziz.

Soon enough, it will be hot and crawling with a rebellion.

Coming out of hyperspace, a Republic ship made its way to its destination.

On the planetary rotation, it would be nighttime where the drop-off point is located.

"This is Valkyrie 2929. We're coming up on the drop zone." Said the Clone pilot, directing his transport to an opening in the deep jungle of Onderon.

Slowing down on its descent, the pilot flipped a few switches to get things to go underway. The front entrance opened up, having the majority of the ship's occupants leap out and make their own respective landing strategies.

With the last one out and them all on the ground, the Republic craft took off in order to return to Republic space.

All the while, the group quickly formed a quick circle, checking for any signs of hostile activity.

"We're clear." Said one in a hood, pulling it back to reveal Ahsoka Tano.

She turned to the rest of the team she arrived with, all of them checking themselves over for their equipment and suit.

"So uh, I'm still trying to figure out why we are involved in this." Voiced one Scott Lang who looked at the group expectantly. "I mean, not that I'm against it but uh… helping cause a rebellion is a first for me."

"We're the only ones on hand, Scott." Hope Van Dyne remarked. "Matt, T'Challa and Sam can hold down Coruscant while we're gone. We're needed here."

"Would be so weird if the twins took part in this. Would've made 'em think too much of Sokovia."

"Are they not with Captain Rogers right now?" Barriss Offee inquired, lowering her own hood.

"Yeah, last they told us, they found one of Ultron's bases." Spider-man revealed, causing a noticeable shiver down his Mirialan girlfriend's spine. "Wanda was getting stir-crazy about not going on a mission since reuniting with us. Cap figured what better way to alleviate that than with her tearing apart more of Ultron's stuff."

"Good riddance to 'em." Scott stated, tone uncharacteristically dark though none could blame him.

Hope herself held a look of utter contempt at the mere mention of Ultron.

"Best not to stick around here." ARC Trooper Echo commented, cutting through their thoughts and conversation. "We're still in unknown territory here."

"Let's get moving." ARC Trooper Fives stated, gesturing in the direction of the jungle. "These coordinates aren't accurate but they're at least a starting point to go off of."

Cutup and Hevy, along with the rest of the motley crew all nodded in agreement and went off into the trees.

Traversing through the dense jungle, the new arrivals did their best to not be spotted when getting to their next destination.

Peter and Ahsoka took to the tree tops, jumping and swinging about in utter silence.

Ant-Man and the Wasp shrank down, the former having called upon an Onderon ant equivalent that conveniently could fly for him.

Barriss and Domino Squad used their darkened armor as their cover, sticking to the shadows of the jungle as they moved through it.

Though they moved with the intent of not being spotted, they were well aware that they were already being watched by natives of the planet.

Even in the dead of night, a Republic transport ship was easy to spot.

From the underbrush, someone eyed these folks and radioed it in.

"I spotted some trespassers." They whispered into the comms.

Moments later after this was called in, the jungle got a bit more activity.

"Do we have a visual on hostiles?" Hevy inquired, readying his rotator gun.

"Not hostiles from what we see." Hope stated, flying from on high. "Forest is rather dense and dark."

"But we do have company." Scott tacked on, him and Hope moving down to be with the rest. "Hang on guys."

Down with those on the ground, they soon realized they were surrounded. They were on guard but waited for whatever was about to appear.

Coming out of the foliage, some were approached by someone riding a Dalgo, a reptilian mount.

"Stay where you are." The person sternly said, revealing themselves slightly to be a woman. Following her, others appeared while also riding Dalgos. "Identify yourselves."

"It's alright." Barriss calmly said. "We've come to help."

"Jedi." Said one of the riders, seeing both Barriss and Ahsoka who dropped down from on high.

Looking over, the ones who "ambushed" the Republic forces saw Spiderman hanging upside down on a webline. Following him, Antman and the Wasp grew back to normal size, startling the riders a bit more.

It took them a moment but they all soon recognized who it was that was standing in front of them. The holo-net showed their actions and exploits every single day.

"Avengers!" The lead rider said, certainly surprised by their presence.

"And what's with all that fancy armor?" Asked another rider, gesturing to Domino squad.

"ARC Troopers." Cutup plainly said. "Here to show you all how to wage war and win."

The riders looked at each other, well as best they could in the darkness before focusing back at the Republic forces.

"I'm Commander Tano, and this is Commander Offee. Meet Peter, Hope, Scott, Hevy, Fives, Echo and Cutup." The Togruta padawan listed them all down. "We're here to help you take back your planet."

The rider who was the first to be seen by the group approached and spoke to them.

"My name is Steela. I'll guide you to our secret base."

AN

Hey, back at it again, so soon after finishing our latest GOTG arc and I bet you all that this was the last arc you all would have expected to see, huh?

But this being an AU, things never happen the same way twice.

It was funny, we knew we wanted to do this arc sooner than later but struggled with it. Then we looked at the Season 3 layout, how things are gonna change and that's when we realized, here, right here.

So, I know I've been talking about it and how we're getting close to the end and blah, blah, blah saga and all but this right here is the official start to the season 3 finale. This is a five-arc structure of the last saga of season 3 where each arc is linked heavily together save for one in particular that I know may come out of nowhere but once you all see what it is, fairly certain you're gonna love it.

Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 2 was rad as was The Bad Batch one where, straight up, I really can't decide on which one was better. Both were fucking excellent and just did so much for the characters.

Can't wait to see more.

Wanna say more, a lot more but at the time of the ending of this chapter, I'm feelin' tired, same as Jeb and just wanna close this one out already.

Also, please go on DeviantArt to like the shit out of the Steve and Aayla art piece of them kissing in the pose of Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade. I really, really love it and know you guys who haven't seen it yet will love it as much as I do.

Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.