Protectors of the Universe #5 Written by Morfex and Mystic, Edited by MorfexLogo created by Lord Thanos Published by the Cosmic Powers Fan Fiction Group in THE COSMIC POWERS UNLIMITED FANZINE ISSUE #26 Characters are the properties of Marvel Comics |
Protectors of the Universe #5
"Covers"
(Note: This story continues from Protectors of the Universe #4. For other stories taking place in this continuity, see the POTU Archive Page.)
Epoch watched her teams from Io, their Jovian moon
headquarters. The former
Spinsterhood training facility had proven more than adequate for housing her
gathered teams from this timeline and others.
Each group of the Protectors was precisely in the position that Epoch had
desired.
Phase One had been completed. Each of the groups had a task to perform and was where they
were supposed to be. She had chosen
to mix and match the teams on this occasion to maximize the element of surprise
and take the extra-universal creature, Rune, and his Universal Church of Truth
unawares. Future missions would
probably be less flexible.
The Church served as a platform for Rune from which to
deploy his plans of universal conquest. Of
vampiric nature, Rune enjoyed employing brainwashing tactics - ensuring
converts, slaves and guards for his already immense and still growing empire.
The planet Sirus X or "Throneworld," was the headquarters of
the extra-dimensional creature, who reclaimed the godhead of the Universal
Church after millennia away from this Universe, in the continuum referred to as
the Ultraverse.
The Spinsterhood, consisting of Gamora, Ganymede, Kismet,
Moondragon and Mantis, had attempted to infiltrate the Church. Both Moondragon
and Mantis had been uncovered and removed from Throneworld. Mantis was now
embroiled in the insanity of Galactus the Devourer.* The others still remained
on Sirus X.
(*See Marvel's GTD #4.)
The Powers Cosmic team consisted in its entirety of the
Silver Surfer, Nova, Firelord, Air-Walker and Shalla Bal, now known as Starglow.
Currently, only Nova, Air-Walker and Starglow were on Sirus X. Along with
several others from among the Protectors' mightiest, they had thus far failed to
breach the security shielding surrounding the Dark God's Throneworld.
This was precisely why Epoch had sent them there. Their
containment would avoid their involvement in delicate matters across the cosmos.
The only reason the three former Heralds were even on the Church Throneworld was
that Epoch wanted to prevent their meddling in the cosmic conflicts against
Galactus and Thanos that currently plagued the rest of the galaxy, and their
teammates, the Silver Surfer and Firelord.
Epoch recognized that, should the Powers Cosmic ever become
aware of this fact, they would certainly hold her accountable for the command
decision. But the mortals' sense of arbitrary ethics was growing rapidly tiring
to her. Cosmic concerns left little room for the petty judgments of finite
humanoids. Even Heralds of Galactus must learn their place.
The Star Masters consisted of Gladiator, Drax, Captain
Marvel, Quasar, Beta Ray Bill, Starfox, Starhawk and Jack of Hearts.
Gladiator, Drax and Captain Marvel were off-planet, on missions unrelated
to the Protectors' conflict with Rune. The Shi'ar Praetor was by the side of the
Majestrix Lilandra, deciding the fate of the Silver Surfer.* Drax and Captain
Marvel were exploring the recently amalgamated Microverse.** The other Star
Masters each had a role to play in the campaign against Rune. Epoch paid
particular attention to the progress of Starfox, Starhawk, and Jack of Hearts in
the conflict.
(*See Galactus the Devourer
#5.)
(** See Captain Marvel #4.)
Adam Warlock of the special-assignment unit known as the
Defenders was also involved. Warlock, along with Kismet gone undercover, was
given the task of facing his creators and enlisting them to stop the Church from
bringing about a new amalgam of the two universes that Rune sought to create.
But Rune was not the only extra-universal invader on Sirus X.
The Protégé was the strange merging of the two beings
forming the entity Kireleon (formerly Gemini). They/He would also be forced to
return from whence they/he had come. No extra-universal being would be allowed
to take up residence within this Universe and jeopardize Epoch's long-term
plans. Epoch knew that this bi-universal amalgamated being was the key to Rune's
plan, and to his downfall.
It was Adam's job to destroy the Protégé, or to convert
him to their cause and then betray
him. Adam had placed himself back into his old body and appeared to be taking
control of the situation. The
Champion of Chaos and Order was well adept at caring for himself.
He would not require help or direction to accomplish his Machiavellian
task.
Epoch intended to send Rune and Kireleon back to their
Universe of origin, dead or alive, before they could do harm to this Universe.
Although she was not allowed to interfere directly due to the cosmic
implications, she could act indirectly. She had strained cosmic law to the
breaking point since the Cosmic Union, taking full advantage of the shambles
that was the Cosmic Hierarchy in its wake. But events unfolded on higher planes
that would soon tip that scale back into balance once more. Epoch's time to act
was now.
Rune's inexhaustible ambition would eventually allow him to
threaten the entire cosmos. Already he had come perilously close to obtaining
supreme power the last time he was in this Universe. This time, more attention would be paid to stopping such
ambitions from coming to fruition. Her
predecessor Eon had given Epoch a genetic directive to protect this Universe.
But Eon had not stipulated how. Epoch was fast learning that any means
justified the desired results.
Epoch had given her team as little information as possible.
The Church employed many telepathic securities and psi-actives within
their guard. The less that each
Protector knew, the better their chances of succeeding.
The existence of the Spinster Moondragon's formidable
telepathic defenses had ironically given her away already.
And she had paid dearly by means of a mental rape of sorts at the hands
of the Dark God and his many telepathic minions.
Any further knowledge of Epoch's plan could prove fatal to each member as
well as to its overall execution. Nothing
else must go wrong.
Meanwhile, the Guardians of the Galaxy had appeared,
despite the Cosmic Union's and the Destiny War's fracturing time distortions, in
an apparent mission to stop Epoch's original creation known as the Timeless.
It mattered not to her. The
original Timeless members were predominantly extra-universal like Rune, so they
too must be expunged eventually. They had served their purpose in this reality,
and the core Divergent Timeless would prove far better suited to crisis
resolution throughout the multiverse. The Guardians were another matter
entirely. The conflict between the two groups might well eradicate both
challenges to Epoch's plans. Pitting rival factions against each other seemed a
practical approach.
Epoch turned to watch a screen with Adam Warlock at the
center. He was the key to Epoch's plan, the most valuable pawn on the board that
was Sirus X. Phase Two would now begin…
Starfox relaxed in his elegant chair, facing the Dark God
Rune and the Goddess Alevolen at the Imperial dinner table. While Rune devoured
raw meat of questionable origin, Eros partook of the excellent selection of
Sirusian liquors. The son of Mentor spoke in his typical devil-may-care manner.
"If you choose to consider the means I have laid out
on this datapad, the three former Heralds, Quasar and Beta Ray Bill shall be
neutralized in one fell swoop. They can then serve as batteries to empower your
mechanisms and implement your plan. Their energies will ensure your
success."
Rune briefly picked the hanging flesh from between two
fangs with a clawed fingertip.
Alevolen sat beside the Dark God, intent on the
conversation. "Why do you tell us all this, Eros of Titan? What do you
achieve from this betrayal?"
Starfox grinned mischievously, a smile not unlike that of
his brother Thanos. "I can make you both an offer that we might all find…
amusing. Brotus, your Grand Inquisitor, was right to bring me here, rather than
to the Protégé. Brotus' loyalties, at least, are not in question."
Brotus stood behind the Dark God, nearly two meters of
indigo muscle. His pose and features were the equivalent of a military "at
ease" position. They did not betray the doubts and fears that filled his
mind. What kind of man was this that could betray Brotus' beloved Mantis and her
teammates on a whim? Brotus knew his duty in bringing this Starfox to Rune, but
he did not have to like it. Starfox seemed to get a great deal of gratification
from playing at "cloak and dagger." Was his existence so tedious that
he must endanger his former friends merely for entertainment? Brotus fought the
urge to scoff aloud in disgust.
Rune lowered the shank of half-devoured flesh to his plate.
Raw juices still dripping from his lips, he said, "Do continue, Eros. You
have my undivided attention."
White Raven held Gamora's hand, waiting for the second
squeeze that would indicate a desire to make the bodily switch from the decaying
form she had worn since the Infinity Gauntlet Affair, to her original birth
body. It occurred to White Raven that Gamora might not be able to muster the
strength to signal her choice. It was a conundrum. Though many had assumed White
Raven to be too casual in issues of life and death, she felt intensely about a
person's right to self-determination. She had known Gamora for years; they had
met under the tutelage of Thanos of Titan. As sparring partners, then friends,
they had seen each other through intense life-altering experiences. Now, before
her, a friend required a leap of faith.
Raven turned to Kireleon, Protégé of the Universal Church
of Truth. "My love, I fear that Gamora may not be able to convey her
choice. What if I am wrong?"
"The decision is yours, dearest. You know her better
than almost anyone in the Universe. Stop trying to think for her, and think AS
her."
"If I am wrong…" White Raven turned back to the
near mummified remains of the corpse that withered further with each passing
hour. "May the Space Gods help me… Gamora, if you want to transfer
bodies, then say and do nothing! If you want to rest in peace and let nature
reclaim this mortal coil, then give me a sign. Flutter your eyelids, breath
deeply, vary your heart rate! Anything!"
Kireleon felt almost embarrassed for his paramour.
"Darling, she is now incapable of responding. You know that there will be
no answer."
Raven swung around, suddenly angered. "I do not care!
I am the one who will regret this if I am wrong! You just want her as another
pawn to exploit, like Crucible, Ayesha, and Kismet!"
Kireleon was unused to being addressed in such a manner.
"Raven, you are distressed, so I will forgive this affront… once. If she
does not wish to live, she can choose honorable suicide as befits a member of
the Order of Astral Samurai. She will still have the power of choice…"
White Raven bit her lower lip, nodded, and escorted the
horizontal hover-gurney bearing Gamora to the Imperial Beehive. The Protégé
disappeared, reintegrating with that portion of his dual self already in the
Beehive. Being in two places at once had its advantages, but he was not yet a
full native of this reality, and must use the power sparingly.
Gehenna Midas and Binary left the Imperial infirmary, still
shaken by Gamora's condition. Gehenna was, in actuality, Ganymede of the
Spinsterhood under cover. She was doubly concerned because she feared that the
Dark God suspected her of less than total loyalty. Her reaction to Rune's
demand* demonstrated hesitation, and she felt that it may have spelled her
downfall. She must find a means of undoing the damage, but she could not do so
alone. She must find allies.
Perhaps Binary could be trusted. She had served with the
Starjammers after all. But how much of that heroism was Carol Danvers, and how
much of it was from the entity that now walked beside Ganymede? The Spinster had
to find out, and quickly. She waited until they were alone in the Training Room,
as Binary had agreed to a sparring match to take their minds off of the last few
hours. When Ganymede was certain that all recording devices would receive false
messages from her ever-present datapad, she spoke.
"Binary, White Raven mentioned that you were a former
member of the Starjammers while your submerged consciousness was controlled by
the Terran now known as Warbird. She said that, in recent months, you found that
you could free yourself from that domination, and that you came to the Universal
Church of Truth seeking purpose."
"And what concern is it of yours?" Binary
responded to the personal intrusion with hostility, having expected nothing more
philosophical than a battle-training session.
Ganymede did not want to draw further suspicion, but her
options were limited. "None. Just making conversation. Mostly, I was
curious if you had found the purpose you have sought."
Binary looked at Gehenna cautiously, attempting to discern
an ulterior motive. "Very well, my first memory was that of being
experimented on by the alien species known as the Brood. They grafted me onto
the Human/Kree hybrid then known as Ms. Marvel. My consciousness filled the void
that was her vacant mind, but her own identity eventually became strong enough
not to need me anymore. In her sleep, I was evicted from her body. By then I had
served with the Starjammers, and discovered the meaning of heroism and
sacrifice. I took the Church's tenets at face value, and here I am."
Binary then considered Ganymede carefully. "You are a
Grand Inquisitor, Midas. Have you found your life's purpose in that?"
Binary's tone was surprisingly bereft of sarcasm. It lent itself a hint of
genuine interest in the answer. This was not just a rhetorical question after
all. Ganymede let out an internal sigh of relief.
Knowing that her next words could mean her death, Ganymede
continued. "I have found purpose, and personal fulfillment, but not in the
Church." She awaited some reaction from Binary, but none came. The red and
white energy being merely listened intently. "I am, in actuality, a member
of the Protectors of the Universe, and specifically the sub-grouping called the
Spinsterhood. We are a unit of warrior women seeking to bring justice and
freedom to the Cosmos."
Binary slowly shook her head in disbelief. "Why… why
do you tell me these things? They are sacrilege! You as much as admit to heresy
and treason!" Suddenly, the entity accessed the focused energies of a
binary star system's white hole to blast Ganymede with a fiery beam of force.
Ganymede barely averted the attack. She knew that the
onslaught had been less than Binary's full potential, but enough to hurt even a
Spinster. Ganymede took a defensive position, her weapon of choice, a
Spinsterhood staff, entering her hand as if from thin air. "True. I take a
terrible risk in doing so, but I feel you would make an excellent addition to my
team."
"Protector… of the Universe?" Binary was taken
aback by the prospect. "But you do not even know me! How do you know I will
not immediately turn you over to the Dark God?" Binary soared into the air,
but the Training Facility's ceiling did not extend higher than thirty meters, so
her maneuverability was less than in an outdoor environment.
She clapped her hands together and a wide dispersal beam of white energy
approached Ganymede's position.
Ganymede tapped one end of her staff, and a smooth sheen of
protective force enveloped her body like an oval about her. The energy wave
bounced off the defensive surface, ricocheting back in Binary's direction.
"Because, Sister, I sense in you a kindred spirit. Among my many powers is
the ability to discern allies, and you are an ideal candidate for recruitment.
Tell me, have I misjudged your character?" The staff shielding could not
withstand another such blow. Ganymede had either just guaranteed her own demise,
or forged a new alliance, she knew not which.
Binary was momentarily lost in introspection, hovering in
the air. Ganymede would not take the offensive in this instance. Suddenly, the
uneasy silence was interrupted by Ganymede's wrist communicator. Ganymede
glanced at it, then addressed the Binary Star above her. "White Raven has
summoned us. It is time to make your decision."
Continued in Protectors of the Universe #6! Be sure to also check out our Cosmic Union Continuity Reference Page and Protectors of the Universe Reference Page for other stories in this continuity. And don't forget to send some comments below!