Silver
Surfer/Red Shift: Conflicting Agenda #1 |
SILVER SURFER
AND RED SHIFT:
Conflicting Agendas
(Note: For other stories taking place in this continuity, see the POTU Archive Page. However, you do not need to read previous stories to understand this one.)
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A Time Before This Time…
In a
previous universe, much like this one, time and space came to an end.
All of matter began to transform, quickly killing countless
civilizations, destroying every planet, and dimming every star.
The universe transformed into pure energy.
All the matter in the universe slowly moved inward, condensing itself
into one large cosmic cauldron over billions of years.
Long after the countless inhabitants had passed away, after life ceased
to exist, only one being remained.
The
phenomenon eventually happens to every universe. It is a natural occurrence.
Like clockwork, a universe comes together, just as it once spread apart.
And like clockwork, a new universe explodes forth and is spawned from the
previous. The cycle continues.
The cycle greater than time itself.
The cycle of creation.
But this
universe’s story does not end there. From
this universe was merged a single man, the son of Taa, Galan, and the very
Sentience of the Universe. Both
died and were reborn Galactus. But
though Galan was dead, his mission was not.
And though his home of Taa was destroyed, its memory was not.
And
Galactus built Taa II. And with it,
he would give back to the new universe with the memory of the old.
The Near Future…
(Following
the Silver Surfer’s recent appearances in Powers Cosmic, Captain Marvel, and
Maximum Security, but before his appearance in The Defenders…)
Silver
Surfer hovered above the earth. He
was questioning his purpose in this universe.
Before, things were so clear. He
was a son of Zenn-La, the Herald of Galactus, Sentinel of the Spaceways.
But recently, he had heard no such calling.
He had seen no greater purpose. And
yet he found himself on this planet called earth once more.
His
thoughts were then distracted. Below
him he witnessed the beginning of the end.
In mere moments, armies were taking up arms, mobs of people were running
to the streets. The world was in
chaos. Some form of plague had
spread across the entire world, wiping out millions of people.
The planet was erupting with earthquakes.
Nations insisted that their enemies had finally released the ultimate
weapon, while others were crippled with confusion.
Earth’s heroes could do little to help.
Silver
Surfer recognized the reaction. He
had known the planet earth and its inhabitants very well by now.
They always feared that which they did not understand.
And they did not understand this. The
world was changing. People were
dying from mysterious illnesses and the planet was falling apart.
The Silver
Surfer was distressed. He glided
above the conflict brewing below him. Calling
upon the Power Cosmic, he ceased their movements and aired his concern.
“Your world is falling at your knees and all you can do is fight!
This is a time to unite. To
come together to save earth.”
The people
below him did not end their battling, however. One quickly yelled out, “He must be the one bringing our
nations to an end!” The troops
shouted in agreement and began to fire their weapons at the Silver Surfer.
He slowly
flew away in disappointment. “At
least they are coming together…” he thought in irony as the soldiers
continued their shots at him.
His
thoughts then turned to his beloved Alicia Masters. Could this mysterious illness have reached her? Could
it have spread across the entire planet? He
already knew the answer. He made
his way back to Hawaii, where he was vacationing with Alicia, only to find it
embroiled in riots. He then made
his way into Alicia’s hotel room. She
was lying on the floor, shaking in pain.
“Norrin,
what is happening to me?” She asked, as her body was running a fever and her
bones were shaking uncontrollably. She
lost consciousness.
The Silver
Surfer was numb at the thought of losing her. He had already lost so many loved ones before, he had no time
to react emotionally. “I do not
understand what is causing this, Alicia, but I will find an answer.”
He tried to heal her with the Power Cosmic, but there was no use.
This plague was greater than the Power Cosmic.
He scanned her body to see if he could find what was causing this
worldwide epidemic, but did not expect to find the answer he found.
Her
molecular structure was changing and transforming. Soon, it would kill her.
He picked
her up and took her to the Fantastic Four in New York, where Mr. Fantastic could
look after her while he searched for the reason behind this newfound threat.
Once
arriving, he was greeted by Sue Richards, the Invisible Woman.
She did not look well at all, but she had no time to rest.
“It is good to see you, Norrin. Here,
let me attend to Alicia… Reed is in his lab.”
He entered
the lab to find Mr. Fantastic looking for the same answer and asking the same
question that Silver Surfer was searching for.
“Norrin Radd, I am glad to see you, perhaps you can be of
assistance.”
“You
look horrible, Reed Richards, you should rest.
Let me tend to your world’s troubles.”
Mr.
Fantastic was evidently worn out, both from stress and the plague that had now
hit him and his family. “I have
no time to rest… I must find a solution, a remedy to save our world.”
“I
believe the very molecular structure of every being is transforming… into what
I am unsure. But it will kill
mankind.”
“Yes,
and I believe the body’s reaction to this is the illness which is wiping us
all out. And these earthquakes, I
feel, are being caused by the world’s molecular structure changing.
But who would be doing this to us… could it be related to the recent
events with the Ruul?*”
(* See
Maximum Security)
“I do
not think so. This is something
more deadly. This is not an
isolated incident. I sense the
entire universe is at threat. Continue
to do your work here, Reed Richards, I must search the stars.”
Silver
Surfer soared into the stars. It
was just as he feared. The entire
universe was in chaos. Every planet
and star was shaking, every civilization was dying off.
Ships were losing power and exploding in space.
Silver Surfer calculated that everything was being transformed and he was
witnessing the effects of it. It
reminded him of Galactus’ feeding pattern but on a universal, and yet slower,
scale. But what was the origin?
He found
the answer. He noticed slight
changes in the gravitations of the heavenly bodies. Everything was slowly pushing toward one center.
And the Silver Surfer knew what that center was.
The axis of the universe. Taa
II.
The
Sentinel of the Spaceways made his way toward the giant world-ship once called
home by Galactus. Taa II was
the greatest technological object in the universe.
Single-handedly created by Galactus to pay homage to his homeworld, Taa
II was beyond comparison. Its
technology beyond any civilization’s and its size so great, even planets
revolved around it.
But as the
Silver Surfer arrived, he found that Taa II was no more.
Instead, it was replaced by an enormous cosmic cauldron.
A massive ball of energy that was slowly devouring the entire universe.
As he drew
closer, he noticed a familiar form. It
was the being known as Scrier.
“Scrier,
can you tell me what to make of this?”
The
mysterious being seemed preoccupied, however.
He stood in space staring at the phenomenon in front of him, muttering
sounds that the Silver Surfer had never heard of. Silver Surfer tried to listen to the mystical language, but
it only brought him pain. The
sounds struck the Silver Surfer like daggers, piercing his ears.
The unknown language made it impossible for the Silver Surfer to even
think.
Trying to
end the pain and considering Scrier a potential threat, Silver Surfer shot at
him with the Power Cosmic. The
energy blast did little to move Scrier, but it did cause his speech to end.
“Norrin Radd, I apologize. I was meditating in my native language. I hope its sound did not cause you too much discomfort.”
“Scrier,
what has happened her?”
“I am
afraid I have lost. You are now
witnessing the beginning of the end. I
tried my best, but the powers of evil have prevailed once more.”
Silver
Surfer was troubled by Scrier’s lack of hope and confused by his vague
comments. “Is that it? Can nothing be done? What
caused this catastrophe?”
Scrier
looked lost in thoughts and physically tired.
“There is no time to answer your questions. I have done all that I can, but this battle is over.
I have lost, but if I am quick, I can help another.
I just wish this universe could have been spared.”
With that, Scrier disappeared. Gone
to another universe with this one all but forgotten.
Silver
Surfer was confused. He could see
now what was happening. The
universe was ending. This cosmic
cauldron was slowly sucking up all matter, like a giant blackhole, while the
entire universe was being transformed to pure energy, so it could be fed to the
cosmic cauldron more easily. This
was the end, but why? Who had
caused this?
Silver
Surfer saw no other option but to soar into the center of the storm.
He began to move closer to the cosmic cauldron. The
closer he got, the more it drew him near, until it sucked him in.
The energy within it pulled at his very being. He felt himself losing, his body coming apart.
He felt pain unlike anything he had ever felt before.
Then he
felt a second pull on his body, one connected to a voice, “SILVER SURFER, I
UNDERSTAND THE PAIN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN. I
TOO GROW WEAK.”
“Who is
this?” the Silver Surfer cried.
“IT IS
I, ETERNITY, THE SENTIENCE OF ALL THE UNIVERSE.”
“Can you
explain what is happening? If you
are in pain, then this truly must be the end.”
“I AM
AFRAID SO, NORRIN RADD, BUT WITH EVERY END COMES A NEW BEGINNING.”
“What do
you mean?”
“THE
TIME HAS COME FOR THIS UNIVERSE TO END, BUT WE MUST FULFILL OUR DESTINY.
JUST AS YOUR FORMER MASTER DID IN THE UNIVERSE BEFORE YOURS.
IT IS TIME FOR YOU AND I TO JOIN TOGETHER WITH ONE LIFE, ONE BODY, AND
ONE SOUL. FROM THIS UNIVERSE A NEW
UNIVERSE WILL BE BORN. AND FROM US
A NEW ENTITY WILL BE BORN FROM US.”
“You
want me to be the Galactus of the next universe?!” The Silver Surfer was horrified by the thought.
He could not wish himself to have such duties or responsibility, but he
felt the pain of the cosmic cauldron even more now.
He
received no answer from Eternity, he just felt his hand pull his at being even
more. He focused his energy but
could not resist both Eternity and the cosmic cauldron’s devouring force.
He could
do no more. His body was consumed.
The Silver Surfer was no more, but his board remained.
With his last breath, he sent his board flying into space at speeds
faster than light, escaping the cosmic cauldron, to carry out the final command
of the Silver Surfer.
Red Shift
watched as the cosmic cauldron grew in size. A smile covered his face, as he gazed at his achievement.
His master would surely be pleased and he would be rewarded for his
accomplishment.
As the
universe continued to move toward its inevitable end, Red Shift used his cosmic
sword to slice a rift in the universe. His
mission in the universe was complete. It was now time for him to move to the next battle.
To Be Continued!
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