Silver Surfer Volume 1, Issue #26

"Terminal Ferocity" Part 8

Written by Matt Hamilton,  Edited by E. A. Morrissey
Published by the Cosmic Power Fan Fiction Group
Silver Surfer created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Silver Surfer is a trademark of Marvel Comics

The booming voice of Galactus rang out across his ship, eventually reaching the ears of Axiom.

"Herald, Prepare yourself! I will soon leave this planet, and you must begin your search for a new planet for me to devour!"

Axiom had only just completed another intense period of study. He raised his head from the terminal and replied, "the balance will be served, my master!" The blue-skinned, faceless herald rose from his seat and headed for the nearest exit.

As the great ship began its journey out of Legis Tahrn's former home system, Axiom floated in the void. He looked back at the floating debris that had once been his world. The memories of his life still remained, but somehow they had become trivial: A life that had simply been a precursor to his new existence. As the herald of Galactus his real life had just begun.

He turned from the newly formed asteroid belt, and looked out towards the stars. After a few seconds of taking in the view, he drew the quantum lash from his belt and coiled it in his hand. He picked a star at random, and took off at Superluminal speed.

The Silver Surfer turned and took one last look at the Earth. A world which had freed him from his servitude to Galactus, and the world which in turn had served as his prison for the last cycle. Finally he was free of the suspicious humans, always ready to fight before understanding. No longer would he have to endure their prejudices.

And yet, as he looked around, he realized that there was one more duty to perform. Despite his contempt for the alien, Terminus had locked the Surfer into a bargain. In return for freeing Norrin Radd of the barrier around the earth, Terminus had demanded that the Surfer lead him to Galactus.

The two prepared to leave!

From within the bowels of his enormous craft, Terminus monitored the movements of his newly acquired guide. The Silver Surfer would lead him to the demon-lord of legend, who centuries ago had granted his race great power. Legend foretold that one day his race would be led back to the demon, and that they would claim the rest of his power.

Today the prophecy was being fulfilled.

As the Silver Surfer readied himself to leave, Terminus had contacted a dozen thousand other members of his species, all with power equal to his. In just a few cycles they would rendezvous before the Great Devourer, and claim their birthright.

And then, let the universe beware.

The Silver Surfer once more used his long-neglected ability to locate his former master, to be sure of his trajectory. Galactus had begun to move, but at a speed which should not affect the journey's path. He called back towards Terminus. "Terminus! Prepare yourself! I leave now!"

Without a second's pause he began to accelerate towards his master. In almost no time, he was approaching the speed of light, and after a few seconds he surpassed it, shifting into Hyperspace.

His cosmic senses kicked in at that point, making him aware of Terminus' ship following behind. Aware, too, of Galactus, who appeared as a warm spike on the horizon of his senses.

It was only after shifting into Hyperspace that Norrin Radd became aware of the other spikes - thousands of beings scattered across the cosmos, each as powerful as the one who followed him now, and each converging on the same point: His destination.

"Once again I see that I have been deceived," mused the Surfer as he sped towards Galactus. "My former master would have no trouble defeating the likes of Terminus, but I fear that the entities now speeding towards him would prove more than even he could handle!" Only one recourse remained: outpace the aliens, and reach Galactus first. Only then could the Devourer be warned of the impending attack!

Terminus' ship simply lost all contact with Norrin Radd at that point. Even at several times the speed of light, the Surfer was able to accelerate to the point where the ship's scanners could no longer detect him. Terminus knew what had happened, but cared little. The prophecy remained! Even forewarned the demon-lord stood no chance against his race.

At a speed, which only a few beings in the universe could have attained, the Silver Surfer approached Galactus' ship. Once he was within a few thousand kilometers he began to decelerate, until he came to a relative stop only a few hundred meters from the massive craft.

At first the Surfer considered calling his master, but before he acted the ships hatch began to open, and the Devourer of Worlds strode forth. He eyed the Silver Surfer as a parent might glare at an errant child. At length he spoke.

"You have escaped your prison, former herald, and yet here you are to face judgement yet again. Why do you risk my wrath by approaching me?"

"Galactus, I have come to warn you of an impending attack!" began the Surfer.

"The Devourer of Worlds needs no warning from ones such as you! Return to your prison, Silver Surfer, or I shall destroy you where you stand!"

"I come to aid you, Galactus. I had hoped that even you would show gratitude to lesser beings. Perhaps I was wrong. Nevertheless I intend to stay."

Galactus stared down at the gleaming Zenn-Lavian for several seconds, then began to walk back into his ship. "As I said, Silver Surfer. If you stay, you will perish." He paused for a second as the hatch began to close, issuing a final command.

"Axiom, dispense with the heretic."

The Surfer had little time to digest Galactus' words before the sting of Axiom's quantum lash caught him across the back.

Norrin Radd stumbled forward, almost losing his balance. Never before had he felt such pain! Even Mephisto's hellish flame had not affected him so! Rather than risk another attack, he flew upwards, turning around after some time to see his attacker.

Below him, a blue-skinned humanoid floated in space, garbed in some sort of metallic costume. His long white hair drifted in the cosmic wind, surrounding a featureless face. In his right hand he held a whip of some sort, which glowed pink with Power Cosmic.

"Axiom?" spoke the Surfer, finally comprehending the last words of Galactus. "So, my former master has taken another herald. And it seems that Earth does not hold the monopoly on prejudiced attacks!"

"I know who you are, Silver Surfer," replied Axiom, "and it is not my place to judge. The Master has commanded your death, so it shall be done!"

"You know of me, herald, but you have never faced me! I truly doubt that your power rivals mine! But we need not fight! An army of alien beings approaches, and we must prepare to defend ourselves!"

"You'll not sway me from my path, heretic! The time for talking is done! The balance will be served!" With that, Axiom launched himself at the Surfer, and Norrin Radd was not ready for the speed with which the herald attacked. Before he could even react, Axiom was upon him, and was attempting to wrap the lash around his throat!

The Silver Surfer had no need to breathe, and so could not be strangled. However, the power of the lash as it touched his gleaming skin was causing him immense pain! Quickly the Surfer grabbed Axiom's wrist, and forced it upward away from him. Confidant that the lash was a safe distance away, Norrin Radd lifted his feet, and let his board shoot out from under them. It made its way behind the Surfer, and shot upwards.

"Your strength is not sufficient to keep me at bay forever, Silver Surfer!" cried Axiom, as the two struggled, motionless, in space.

"Perhaps you are right, herald," replied the Surfer, and as he spoke, the board completed its loop above them, flying down from behind Axiom, and catching him in the small of the back! The Surfer continued, "but I have found that brute strength is seldom enough to win out in a battle!"

Axiom, clearly in pain from the assault, released his grip on the Surfer. He flew back as Norrin Radd mounted his board once again, and looped his lash back into a defensive position. "You will catch me unawares only once, Surfer! Let the battle begin in earnest!"

Axiom's fist clenched tight around the looped whip, and it began to glow brighter. As his opponent moved in, he released the lash, bringing it down across the skyrider's chest! Norrin Radd's knees buckled beneath him with the pain, and as he looked down he saw the inconceivable: The lash had opened up a tear in his silver skin! Never before had he seen such a weapon, let alone been at the receiving end of its attack!

Dismayed by Axiom's clear advantage at close range, the Surfer decided to adopt another tactic. As Axiom threw back his arm to strike again, Norrin pulled back several hundred meters, and raised both arms. "I have no wish to harm you, Axiom. You have been a worthy opponent, and shall serve your master well. But this battle must end now!"

The Silver Surfer's outstretched arms suddenly began to glow with the same pink energy of Axiom's lash. After a split second, the pent up energy released itself in an enormous wave of Power Cosmic, enveloping Axiom's form. When the beam subsided, Axiom's body floated still, unconscious.

Once more the Silver Surfer turned to Galactus' ship. "Hear me, Galactus! Terminus and his kin will arrive any second, and you must be prepared! They are possessors of great power, and could…"

The Surfer's plea was cut short by the sudden appearance of a great ship in the distance, not unlike the one which the Surfer had just outran. The first of the Termini had arrived!