Silver Surfer Volume 1, Issue #27

"Terminal Ferocity" Part 9

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 Surfer looked from Galactus' ship, to the newly arrived Terminus, to the unconscious body of Axiom. Against one of the aliens he might triumph, but Norrin knew that many more would soon arrive. It was pertinent, then, to gain an ally.

Hurriedly he flew over to Axiom, and knelt over his body. The herald's dark blue skin was still hot from the Surfer's assault, but it was clear that Axiom had not sustained any permanent damage. Norrin placed an open hand on his former opponent’s brow and, like an intravenous feed, brought Axiom back to health.

At length the herald's featureless face rose.

"What . . . what has happened?" Recognition slowly crept into Axiom's voice. "Silver Surfer! Thou has healed me despite my attempts to take thy life?"

"I need your help, Axiom," replied the Surfer. "Galactus will not listen to me, and this time his arrogance may prove his undoing! We must protect him from these aliens!"

"Dost thou truly believe that any alien could pose a threat to Galactus?" asked a bewildered Axiom.

"Normally, herald, I would scoff at the very thought. Today, however, I believe there is a very great chance of Galactus' defeat. Despite my efforts, however, he continues to ignore the threat. I fear that it will be up to us to save him from destruction!"

Axiom looked back at Galactus' ship, then turned towards the first Terminus, and gripped his lash. "Then let the battle begin!"

Axiom launched himself at Terminus, who had just ventured out of the ship. His lash-hand was pulled back ready to strike, glowing bright pink with the power cosmic. As he advanced, the armored alien sent bolts of cosmic energy hurtling in his direction, but Axiom's speed and reflexes were too great. He dodged each blast until he was atop the alien, then struck with his quantum lash.

As powerful as Terminus' armor was, it could not withstand a weapon of Galactus' making. With superhuman strength and speed, Axiom tore the armor open, and attacked the now unprotected Terminus.

The Surfer watched as Axiom charged the invader, and shielded his eyes when the two clashed, as the energy outpour from the fight was enormous. He had made his decision to join the fray, when suddenly he was struck from behind by another bolt of energy! He spun around and faced his attacker - another Terminus had arrived!

The Surfer wasted no time; he raised his arms and began firing beams of power cosmic at the newly arrived ship. The great armored form of the second Terminus emerged from the craft, seemingly oblivious to the Surfer's onslaught, and raised his lance. The Surfer knew all too well what was coming, and swerved to one side at lightning speed as the energy bolts soared towards him.

Norrin continued his barrage of cosmic energy, preferring a long-distance attack to Axiom's more "up-close and personal" mode of combat. His cosmic senses could still detect the herald behind him, and the Surfer could tell that Axiom was winning his battle.

After several seconds, enough of the Surfer's attacks had contacted that his enemy fell back, releasing the lance and lying motionless. The Skyrider turned back to Galactus' ship, and called out to his former master.

"Galactus! I implore you! Prepare yourself! We cannot hold off these aliens forever! More will arrive soon! You must--"

Another energy bolt struck the Surfer before he could finish his plea. In the distance he could make out his attacker, standing at the open portal of another ship. Behind it, yet another ship appeared, then two more appeared on the other side of Axiom.

"This," thought the Silver Surfer, "is getting out of hand!"

Mighty Galactus sat in the bowels of his ship, watching the happenings outside on a huge wall-mounted monitor. He watched Axiom battle the first alien to a standstill, and suppressed a smile. "I have chosen well," he thought to himself. "This will be a good herald."

He looked over to the Silver Surfer. Norrin Radd could not have known that Galactus would never order his death. He had set Axiom the challenge purely to test the power of his new herald. Nor would Axiom know that Galactus did not expect him to defeat the Surfer in battle. The new herald was powerful, but the Devourer of Worlds would never again create a herald of the Silver Surfer's magnitude.

When the next four aliens arrived, Galactus almost leaned forward in his seat. For a minute or two it looked like both of his allies would fall, but suddenly the tide of battle changed, and once again the two stood amongst fallen bodies.

Before either of the two cosmic powerhouses could recover, however, another ship appeared. Then another, and another. Galactus furrowed his brow. There were several dozen of these aliens out there now, and he was not about to lose his newest herald so quickly.

It was time to end this war.

The Silver Surfer stood atop his board, surveying the army of aliens around him. At his back, hovering in space, was Axiom, a newfound ally. Almost a dozen of the attacking Termini lay still, either dead or unconscious. Almost a hundred more, however, had only just arrived, and were ready to fight.

"What chance do we have against an army of beings as powerful as this?" asked Axiom of the Surfer. "Powerful beings we are, but neither thee nor I possess this much power!"

The Surfer nodded to himself. "If Galactus does not appear soon, we shall both perish. I can only hope that his twisted sense of loyalty leads him to protect his newest herald."

Suddenly the hatch of Galactus' ship began to open, and all heads turned towards the massive craft. At length, the form of Galactus emerged, and raised both hands.

"Let this battle stop now!" commanded the Great Devourer.

A ripple of unrest spread through the crowd of aliens. The Surfer could hear such comments as "It's him!" and "So the rumors were true!" Finally the whispers stopped, and one of the aliens ventured forth from the gathering.

"Demon-Lord Galactus! The time has come for the clan of Terminus to take what is rightfully theirs! Bestow unto us the remainder of your power, or we will take it by force!"

The corner of Galactus' mouth almost turned upwards at that, and he looked past the alien towards the Surfer and Axiom. "Herald! Return to my ship. Silver Surfer, I suggest you follow him."

As the two raced past Galactus toward the open hatch, the Devourer outstretched a hand towards the alien who had spoken. There was a great "whooshing" sound, and the speaker's lifeless husk floated away.

"Know that the power of Galactus is not yours to take, Terminus! Leave now, or risk my wrath!"

The aliens looked at their fallen comrade, but there was no fear on their faces. The Surfer watched from behind his former master, and saw several of the aliens's moved toward each other at the back of the army. As they touched, their armor seemed to melt and conjoin. Within seconds a large group of the aliens had "merged" and where they had stood was a massive version of Terminus! As he moved through the crowd towards Galactus, more and more of the aliens merged into his form, until there were no individuals left, and the two faced each other eye to eye!

Neither moved for many seconds, until the great Terminus spoke.

"NOW, GALACTUS . . . GIVE ME WHAT I CAME FOR, OR DIE!"