AGC Giant-Size 1: Backwards Looking Forward

ALL GOD'S CHILDREN GIANT SIZE 1 BACKWARDS LOOKING FORWARD

featuring a new tale of BETA RAY BILL and reprints of every ALL GOD'S CHILDREN tale presented outside the AGC series through ALL GOD'S CHILDREN 11. This story takes place between ALL GOD'S CHILDREN 11 and 12.

Reprinted within are the following: FANTASTIC FOUR 423, 425, 430, 434, 435 MARVEL FANFARE 70 - The 1998 MV1 Holiday Issue

From the HISTORIES of Beta Ray Bill - 2200/October 22 Addendum to the HISTORIES OF THE ORPHANS OF WAR

'I do not know if I should be joyous or mournful. The children have taken a step towards adulthood. All things considered, it is a grand step, one that every child must one day take. For that, I am joyous. But their actions give me pause. They left, alone and just four of them - Ben, Angel, Toomi and Esh - to seek out the returned god Franklin Richards. 1 1- The FRAGMENTED BALANCE chapter in the HISTORIES OF THE ORPHANS, cross referenced to ALL GOD'S CHILDREN 6 - 11. What were they thinking? Their lack of thought leaves me wondering just how much I've failed in my teachings to them. Why couldn't they ask for help? Because King Balder would have denied them? I applaud the spirit if not the intelligence of their choice. Don't they know how much they mean to all of us?'

Beta Ray Bill rose from his table on Floor Beta inside the Heimdall Library. When did it all start? Not the Eternal War, that started back during the TITAN FALLS adventure. But rather this latest chapter in the War. There are ebbs and flows, valleys and peaks to any war, but they are inevitable in a war that lasts nearly 200 years. The return of the Earth had heralded in a new beginning of activity as far as most were concerned and the return of Franklin Richards cemented it.

In a tale that spans time, how many beginnings are there? One? A Hundred? A Thousand?

SECTION I: CREATION Reprinted from Fantastic Four 423 Franklin Must Die Book One (Three): The End

Author's Note: Below is the first time the AGC timeline appeared in MV1. I wanted something to frame my first big arc in FANTASTIC FOUR and I knew I wanted two characteristics of that framing sequence: One, it had to have Galactus and Two, it had to be set in the future, at a time where the entire universe was caught up in the throes of an awful cosmic war. I wanted something big, something that worked against the grain of the main story in the sense that the FF story started at a point and built to an ending, whereas the future segment built forward to a beginning.

It spread from there, bringing in various ideas and scenes that have been rattling around inside my head for years, coalescing into what has become ALL GOD'S CHILDREN. But when I wrote this opening scene, it was meant to be two scenes and that was it.

I knew I wanted to use Captain America, too. Not just any Captain America, however, but one that had been given Cosmic Awareness. For me, this along with the fact that the Earth no longer existed, clearly showed how high the stakes were raised.

But this is where it started: Galactus and Captain America banded together to save the universe.

EPILOGUE

200 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE

"I have come."

The Planet Destroyer Galactus has come to the position in the Universe that once held the planet Earth. Now, save for Galactus and his ship, the Taa V, there is nothing but the cold emptiness of space.

He contemplates as he floats, though his decision is inevitable.

"Galactus, it can not continue."

Galactus does not turn. "Of that, we are in agreement. Thanos can not continue his path of destruction unabated."

"If this were a happier time, I might smile at the irony of those words coming from the one feared as the Planet Destroyer."

"Would you? I can not remember a time when you have smiled," Galactus muses.

A pause. "You know of his latest nullification, I take it."

"Yes, Captain, yes I do," Galactus looks to the distance, pondering, his face in the same grim visage it always rests in. "I find it to be a fact that I would have thought impossible. A fact that perfectly illustrates the danger the Everything is in. Thanos has given his mistress a gift even she could have never dreamed possilbe - he has blessed her with the death of the LIVING TRIBUNAL ITSELF!!!" Galactus pauses, letting his emotions cool. "If you had listened to me, the Living Tribunal would still be alive and we would still have a chance."

"We still have a chance. We will always have a chance."

Galactus smiles, "And you wondered why He came back to grant you Cosmic Awareness, Steve Rogers? Even in the face of the total collapse of the Everything, you still defy the inevitable."

"Spare me your smugness, Galactus. We are allies only long enough to defeat Thanos. What I do, I do for the greater good." Steve Rogers floats in space. His once familiar red, white and blue motif long vanished, replaced by a navy blue costume, it's monotony broken by white highlights. Red is absent from the costume. There is still a white star upon his chest and shield, but it is the Cosmic Star of Mar-Vell now. On his mask, the wings and "A" remain, because even though America no longer exits in reality, it still exists in his heart. At his side, as always, his shield. "Do not forget that it is you who I was chosen to defeat."

"I have not forgotten, Cosmic Protector." Galactus turns somber. "It is decided, then?"

"Yes. I will stop Thanos in the here and now and you will stop him in the past of my universe, Universe 616, before the Collapse, before Eternity started pulling the multiverses together into one whole to fill the voids left by Thanos." It is Steve Roger's turn to ponder. When he speaks again it is with grave solemnity, but no hint of defeat. "This time we live in is inevitable, Galactus. We can not prevent it from occurring."

"No, we strive only to keep the multiverses separate for a longer time. We can become one timeline and not the Everything. We can restore life to places it has ceased to be. In time you may discover that you are really not the Steve Rogers from Earth 616. Our - my - actions in this matter may retroactively change what you consider your life's continuity to be."

"Than it is decided. That is what we shall do."

They float in silence for a time, before Galactus fills the emptiness with his voice.

"We are a unique pairing, Captain. Are you aware of all the intracies of what we are about to do?"

"I am. You must seek to restore life to where there is no life because without it, you can not gain the energy you need to fulfill your damnable destiny. I must stop Thanos because he will destroy the Everything if I don't."

"And in doing so, you save me, whose purpose, as well, is to destory the Everything."

"But you will create the New Everything, Galactus. If you can gain the energies you need, even if you win and destroy what exists now, something new will take it's place. Thanos seeks only the cold emptiness of Nothingness."

"You seek to stop Thanos, to become my salvation. Yet if you can stop him and I can restore life to where there is no life, so that I may drain the energies of that life to create the New Everything, you will no doubt be there to stop me from draining that energy. How ... interesting."

"Your philosophical ramblings mean nothing to me, Galactus. Let's do this. Now. Lives need to be saved." The Everything's last hope pauses, then turns to stare the Planet Destroyer in the eye, "You can change the past to our favor?"

"I can not change the past, human, but I can influence it. I am everywhere at everytime. Any knowledge I gain now will influence the decisions of my past. I merely need to decide what I want to influence and that thought will filter back through my continual memory. My past self will not have any knowledge of the ramifications of it's actions. I will simply do what I always do, for reasons that make sense to me at the time."

"Fine. Good luck." Captain America starts to fly through space, gaining distance from Galactus, when he pauses and turns around. "Where will you start?"

"That I do not know. I only know that it will start ... and we both know that it involves keeping the Richards boy alive."
_____________________________

Bill always came back to this tale. Something about the Earth returning to existence had it's roots during Franklin's capture and trial by Thanos, he was sure of it. He sat down again, and like the ancient Historians, he put ink to quill to paper ...

The thrust of the FRANKLIN MUST DIE storyline was that Thanos had become aware that Franklin Richards had created the Franklinverse at the climax of the ONSLAUGHT story. Thanos was curious about the power of this young god and yearned to discover if Franklin could do it again, so he arranged for the Fantastic Four to be on the planet Baluur, the home planet of Blastaar deep inside the Negative Zone. Thanos held Franklin captive and forced him to watch as Thanos blew the planet out of existence, hoping that Franklin would again create a universe from his thoughts.

It didn't work, but as Franklin told the Silver Surfer, "I didn't feel them dying. When they ... died last time, against Onslaught, I could feel them. My mom reached out to me. This time, she didn't. They escaped." So whether or not he could repeat the Franklinverse remined a mystery.

The motivation of Thanos came down to his wanting to see if Franklin was his Opposite in the Grand Tapestry of the Everything. This wish of Thanos to discover his Opposite is what lead to him starting the Eternal War, the War that has plagued the cosmos from 2022 to the current present of 2200. Finding that Franklin wasn't his Opposite, the Mad Titan came to the conclusion that the long dead Captain Mar-Vell was. Thanos decided that the only way for him to ever achieve true victory was to resurrect Mar-Vell from the grave. After all these 178 years, still Thanos is denied the Return.

Bill turned his head to look out the window. It was a calm night in Asgard. The Orphans were either getting or recovering from a lecture from King Balder. Turning back to one of the many volumes spread before him, Beta Ray Bill read once again the scene of Earth returning to existence.

SECTION II: FRAMED

Reprinted from Fantastic Four 425

Franklin Must Die Book Three (Three): The Beginning

PROLOGUE

200 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE

Galactus stands by the empty location in space that used to hold the Earth, when he feels a slight buzzing at the base of his skull.

"Interesting," he speaks to the emptiness. He waits, knowing that something will happen.

And then it does.

Before him, shimmering back into existence, is the planet Earth.

"And so it begins," the Planet Destroyer states. "And so it begins."

Author's Note: I had no idea when I wrote, "And so it begins." that I'd really be talking about AGC and not Fantastic Four. I really saw FF 425 as the beginning of my run on that title, the previous eight issues setting up what was to come. As it turned out, my run on FF was only to last another 10 issues through to FF 435.

SECTION III: RETURN

Reprinted from Fantastic Four 430

Latverian Connection, Part One: Revenge of the Alchemist

Author's Note: I brought the timeline back for several reasons. One, the response to it had been amazing. Two, I was fooling around with the idea of using this future to show the ramifications the events in present day MV1 might have on the future. Three, I wanted to show that even in a future that was immersed in a cosmic war, not everything had to be angst ridden and dark. But really, I was enjoying it more than I was the FF stories. I like the vast canvas that I had to play with, I liked how the ideas kept bursting in my brain.

I had stories of this timeline in me and I needed to get them out.

PROLOGUE

201 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE

Galactus stands in the middle of what was once a dead cosmos. Around him, planets have begun to reappear. Empires have risen from non-existence. People long thought dead live again.*

* ( This is a continuation of the timeline introduced in FF 423, and seen again in FF 425, the first and third parts of the FRANKLIN MUST DIE TRILOGY - Hostess Fruit Pie Devourer Mark )

The Planet Destroyer waits for the arrival of Steve Rogers, his once and future nemesis and ally.

"I have ... come." Galactus turns to see the man who spoke those words, Captain America, the earthly hero. His dark blue and white uniform are torn and tattered, but there is hope and a glint of fire in his eyes. "Always wanted to say that," Captain America smiles.

"Found a sense of humor, did you?" Galactus asks, bemused.

"Yes. I found it in the exact same spot that I found the thought-dead Living Tribunal."

"Ah," Galactus says, understanding. "Things go well, then."

"They go better," Captain America explains, his voice and manner back to being deadly serious. "Thanos is on the run in the outer systems. His army of Brood Phalanxes apparently abandoned him, but there are rumours they're regrouping in the Neg Zone. Then, on the way back here, I ran into a pirate ship named the Supreme Unintelligence. Crew was a rag-tag group of Skrulls, Kree and Shi'ar forces that banded together for revenge on Thanos. They're the ones that busted up the Wraiths a few weeks back."

"It is good to see things changing, Captain," Galactus reasons.

"It is indeed, Galactus. The Everything is in much better shape than it was last year at this time."

"Are the rumors true about my former Herald?" Galactus asks, trying to sound disinterested.

"As far as I know," Captain America responds. "Moonstar the Valkyrie said she ran into the Cosmic Flame, disorientated, but alive, in the wreckage of Olympus."

"That is good," Galactus says, nodding in approval. "The more of my heralds that return to us, the greater our chances."

"Has the Richards boy reappeared yet?"

"No."

The float in space for a few moments, when Steve Rogers breaks the silence. "You know, Galactus, I think we might just pull this off. The future looks bright for the first time in a very, very long time."

"Indeed it does, Captain. Indeed it does."

SECTION IV: SCOPE OF WAR

Reprinted from Fantastic Four 434

Baby Steps

Author's Note: I was grooving right here. I was really warming to the idea of writing a war story. There's really no need for this scene as it relates to FANTASTIC FOUR, it was just a chance to expand on the timeline and stetch my writing. Even though I didn't decide to write ALL GOD'S CHILDREN until after I had left FF, this is probably where the idea to write it became too much fun to ignore.

As for Steve and Dani as a couple ... just an idea that I've had for a long time, well pre-dating AGC.

PROLOGUE - 202 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE

Captain America fights alongside the Valkyries during an assault on Titan 3. Isaac, the planet's super-computer - long since merged by Thanos with the Supreme Intelligence - has been a target of the Captain America/Galactus partnership for years. While Thanos hasn't used it much in the last twenty Titan-years, Steve Rogers has long since thought it to be the place where Thanos keeps his prisoners of war.

Today, he and the Valkyries plan on claiming it in battle.

"The fight goes well, Captain!" Moonstar the Valkyrie shouts as her winged horse comes to a rest near Captain America.

"We still haven't found any of the hypothesized prisoners, Moonstar," Steve answers back, his mind scouring the landscape for any sign of hostile troops.

"No, we haven't. But any strike against Thanos is good in it's own right," she answers quietly, knowing full well that isn't what's on his mind.

"Damnit, Moonstar!" he snaps. "Then that means the POWs are still out there somewhere."

"I know, I know," she sighs, not able to look Captain America in the eye. "I know even now what the name Avengers means to you." She pauses, trying to decide whether or not to continue. She decides to go ahead, even though she knows it's a mistake. "But these aren't your Avengers. They're just some dumb kids inspired by the legends of your past."

"Then that makes them my responsibility," Captain America flatly states.

"Yes, I suppose you think it does," she says softly, taking a step closer to him. "But you can't save everyone."

Captain America says nothing as he glances down at the Nega Bands on his wrists. "That's exactly what I'm trying to do, Dani," he says quietly.

"I know, Steve," she replies as the two lovers come together in an embrace. As they break the kiss, their first in two years, Captain America is already looking towards an outbreak of fighting between Thanos' troops and a pair of Valkyries.

"Even if we win this war against the Mad Titan, we'll still never just settle down quietly, will we?" Dani asks.

Without a word, Captain America jumps forward to aid in the battle. A sigh escapes her lips as Dani jumps after him. "Not that I'd want to settle down, mind you," she breathes under her breath.

Beta Ray Bill shifted in his large chair. He wondered if anyone rally knew just how much he wanted to find and put a stop to whoever it was out there in the vast Everything that had taken up the name AVENGERS. Bill thought it important to try ...

Steve Rogers is the Last Avenger.

There are a few of them that served still around, including myself, but Steve and only Steve still feels that clarion call deep inside him in that special way, still burns to once again raise his shield high and exclaim, "AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!"

We wait for it, too, though none would dare tell him.

We are shackled by our glorious past. Mjolnir rests in the town square, awaiting it's next weilder, a sign that the hope of tomorrow rests in the glory of our past. Valhalla overflows with legends and heroes that still fill our memories and not just our history books.

By Odin's Beard, how nice would it be to hear those glorious two words spill from his lips again.

SECTION V: THE TEASE

Reprinted from Fantastic Four 434

Baby Steps

Author's Note: The section below was used for one reason: to foreshadow the death of Johnny Storm in FANTASTIC FOUR 450, a story that I never wrote. Johnny was going to die, but it wasn't going to be by the hands of Galactus. No, Galactus saved Johnny and made him an offer: power enough to defeat Dr. Doom in return for Johnny becoming a new Herald of Galactus, the Cosmic Flame. These shelved plans come to life in the next arc of ALL GOD'S CHILDREN, THE VANISHED STORMS, starting in AGC 12.

EPILOGUE - 202 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE

Captain America soars through Milky Way, powered along by his Nega Bands. It's time for another meeting with Galactus. He is uneasy about the alliance, but Galactus is much more in tune with the Multiverse than he is, and has offered much information that has been useful.

He zips by Mars and is instantly aware that something is very, very wrong. As he nears the spot where Galactus normally resides, Steve Rogers sees something he shouldn't. He sees the planet Earth spinning on it's axis, but he sees no sign of Galactus.

"Galactus!" he calls and the giant planet destroyer fades back into existence.

"Hello, Captain," the giant weakly states as Steve rushes over to him. "I had my cloaking device up ... to stave off ... those who would seek to take advantage of my body in this state."

"Who did this to you, Galactus?" Captain America asks, grave concern in his voice.

"The person we've been waiting for, Captain," Galactus states, irony dripping in his voice. "Franklin Richards is alive and a bigger threat than Thanos ever was. He did this to me ... for what I did to the ... Human Torch ... all those years ago."

SECTION VI: HINDSIGHT IS 20/20

Reprinted from Fantastic Four 435

The Kettle Boils Anew

Author's Note: Though it wasn't planned when I wrote it, the scene below, my last scene during my run on Fantastic Four, served as the launching point for the whole series. In fact, my last words in the lettercol for that issue are, "As for me, I'll end up somewhere, though where that will be I have no idea."

Below is the first appearance of Ben-Vell Parker.

EPILOGUE - 202 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE

"Don't stop there!"

"Got to - we've got a perimeter run to take."

"Geez, Bill, you can be such a wet circuit at times. That poor guy, Ben Grimm. What a fitting name."

Beta Ray Bill smiles as he replaces the book, ONE FAMILY'S TALE IN THE AGE OF MARVELS, back on the shelf. He cringes to himself, he was never very good at naming any of his histories of the Age of Marvels. 'But,' he thinks to himself for not the first time, 'the important thing is that they're written, not what they're called."

"C'mon, Bill, stop staring at your, uh, books. Why can't you load them all onto holo-cubes? Even King Balder uses them these days. "

"Because, young Parker, there's a part of me that finds the idea of opening a book to be a pleasant one."

"Logan says you're just an old hopeless romantic," Ben-Vell Parker chides as they leave the Heimdall Library and head into Asgard proper.

"Does he say that now?" Bill asks skeptically. "Next time Logan's introducing you to Asgardian liquor, be sure to ask him how he lost his left arm."

"That was you?" Ben asks incredulously.

"You'll discover it in time, as you will the fate of all the Marvels."

"There's not many of you guys left these days, though I guess that's to be expected."

"You are correct, Ben. There's very few of the Marvels left. Only the long-lived ones who were lucky enough to survive the many wars we've been through. But the ones who have long since passed on to Valhalla live on in their descendants. Stories never end, Ben-Vell. They move ever forward."

Ben and Bill walk out onto the Plain of Ida, their eyes scanning the horizon for Thanos' troops, whoever they may be.

"What happens next for the Fantastic Four?" Ben asks after a time. "Do Reed and Sue go to Titan? Does Alicia have her baby? Do her and Ben get married? Didn't Nightmare say someone was going to die? And what about Dr. Doom? Moonstar the Valkyrie was telling me that, all by himself, he made the cosmos shake when he conquered the entire Shi-"

"Questions, questions, Ben-Vell. Questions that all have answers, I promise." Beta Ray Bill smiles, "And answers you will get, just not today. You'll have to come back tomorrow to learn of them. I'm done telling stories of the Fantastic Four for today."

SECTION VII: IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME

Reprinted from Marvel Fanfare 70

The 1998 MV1 Holiday Issue

Author's Note: What the heck, everyone loves a good Christmas tale, right? By this time, AGC 2 had come out and everyone had got their first look at the AGC version of Santa Claus. I wanted to add a little depth to him, so here it is. This was my second attempt at a Christmas story, maybe the stalled first attempt will appear in next year's Holiday Issue.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 1998

by Mark Bousquet

ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS PAST, 2186

Earth Standard Year 2186

"Tell me a story, daddy. Pleeeeeeease."

"Of course, child. Is it not the eve of Christmas?" Volstagg smiled at his adopted, Earthen daughter. "Shall I tell you the grand tale of the Red Nosed Reindeer Called Rudolph? Or the epic struggle of Frosty the Snowman? Or perhaps," he leaned in close, whispering, "you’d like to hear a special tale?" The young red-head nodded, her eyes wide. "Very well, my sweeet Angel, I shall tell you the legend of Santa Claus’ first visit to Asgard."

"Yippee!" Angelica bounced on the bed.

"Once upon a time, not so long ago, but after the Eternal War had started, times became tough in the Golden Realm. No, not so bad that people were worried about where their next meal came from or if there’d be clothes for their backs, but bad enough that life was not one of luxury. Asgardians didn’t complain about their condition. No, child, we’re Asgardians. We do the best we can, working as hard as we can, and know that that will be enough to make it to the next day. Thanos, be damned - excuse your father’s language.

"Well, there came a night when things were particularly bad. A pall had settled over the Golden Realm. No one can say why the doldrums hit us that night as hard as they did, but there is no doubting that it did. Every Asgardian that night, whether they were at home or spread throughout the Nine Realms, felt it.

"Yes, child, even the honored dead of Valhalla and the dishonored dead of Niffleheim felt the drowning sorrow.

"Children were impossible to put to bed that night, husbands and wives wanted anything but the touch of their lover, warriors did not want to fight, inns barely bothered to open. There was unease and malaise.

"Everything felt wrong somehow.

"Finally, we all drifted off into a restless sleep, waking before the dawn. We dragged our bodies out of our beds and headed into our daily activities when a most wondrous sight appeared before our eyes. Boxes covered with shiny paper, hiding presents, adorned our living rooms!

"Joy swept like a wave through Asgard as families came together to bask in the glow of presents and gifts and unexpected treasures. Children tore into boxes and found toys of wood! Their joy was a sight to behold! Never has the Realm had all the children find such great joy at one time! Not a single unhappy child walked Asgard that morning.

"But it wasn’t just the children who found such unbridled joy.

"Oh no, the parents of those children had that same joy visit upon them! The presents were nice, of course, but to see the faces of their children … the purest joy in the world, it was.

"Then, as the morning wore on, as all the presents had been opened and toyed with, the question arose. Where had the gifts come from? Who had placed these gifts inside our homes? Worry began to take hold. Perhaps the gifts were sent by Thanos to lull us to softness? Perhaps they were sent by Loki, in another of his mad schemes?

"As the questions arose and became deeper, the uneasiness began to settle back in. Children wondered why their parents took their gifts from them, wondered why the joy that had played across their faces were now turned to faces of worry.

"And the Asgardians descended upon Odin, their King, and besieged him with questions and worries and concerns and troubles and theories and musings and ponderings and-

"Odin said nothing for a long time, until the windiest of the windy speakers had grown hoarse and began to walk. We followed him straight to the Rainbow Bridge, where Heimdall, the Guardian of the Bridge waited for us, a strange look upon his face.

"Odin asked Heimdall, he who could see into the furthest corner of the Nine Worlds, what he saw the past night. Heimdall sighed and shook his head and told us that he had seen an old man dressed in red with white trimmings, black boots and belt and a large white beard come walking across the Rainbow Bridge, a large bag on his back.

"Heimdall tried to halt the old man, but he would have no success. He asked the man to state his business and he was answered with the words, ‘I’m Santa Claus, of course. I’m here to spread Christmas cheer." Heimdall then watched Santa walk into every house in the city, leaving gifts for all of us as a light, fluffy snow began to fall. But, Heimdall cautioned, swearing he hadn’t been drinking, the old man’s bag never got lighter and time seemed to stop, as if it were waiting for him to finish.

"So Santa Claus came to Asgard one night and we have never been the same since. Now, every year on the anniversary of that First Night, we go to bed hoping that Santa will come again and grace us with his presence and gifts of joy and happiness."

Volstagg looked down at Angelica, who smiled one last time before drifting off to sleep the sleep of innocence. He kissed her on the forehead and walked down the hall to climb into bed with his wife and attempt to sleep the same.

And by the Rainbow Bridge, Heimdall waited for Santa Claus to come again, and bid his friends good night with the blessing Santa had taught him, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

___________________________

'Who is Santa Claus?

He's got to be somebody, but who? I wonder if it's anyone we know. I've got my hunches, but I don't want to say right now.

Steve's headed for the Fantastic Colonies tomorrow and Balder wanted a Council meeting called to hear the story of Phil Sinton. I hope things go well for Steve. His quest to find the unsanctioned Avengers drives him at times. There are other reasons why he goes, but there is little doubt in anyone's mind about what he hopes to find.

I wished he'd take Dani with him, but duty requires her to stay here.'

Beta Ray Bill stretched. It was time for bed. He left the 'Dall thinking of his own lost loves, hoping Steve and Dani realized just how precious their short time together was. With the Eternal War raging, there was never a guarantee of tomorrow.


-- MBQ ... 16.March.1999

AGC 11: Fragmented Balance, Part Six

The Eleventh Tale

Fragmented Balance, Part Six

Chapter Fifteen - Endings

The Everything groaned.

Franklin Richards had returned from a place no one yet knew of and stated he knew his role in the Grand Tapestry to be the Balance. He had sought out the Cosmic Flame, Herald of Galactus, and because he thought him his uncle, Johnny Storm.

He was not.

That act of Imbalance further damaged an already shattered psyche, and Franklin left, declaring that Lord Chaos and Master Order must die.

"H-He doesn’t make sense," Ben-Vell Parker gasped to the assembled crowd on Olympus. "He wants Balance, but sees Balance as Order, even after he told us not to mistake Balance for Order."

"He makes perfect sense to himself," Galactus observed, "and with Franklin … that is all that matters."

"But how does that logic flow?" Ben asked Galactus.

The Planet Devourer said nothing, no longer concerning himself with the crowds of Olympus.

"He said he saw himself as Balance," Eshir added, as the Orphans huddled closer together. These four children had come seeking Franklin, fueled by their growing desire to do something in this Eternal War, believing that they could reach him somehow. "That was what he learned in his time away, but how did he come to that conclusion? Who guided him?"

"He is not Balance at all," Attumidunn the Atlantean/Inhuman Valkyrie scoffed, "but Imbalance. He wants only for himself and his personal vision to dominate. No one man can decide on the Balance of the Everything - that is why Order and Chaos are separate entities."

"Whatever the reason, guys," Angelica summed up, "he’s gone to kill Chaos and Order."

"Is that possible?" Ben asked disbelievingly.

"As Galactus would tell us," Toomi answered, "it matters not to us if he can do it because he clearly is of the mind that he can."

"So what do we do?" Ben asked, frustrated. "Nothing? Just wait for him to decide what to do?"

The air in between the four Orphans shimmered and there appeared the floating face of Lord Chaos. "You four will save me from Death. Now."

ASGARD - War Bunker Beneath Thor Hall of Peace

The Bunker was in turmoil.

King Balder and the remaining members of the Council: Captain America, Dani Moonstar of the Valkyrior, Skrull 4, Beta Ray Bill, Ash’lin of the Shi’ar and Kovar the Accuser of the Kree watched the 3-DIP’s (Three Dimensional Image Projector) livefeed broadcast from Olympus.

Arguments flowed freely.

"It is clear," Kovar proclaimed, "Franklin Richards is a menace! He should be brought to justice immediately!"

"We are in complete agreement!" Ash’lin echoed. "As much as I detest siding with the Kree, it is clear that Franklin is a force too dangerous and powerful to be left to his own devices!"

"Force at this point would do us no good," Captain America countered. "Franklin can be reasoned with, if we can just reach him."

Balder tried to listen to all of the arguments swirling around him, but it was the quiet rasping of Skrull 4’s voice that somehow cut through the static. "The Orphans have disappeared."

The members of the Council looked up at the 3-DIP’s image of Olympus and saw that the Orphans were, in fact, no longer present.

"What happened?" Balder asked 4.

"They vanished," Skrull 4 answered, as if that really answered anything at all.

OLYMPUS

Santa Claus slumped down a broken wall next to the Easter Bunny. "I hate it when this stuff drags down our fun."

"Me, too," the Easter Bunny replied through his broken jaw.

"Galactus, Franklin Richards, the Elders, a bunch of kids … snooze. Where’s all the fighting? Where’s the comedic relief?"

"Not a cwue," the Bunny answered, disappointed about all the blood on his costume. "I hate it when there’th no fighting."

"And the jokes," Santa replied, brushing dust off his black, leather boots. "Where are all the jokes? You simply can not have a good story without the comedic aspect."

"Good point, Thanta," the Bunny nodded his head. "Lotta comedy in Thakethpeare, for inthtanthe."

"This story ain’t Shakespeare."

"I’ll drink to that."

"Hell, I’ll drink to anything. Too bad this place is in ruins. You used to be able to get some damn fine alcohol in these parts."

"Tho I heard," the Bunny looked around. "Thothe Elderth haven’t done much. They’re jutht thtanding there, looking thilly."

"Bunch of wankers," Santa scoffed. "You hear that little kid give them a plug? Idiot. I’d like to go a few rounds with that Champion dude. He’s supposed to be some kinda tough guy. Hey - what are you looking at?"

Astoria smiled down at her two "creations". "Nothing, Santa. Just thinking."

"Bah, that’s crap," Santa Claus confided in the Easter Bunny. "We’re supposed to get all freaked out now, FYI."

"We are?" the Bunny asked, perplexed.

"Yeah," Santa answered, scratching his flowing white beard. "See, when a mysterious powerful figure says they’re thinking and smiles, we’re supposed to be like, ‘Ooh, what’s she thinking? What’s she got up her sleeve?’ and wonder what crazy scheme is being concocted up in that brain. It’s your standard clichéd villain moment."

"Ith that right?" the Bunny asked Astoria skeptically.

"Patience, my son," she smiled.

"See?" Santa asked. "What did I tell you? Ridiculous. Stupid bitch."

THE DEAD CORNER OF SPACE

Inside the Dead Corner of Space (1), a place that contained no areas of life, Lord Chaos hovered in front of Franklin Richards as a large, purple face. Chaos didn’t know if he had anything to fear from the Earth god or not, but he wasn’t one to take chances - especially when Master Order wasn’t at his side, working with him.

1- The Dead Corner was confirmed by the Cosmic Flame, who searched the area for 150 years for Galactus.

"So, what do we do?" Ben-Vell asked as the four Orphans floated in behind Franklin Richards. The young god hung in front of Lord Chaos, firing blasts of energy at the large purple face.

"You must die, Chaos!" Franklin screamed in his childlike whine.

"You can not kill me, Franklin. Not with all the power at your disposal," Chaos boasted.

The Orphans looked on in awe. "We-we’ve got to do something," Angel blurted out, but the Orphans didn’t, couldn’t, answer.

"You lie!" Franklin challenged. "I can do anything! Why isn’t my uncle the Cosmic Flame? I’ll tell you why, Chaos, it’s because of you! Too much Chaos exists in the Everything!"

"You mistake chaos for your own confusion," Chaos answered. "Never have I seen such arrogance as that which you display."

"What is chaos but confusion?" Franklin asked, dropping the kid’s voice for his older tone - the Orphans still found it hard to accept the wizened tone inside the four year old frame. "What is order but understanding?"

"Again, you view the Everything through your own eyes and not the eyes of the Everything. Whether the Cosmic Flame was your uncle or someone else is cosmically insignificant."

"It’s not insignificant to me!" the child whined.

"You are one person in an Everything filled with a number you couldn’t even begin to understand."

"That’s just like a cosmic concept, Chaos!" Franklin the Wiser yelled. "Too wrapped up in the big picture to not see the beauty of a single person. I can’t kill you with the power of force, Chaos, but I can kill you with the power of another concept, the concept that the individual is more important than the whole!"

"A single person is insignificant to the fate of the Everything," Chaos answered, but the Orphans detected just a bit of wavering in his voice.

"Ask an individual that, Chaos!" Franklin exploded, tears pouring from his eyes like a child who’d lost his dog to the wheels of a truck. "How many of that incalculable number of people care more about themselves than the balance of the universe? If you ceased to exist today, how long would it take the Everything to collapse? A billion years? A billion billion? People can not look that far ahead, Chaos!"

"People are fools, then," Chaos answered, his image shivering.

"But it is people that believe in concepts," Franklin argued, gaining confidence. "Without that belief, you would cease to be."

"Can you believe this?" Ben asked the Orphans. "He’s got a split personality. First he’s a child, than an adult, then a child again! How do you stop someone like this?"

"We’ll find a way, Ben," Angel answered. "That’s what we do." The other Orphans looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Sorry," she shrugged, "read it in the Histories. Always thought it would sound good."

"This isn’t the time for jokes," Toomi scolded.

"Sorry, Toomi," Angel hung her head, but caught the glimpse of the smiles on Ben and Eshir’s faces as they turned back to watch Franklin and Chaos.

"Not true," Chaos answered, but it was becoming clear that Franklin was, if not right, certainly winning the battle. "A concept does not require understanding."

"So you’ve existed since the beginning of time, Chaos?"

"No, I-"

"You evolved along with the rest of the universe," Franklin poured it on. "You have not existed since time began. When there was no sentient life, there was no Chaos."

"You can not know such things," Chaos accused. "There was plenty of Chaos."

"Can’t I know, Chaos? Would you like to know where I was during my absence?" Franklin asked, aware that the Everything itself was his stage. "I was in the Void, but you had guessed that because you hold no influence there. There is no Chaos there, is there? No Order. There is nothing. If there is no Chaos there, Chaos is not a conceptual fact." Franklin smiled. "I’m going to kill you Chaos. Or the next best thing."

He raised his hands, not because he had to, but because he liked the look. He thought it a look of power. Magneto used to use it all the time and he scared people with this simple gesture. Looked good doing it, too, Franklin thought.

"Thor’s Hammer, look at him!" Ben yelled to the Orphans. "He’s really going to do it."

"Killing a concept like Chaos … it can’t be done," Eshir stood in awe. "It’s almost … magnificent."

"Franklin has the power to make real his thoughts," Attumidunn spoke solemnly. "All he needed to do was convince himself that Chaos could be removed, and he can make it happen. Whether it actually can or can’t happen doesn’t really matter. By the souls of all the honored in Valhalla, such power …"

Franklin let energy wash over the wavering face of Chaos.

"Stop it, Franklin!"

The Orphans looked at Angel stunned, but it didn’t compare with the look that Franklin gave her. "Who dares question me?" he asked, energy pouring from his eyes and hands, rippling out beyond him into space.

"Good one, Angel," Eshir chided. "Ben only caused me to lose my hands … if this was a contest to see which of you could cause me the most damage, I think you’re going to win …"

"You four were there at Olympus. You’ve seen what I can do, what hope do you think you have?" Franklin asked as indignantly as he could muster, coming to float by the Orphans.

"You can’t do this, Franklin," Angel pleaded to the child. "If Chaos dies or vanishes or whatever it is you’re going to do with him, the Everything will die."

"There’s too much Chaos, girl," Franklin spoke sternly, an odd sight with his four year old body. "The Eternal War … Thanos … the lack of Olympian gods … Captain America as the Cosmic Protector … I’m lost …"

"As Chaos said, Franklin," Angel spoke softly, "you’re confusing your own confusion for the greater Chaos."

"But I miss my mommy and daddy and Unca Ben and Auntie Licia and Unca Johnny and-"

"I know, Franklin," Angel soothed the child. "You feel alone, like you’ve been orphaned to the greater Everything. We know what that’s like to."

"No you don’t!"

"Yes, Franklin, we do," Angel continued. "Ben and Toomi had their parents slaughtered by Thanos. Eshir’s parents died on a trip when he was a child. And my parents … my dad, I never even knew him, really. And my mom, my mom used to be beat me up, Franklin. She used to hit me real hard." Tears burst from her eyes to run down her cheek.

"That’s not right," Franklin said, coming to float by Angelica, his own concern lost for that of the hurt young girl.

"I know. It’s not, but I … I didn’t blame life or Chaos or Order. Things happen sometimes for no reason. There are parts of the Everything that happen without reason."

"No!" Franklin whined. "There has to be a reason, that is the way it works."

"No, Franklin, it doesn’t. Or heck, maybe there is," Angel shook her head. "But there are some things we don’t have to know. Maybe someone pulls our strings all the time, but I doubt it."

Franklin broke into tears, "I don’t want to be alone!"

"You don’t have to be. We’re not alone. You can come back to Asgard with us. We’ll take care of you, I promise."

Franklin sobbed into his hands for a few moments, leaving the Orphans to look on with nervous looks. "Why did your mommy beat you?"

Angel gasped. "She- she wasn’t right in the head." Please don’t ask me another question, Angel begged to herself.

"Why?"

Angel looked at Franklin, then around to the other Orphans, pleading with them to let this drop.

"My mommy never beat me," Franklin the Child continued.

"My-my mom wasn’t right, Franklin. She was … she was crazy and she hit a lot of people, not just me."

Franklin wiped a tear off Angel’s cheek, "That’s awful. What did she do? For a living, I mean."

Angel turned and looked at Ben, shaking her head. "I-I don’t want to say- I can’t- I just don’t-"

"Shh," Franklin soothed, wiping Angel’s long red hair away from her face. "I want you to tell me. I can make her stop. I can hurt her back."

"No!" Angel shouted. "No, no, please don’t. It’s … it’s not her fault! She doesn’t mean to do it."

The Orphans were stunned at the level of Angel’s dismay. They’d never guessed Angel’s pain ran this deep. They all displayed their concern differently. For Ben, the teasings he had given her suddenly seemed mean and cruel and not playful. For Toomi, she regretted ever rubbing her physical superiority in Angel’s face for anything, particularly for riding her about being a ‘normal’. For Eshir … Eshir wished he had had the courage at some point in his life to let his feelings out for this beautiful creature that was pouring out emotions from her wrenched heart. He wished he could do it now, but he couldn’t. He was too proud … but for what, he didn’t know. He’d heard that many of his ancestors had the same problem - loving fully, but unable to express it.

"Tell me, and I’ll let Chaos live."

The tears that poured from Angelica were not new. She had cried over the actions of her mother a thousand-thousand times. She had been told all the things people always say to try to comfort one who’d been the victim of physical assault: ‘It’s not your fault.’, ‘You’ve got no reason to be ashamed.’, ‘You’ve got to move on.’, but it never did her any good. She hurt inside. Always. Through the years, through the laughter and tears both, there was an aching inside her that she couldn’t ever shake.

"Tell me, or Chaos - and the Everything - dies with it."

The Orphans looked again at the little boy who was putting the fate of the Everything on Angel’s shoulders. They didn’t see Franklin Richards, the god, anymore - they saw a bully.

And the Orphans of War didn’t like it.

"Step away from her, Franklin," Ben-Vell Parker warned, floating to stand between Franklin and Angelica, causing Angel to raise her head in hopeful surprise.

"You would threaten me?" Franklin smiled. "Look at you with your ridiculous costume. Just because you hail from the House of Mar-Vell and the House of Parker does not mean you had to merge the two classic costumes. You haven’t the slightest inkling of what it takes to live up to those legacies. I am above you."

"Maybe so," Toomi threatened, moving to stand beside her boyfriend, "but I am a Valkyrie, and the Valkyrior do not stand idly by and watch allies - nay, friends - be dismissed in such a manner."

"Leave, Franklin," Eshir said from behind the Orphans, raising his hand-less arms in the ‘Magneto-power’ gesture that Franklin had used earlier. "Be gone from this place."

"You dare?!?"

"We’ve seen and studied what you can do, Franklin," Eshir warned. "Do you think we’d step to you with swords drawn if we were not certain we could defeat you?"

"Tha-that’s impossible!"

"Nay," Toomi continued, drawing her sword for emphasis. "Why else would Lord Chaos bring the four of us to this place if he were not confident in our victory? He has a Universe to choose from."

"No!"

Lord Chaos hovered behind Franklin, fully in control of the situation once again. "You have lost control. Leave me in peace, boy, and contemplate what you have become. Your mother and father would not be pleased."

Franklin looked around in panic, his face wide with fear. "I hate it here!" Franklin the Child cried before turning to look straight at Lord Chaos. Fear and chaos played in his eyes, like a child realizing he was lost from his parents. But when he spoke again it was as Franklin the Wiser. "I will see you again, Chaos. We are not through."

And then, as on Olympus, he vanished.

TITAN 3

Canticle hung limply in the darkness. It had been days since The Machine - ISAAC, the Supreme Intelligence - had spoken to her. Through the tubes it had worked throughout her body to keep her alive these 175 years, the Machine kept her hunger satiated. That, and the low humming sound, was the only sign Canticle had that the Machine was still there.

She had given up. After all this time, all the pain, Canticle wanted simply to die.

Not that she’d beg to the Machine, but in her mind, she prayed to every god she could think of, begging for release from this cold, mechanical Hell.

The humming stopped.

Like gears slowly coming to a halt, everything in Canticle’s world slowed to non-movement. In the darkness, she could hear coils of tubing falling to the ground.

It was the scariest moment of her 175 year imprisonment.

Then the rumbling. The low rumbling - not from below this time, but above. Louder it got. Then louder still. She could hear metal being torn apart, things exploding.

It kept getting louder.

She raised her head in the direction of the sound, knowing that whatever it was that was making that noise was coming right for her. Was it the delusional thinking a woman who’d lived too long in captivity? No one could really be coming for her, could they?

The noise was deafening.

Hope, her sometime companion during these long years, came back to her. She tried to push it away, but it didn’t leave her. She allowed herself to embrace it’s presence, knowing it was for the last time, allowing herself to hope that she would be free of this awful place. If this wasn’t a rescue, she’d never have the power to hope again. Despair would be her ticket to the afterlife.

Light came pouring through the far wall as a force punched through the metal and wires. She cried as her eyes squinted shut, rebelling from the intrusive glare.

"What happened to this place?" came the whine of child that caused Canticle to shiver. "This was my second home and I- who are you?" The voice had changed in midstream from childlike to experienced.

Canticle could finally open her eyes and she looked down at a four year old child. She felt the coils around her retract and she fell to the floor below, shivering as the tubes that the Machine had implanted inside her slurped out of her body, tugging at her skin as it was withdrawn.

She collapsed on the floor, spasming from exhaustion. "Hush child," came the wizened voice. "My name is Franklin Richards. I came looking for Mentor, but I see that he is not here. Titan is … not the Titan I knew." He knelt down, padding Canticle’s blonde hair. "You shall be safe with me. Your torture has ended."

Canticle tried to smile through the shivering and spasming, but she couldn’t. She did feel safe, though, and for now, that was enough.

THE DEAD CORNER OF SPACE

Ben, Toomi and Eshir stood by Angel, not knowing what to do, not wanting to think about what would have happened had their bluff failed. Ben wanted to go to her and put his arm around her, but Toomi had grabbed his hand in comfort and he couldn’t move.

He looked at his girlfriend, unsure of the feelings inside him. He was in love with Toomi, wasn’t he? But Angel had always been stuck on him and, as he looked at her, he wanted …

He didn’t know.

"I’m so proud of you," Toomi whispered into his ear. "You were so brave, standing up to Chaos like that." He looked down into the most beautiful face he had ever seen and he knew he wanted the woman in his arms.

But was that love?

Eshir didn’t know what to do and he hated that feeling. He wished Ben would just go put his arm around Angelica, that’s clearly what she wanted, but that damn Toomi had to go show affection for once in her life. He sighed. Too loudly, apparently, as Ben looked over to him. Ben cocked his head towards Angel, but Eshir shook his head No. Ben did it again and mouthed the words, "Go to her." Eshir sighed, again, and floated to Angelica. He hesitated for a moment, then moved an arm to Angelica’s shoulder causing her to jump.

Eshir grimaced, recoiling.

"Sorry, Esh, you just spooked me," Angel started, but Eshir was looking away from her, trying hard to look indifferent.

Angelica looked around at her friends and closed her eyes. Now was the time to tell them what she was.

"Osborn."

"Huh?" Ben asked, not sure he had heard what Angel had said.

Angelica looked at Ben, her heart shattering. She knew there was no way they could ever be together after this. "I said, ‘Osborn’."

Ben pushed a surprised Toomi roughly aside and asked Angel angrily, "Why would you say a thing like that?"

"That’s what I am … an Osborn."

The Orphans looked on stunned. Never in their wildest dreams …

Angel hung her head, she knew Ben was going to rip into her for not telling him. There were some secrets that couldn’t be kept.

"That’s what you meant about the "legacy" that day in the ‘Dall, isn’t it?" (2) Ben asked quietly. Angel looked up in surprise, how could Ben be so … not angry … about it? She nodded ‘Yes’ somehow and Ben continued softly, "I - I had no idea, Angel. Why didn’t you tell me- I mean, us?"

2- ALL GOD’S CHILDREN 2 - DAYS OF THE EXTINGUISHING SUN, PART ONE

"Tell you what?" Angel asked desperately. "That I come from a family that has haunted yours since the First Age? That I’m cursed by the legacy Norman Osborn left his family? The same curse that has caused one child in every Osborn family to go crazy and take up the Goblin ‘legacy of evil’? I was supposed to tell you guys this?" Angel ranted wildly, desperately. "That my mom is the current Green Goblin? How many of my ancestors have betrayed the ones closest to them, Ben? How many? How many tried to kill any number of Parkers? Our Houses are entwined right from the First Age to this one. I know you play up the Mar-Vell side of your lineage, Ben, but you’re still a Parker! Just because there’s no Cosmic Protector in the Parker lineage doesn’t mean they are any less worthy of your attention. My mom kills people, daily, because of the same madness that I know will one day come for me! She was there, Ben! At …" Angel’s voice cracked. "She was there, at the Annihilation of Atlantis, Ben. She fought alongside Thanos on that day … the day you and Toomi lost your parents."

Eshir felt his heart break for this fragile, tormented creature.

"All this time …" Ben said quietly, "all this time, you were worried that you could hurt me?"

"Angel, you’re just a normal," Toomi said, moving in to stand next to Ben. "Even if you did develop the Goblin Madness, what could you do?"

Angel shook her head, her tears trying to stop. They didn’t, but when Angel spoke again it in somber tones. The desperation had, at last, finally left her. "You don’t get it, Toomi. Go read the Histories and tell me then if you think I couldn’t hurt you. If I fall to the Madness …" she looked at the greatest friends she had, "I’ll probably kill every one of you."

"We won’t let that happen." Angel looked up at Ben, but it wasn’t he who had spoken the words. It was Eshir. She turned to him, as he floated regally in the emptiness of space. His arms were open, but this time he wasn’t showing his lack of hands to Ben as a silent slam, he was opening himself to Angel. "As long as you live, Angel, we’ll stand by you."

Angel dropped more tears, but this time they were of thanks and not shame. She tried to speak, but she could find the words.

To the Orphans of War, though, they weren’t needed. They were the next generation of the Eternal War, brought together by tragedy, their friendship formed inside the Golden Realm. They knew, though none of them said it, that the bond between them had been strengthened this day.

They floated there for a while, feeding on the presence of the others.

Lord Chaos could only wait so long, however. "Balance has been betrayed this day, but the betrayal is not yet at an end," he told the Orphans. "Franklin left the Everything, that is true, but no one has asked where he went. I know. He went into the Anti-Everything where there is nothing. The Everything is space filled with life. The Anti-Everything is space filled with nothing, not even death. It is a place where concepts such as myself can not go, but you … lesser beings can. There will come a time when you will need to venture there.

"You know of my role in the death of Xavier the Dreamer, yes? And what did I tell the Defenders on that day?" Chaos asked. "I told them that one day Franklin will not care if the Everything lives or dies. I fear that that day will soon come." 3

3- ALL GOD’S CHILDREN 4 - DAYS OF THE EXTINGUISHING SUN, PART THREE

"He has returned with thoughts of only himself. When there is all Order and no Chaos, we will cease to be. Balance must be maintained at all costs. Balance is the key. Balance. Master Order knows that the Everything can only be truly destroyed when it is dominate over me. When all the matter and energy in the Everything stops moving, entropy will set in, bringing about the end.

"Order and Chaos are the keepers of the Everything. Order has betrayed his position and no longer seeks Balance. Think, Orphans, if your minds can wrap itself around the idea. How has Thanos been able to wipe out galaxies as he has? Why did Galactus send the Cosmic Flame to this other side of the universe and what did his Herald find? He found nothing. The total lack of anything but darkness. That is why he was inflicted with madness upon his return. Look around you. This isn’t a sign of War, this is a sign of The End.

"Listen well my words, Orphans. The Eternal War you fight is only a distraction from the true war that the Everything faces, but that is something that shall be revealed to you in time. For now, you must defeat Thanos. That is the first step. Defeat Thanos and we can go from there.

"Keep the Balance. Always."

Lord Chaos shimmered out of sight, but his words had barely registered with the Orphans.

They held onto each other, not with physical contact, but with the knowledge that they were friends.

And friends, together, can do anything.

END FRAGMENTED BALANCE

KEEP THE BALANCE

NEXT ISSUE: VANISHING STORMS, ONE

Phil Sinton sighed. "So you really want to know what happened to Johnny Storm?"

-- MBQ ... 13.January.1999

AGC 10: Fragmented Balance, Part 5

The Tenth Tale

Fragmented Balance, Part Five

Chapter Thirteen - Collidings

OLYMPUS

"I. HAVE. COME."

A ball of silver light descended through the atmosphere towards the ground of Olympus below as the voice of Franklin Richards shook the Everything. Light shone through the hole left in the clouds above, spotlighting his arrival. Orchestral music, from nowhere, enveloped the scene.

Franklin Richards was back and all present knew that the power of the Everything had just shifted to his direction.

"I. AM. BALANCE."

Those assembled watched the descent of the ball of light with varying degrees of the same thought. For the eleven Elders of the Universe present, the return of Franklin was viewed with not fear, but respect. Respect not for the man, but for the power. They alone could rank Franklin, with first hand knowledge, among the most powerful beings of all time because they had existed since the beginning.

For the Cosmic Flame, fear. The secret his fragmented mind had just remembered was about to be let out …

For the Orphans of War, awe. Ben-Vell was aghast at how the palpable sense of power that had surrounded Thanos paled in comparison to the feeling in the Olympian air. The tale of Franklin Richards was a tragedy of the highest order, passed down from parent to child. Bill had always told them to not rely on the stories of others, but to read the actual Histories. Right now, Toomi, Eshir and Ben were wishing they had. To see Franklin actually return …

For Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, dread. Fun time was over …

For Galactus … Galactus said not a word, made not a move other than to watch the ball descend. He had already encountered Franklin, afterall, and the outcome had not gone well for Galactus. (1)

1- ALL GOD’S CHILDREN 1 - THE VENGEANCE OF HOPE

Lightning crashed in a large circle around Olympus, but the flash of light that lit up the scene failed to vanish into the night. No, it flashed and hung there in the dark sky, lighting the rain soaked Olympus with the spotlight of the gods.

The ball of silver light touched the ground and the ball disappeared.

Standing there, in a blue t-shirt and jeans was a four year old boy.

Franklin Richards.

He looked across the way, straight at the Cosmic Flame, standing with open arms. Though he spoke with the voice of a child, his words carried the weight of the grandest of generals and gods. His word was the will of whoever listened. "I have returned."

No one moved.

"I see that my reappearance surprises you who have assembled here," he spoke, looking about the crowd. "Did I not say I would return one day? This is that day. When all the time I spent away, contemplating my role in the Everything, had come to fruition. It was time for me to apply my learnings, so I came back."

No one moved.

"It is good to see you," he spoke to the Cosmic Flame, his voice wistful and, Ben-Vell thought, a bit desperate.

"Would you like to know what I learned? I shall tell you. I learned that there is a Balance to the Universe. Balance, I said, not Order. They are oftentimes confused for the other, but I shall make that mistake no longer. Order is needed for Balance, as is Chaos. The Yin and the Yang. Darkness and Light. Everything in the Everything needs an Opposite. Thanos once thought that I was his Opposite, (2) but he came to realize he was wrong. He saw himself as the Omega Force of the Universe and myself as the Alpha. He brought death to the Everything, while I had the power to create life."

2- From UATU the WATCHER’s Histories, Volume Fantastic Four, Chapter MV1 425

No one moved.

"But Opposites need not be based on powers alone, which is what Thanos - and I, in time - came to realize. I have the Centric Sceptre to thank for that, in a way, for she too made the mistake of thinking me her Opposite. (3) I wonder where she is, these days? Perhaps she’s still out there, planning to end the "chaos" of the Multiverse for the "order" of the Solitary Timeline? Or perhaps, just perhaps, she has reached the same level of enlightenment that I and Thanos have achieved."

3- ALL GOD’S CHILDREN 9 - FRAGMENTED BALANCE, PART FOUR

No one moved.

"Would you like to know why I chose this form? That of a four year old child?" Franklin asked. "I find this is the form that people have the easiest time accepting me in. And truthfully, it is the form in which I find the most comfort. It is the form that I associate with my greatest happiness."

No one moved.

"Balance is the key to the continued survival of the Everything. That is why beings such as Galactus, who seek the end of Balance, are dangerous and why," he looked to the gathered Elders with appreciation, "the Elders of the Universe should be commended. I understand this and that is why I shall do my best to keep the Balance of the Everything."

No one moved.

"They fear you, child," Galactus spoke from above, the only one who could find his tongue.

"I’m a child no longer, Galactus."

"To me you are even younger than the shell you reside in."

"SILENCE!" screamed a voice that sounded of innocence, but held meaning that was not. "I do’n wanna talk to you, Galactus!" screamed a voice that sounded of innocence, and held meaning that was just that. "Why do you gotta spoil my return?" whined the child within. "It was bad enough when I returned to Four Freedoms," he turned for a moment to look at the Flame, "it was all broken! How could you let them do that? But this!" he shouted, floating up to look Galactus in the eye. "This was supposed to be my big return scene! This was supposed to be grand and big and really cool! Can’t you hear the music playing? Huh? This is just like a big movie and now YOU’RE RUINING IT!"

Across the way, inside Eshir’s EM bubble, Ben dared to whisper, "That’s kind of like what I felt at Four Freedoms. (4) See how his voice sounded like two different people? It’s like one is a child and one is a wisened, older man."

4- ALL GOD’S CHILDREN 8 - FRAGMENTED BALANCE, PART THREE

"I do not care about your whims, child," Galactus continued.

"Your words wound me, Planet Devourer," Franklin continued, his eyes glowing white, returning to the wisened tone inside the four year old body. "Did I not already teach you the folly of your power against mine?"

"Was it I who left with a tail between my legs, or was it you, son of Richards?" Galactus continued, unfazed.

"By Odin, he’s prodding him!" Angelica whispered inside the EM Bubble, noticing for the first time she was in Eshir’s arms. They immediately seperated, but their eyes couldn’t help but linger a moment longer. For two who craved (however secret they held it) human contact, the moment lingered.

"I let you live," Franklin replied to the Planet Devourer.

"You are naught but a spoiled child. The wisdom you sought is something you have yet to find."

Franklin’s eyes opened wide and he clenched his fists. All those watching were prepared for the outburst of a spoiled child, but instead they heard only the cold, reasoned voice of one who knows he is power. "I damn you."

The instant manifestation of a thought birthed itself in a neverending flume of white energy erupting from the ground and consuming Galactus. He said nothing through the immediate pain, but his eyes turned to the Cosmic Flame expectantly, "Well, my Herald?"

The Cosmic Flame was frozen to the ground, his mouth agape.

"He was never your pawn, user," Franklin cut in, letting the power he had unleashed continue to tear into Galactus. "He spurned your "gift", choosing his own path instead of the one you chose for him."

The pain became too much for Galactus and he dropped to a knee. He turned his gaze on the Cosmic Flame, as did Franklin. "Did he, child? Or are you retroactively changing the pages of existence to fit your current whims? Burn me all you like, but would you go so far as to retcon even the history of your own uncle … Johnny Storm, the Cosmic Flame, HERALD OF GALACTUS?"

ASGARD - The Bunker - Thor Odinson Hall of Peace

The Council was roused from their sleep and gathered hastily at the War Bunker inside the Hall of Peace. They had come because they had all felt … something … happen and they knew it to be serious. King Balder stood silently below the Three-Dimensional Image Projector. The 3-DIP was a huge computer that contained detailed maps on every part of the Everything that Asgard could attain.

Steve and Dani had said nothing as they ran to the Hall of Peace. Their minds were already putting the time spent together behind them and concentrating fully on what was to come.

The War Bunker was a massive circular room that was held in the basement of the Hall of Peace. It was the place Balder hated to come to most of all, but despite that reluctance he made certain the Bunker would be the most complete war room in history.

The 3-DIP was built into the ceiling, walls and floors of the Bunker and it could both project 1000 different maps into every corner, walkway, workstation or empty space in the Bunker, or it could project one large map above the center of the round wooden table in the Bunker’s center. It could also project 3-D "real life" images from a variety of mechanical and mystical sources spread across the cosmos. In a secret part of the Bunker that only Balder, Captain America and Beta Ray Bill had ever set foot in ( or knew the existence of ), led a dimensional gteway that led into the Out of Time Dimension and the Defenders Sanctum Dimensionarium.

Should Asgard ever fall, Balder had a backdoor escape route for his people, but there was no reason to volunteer the information to any but his most trusted senior allies.

And that meant Steve Rogers and Beta Ray Bill and no one else.

Balder and the Council members - Ash’lin of the Shi’ar, Kover the Accuser of the Kree, Skrull 4 of the Skrulls, Captain America, Beta Ray Bill, Moonstar of the Valkyrior - sat around the table, looking up at the 3-DIP’s projection of the Cosmos.

"3-DIP, show location of the greatest fluctuation of power that can be detected in the Everything," Balder commanded, trying to discover the cause of the … sensations they had all felt.

"Location is Olympus," came the soft, computerized female voice.

"3-DIP, show the location of Galactus," Balder commanded.

"Location is Olympus," came the soft, computerized female voice a second time.

"3-DIP, show the location of Franklin Richards," Balder commanded.

"Location is Olympus," came the soft, computerized female voice a third time.

"3-DIP," Balder ordered, his voice rising in anticipation, "show Olympus. Livefeed. Incorporate communication devices mechanical and mystical into one large 3-D setting."

The large globe of light scattered it’s image like leaves blowing in the wind, and replaced it with a scene that made the hearts of people that had grown old knowing nothing but the Eternal War skip a beat.

Franklin Richards floated in the air, hording over Galactus. Energy erupted from the ground, causing the Planet Devourer to fall to his knee. Watching the display stood a man of fire that they knew to be the Cosmic Flame, a group of Elders of the Universe, Santa Claus-

"Is that a pink rabbit?" Kovar asked disbelievingly.

"It’s the Easter Bunny," Captain America and Dani Moonstar replied together, their eyes not leaving the image.

"But I’m more worried about the Cosmic Flame’s presence," Cap continued. "To put him in between Franklin and Galactus …"

"Not only that," Beta Ray Bill stepped in angrily, "look who’s in the far background: Ben-Vell, Angelica, Attumidunn and Eshir. What are our children doing there?"

Skrull 4, who knew exactly why the Orphans of War were there sat by and said nothing.

OLYMPUS

"Oh my."

"I can’t believe it …"

"He died at Doom’s Empire …"

"I feel lost."

The Orphans made alive the thoughts in the heads of the gathered assemblage of powerful beings. As far as the cosmos knew, what had happened to Johnny Storm was insignificant. The Orphans were too lax in their studies to know that a specific First Age hero like Johnny had become the Cosmic Flame at the end of Doom’s Empire. (5) To the Elders, the identity of a Herald, especially one that had been around for such a short time, was not a concern.

5- Doom’s Empire is an untold tale at this point in AGC.

But say the name Johnny Storm and present it in the context of Franklin Richards and people knew exactly who was being talked about.

At the moment Galactus had spoke his name, no one - not the Orphans, not the Elders, not Santa nor the Easter Bunny - wanted to be anywhere near Olympus.

But no one left.

Franklin hung in the air above the kneeling form of Galactus, his attack on the Planet Devourer stopped. His eyes, the wide eyes of an innocent child burned by the reality of life, were on the Cosmic Flame, "Tell him it’s not true." His voice was soft, low and pleading. "Tell him you hated what had happened to you, Unca Johnny. Tell him how he ruined the Fantastic Four, Johnny and made mommy cry. Tell him."

"Franklin, I …" the Cosmic Flame dropped his head in shame.

"TELL HIM!"

"Tell him, my Herald," Galactus spoke, rising to his feet. "Tell him how you begged me to give you the power needed to defeat Doctor Doom. No matter the price."

"Galactus, I …" the Cosmic Flame raised his head in shame.

It was obvious to the onlookers that this was about far more than a show of power. It was a personal conflict between two beings of vast power.

"Tell him how crazy he is to seek your aid, Unca Johnny," Franklin begged like a spoiled child in front of everyone.

"I - I don’t know, F-Franklin …" the Cosmic Flame stuttered.

"Johnny …" the young god pleaded, his voice panicking. Galactus’ eyes did not leave the pouting child.

The Cosmic Flame flew up into the air to meet them. "I-I don’t know how to say this, but … I’m not Johnny Storm. My name’s Phil Sinton. I’m from New Mexico."

Galactus’s eyes moved now.

Chapter Fourteen - Warnings

MIDGARD - NEW YORK CITY

Time rolls ever forward, Change it’s companion.

There are few constants in the Everything that span cultures across the Timestream and the Multiverse.

One of them, however, that has crept into every technologically advanced culture is that there are those, often called villains, who seek personal gain above the gain of everyone.

And if there be villains, there be secret warehouse hideaways.

New York City in the Midgard Standard Year 2200 was a decaying, rotting ruin … but it had villains, and those villains often used warehouses from which to plot their attempts at ruling the city, country or world.

The woman who sat in what was once Pier 4, before her ancestors bought the structure from the Fantastic Four, was such a villain, sitting in such a warehouse. She watched the various replays of the surveillance equipment she had strewn about the city. Always, she had lackeys to watch the cameras’ footage, looking for patterns in the few heroes that still populated the city.

Usually, the vid-discs they gave to her contained nothing of value.

Tonight’s did.

A smile so disturbed that it had retired more psychologists than anyone could count sprang to life on the woman’s face as she looked at the vidplay of Ben-Vell, Attumidunn, Eshir and Angelica. Especially Angelica.

"So," she spoke to the image on her monitor, "my baby was in town, but didn’t come to visit. We shall have to see about that, won’t we, daughter?"

Angelica, all the way on Olympus, shivered without knowing why.

OLYMPUS

Toomi whispered to the Orphans, "What do you think, guys? Is he one of the Unspeakables?"

"You know what scares me, Toomi," Ben-Vell answered, his eyes not leaving Franklin. "I think that not only he may be the Ancient Good or the Ancient Evil … he may be both. Think, if he’s some kinda Balance agent, he could both right the wrongs - the Grey Prophecy for the Ancient Good - and wrong the rights - the Grey Prophecy for the Ancient Evil. Thanos was right, he may really be the Third Army of the Eternal War, playing both sides against the middle."

"WHAT?"

Franklin Richards was not happy.

"I-I’m not-"

"I heard you!" Franklin spat. "Where’s Johnny?"

The Cosmic Flame hung his head. "H-He’s dead, Franklin."

"What? How? Why?" Franklin whined. "Tell me!"

Across the courtyard, Ben-Vell shuddered. "Heimdall’s eyes, this is just like the vibes I picked up at Four Freedoms!"

"That’s a bad thing, right?" Angelica asked, really wishing, for some reason, that Eshir wasn’t all the way across the EM bubble..

"Yeah," Ben answered, his eyes glued to Franklin. "He’s going to start aguing with himself … by Odin, he’s cracking up!"

"All that talk of Balance, and yet that appears to be the one thing he does not have," Toomi observed, enlightening no one.

"It’s time."

"For what?" Toomi asked.

"To make our move. Eshir, release the EM Bubble."

Eshir thought for a second about disobeying the order, but thought better of it. "What now, Ben?" he asked, reserved to letting Ben make a mistake before he made a move to be the leader of the Orphans. Not that they had an official leader, but everyone always looked to the sainted Ben-Vell, heir to Mar-Vell, something Eshir always found … distasteful.

"Follow me."

As a group, the Orphans of War walked right into a place they did not belong and could not get themselves out of if things went wrong. Galactus and Franklin Richards towered above the Cosmic Flame, seeking answers. The Elders, like a Greek Chorus with no lines to speak, hung off to the stage left, trying not to get in the way. Astoria huddled with her two creations, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, watching in muted shock as a group of kids walked into their midst.

Franklin saw them approach first, and he floated to the ground. One, the one with blue skin, wore a costume that looked like a merging of Spider-Man and Captain Mar-Vell. Another, the aqua-green skinned woman, wore the garb of the Valkyrie. To her left walked a man with no hands, white hair and a scarred face. Behind them walked a redhead, wearing Asgardian garb.

"This isn’t right!" Franklin screamed to them. "Where’s Unca Johnny? I came back and everyone - mom and daddy and Unca Ben and Auntie ‘Licia and Crystal and Qui’silver and Luna are all gone! But I knew Johnny had to be alive!" Tears started streaming down his face. "But when I went home there was nothing there but a building that was falling down! So I traced Johnny’s Power Cosmic energy signature and it led here and I wanted to come and see Johnny and, and, and, and WHY’S EVERYBODY DEAD?"

"Franklin, not everyone is dead," Ben-Vell spoke to the young god. "Captain America-"

"I don’t care!" stomped the spoiled child. "I want my family! Why’s there no Fantastic Four? Why isn’t Johnny who he’s s’posed to be!"

"I am curious to that, as well," Galactus interjected.

"Everything is ruined!"

"No, Franklin," Ben continued. "Everything is just different. But you’ve been gone for close to 200 years. We’re at War now. Thanos has taken control of nearly everything and we, the Asgardians and her allies, fight back."

"I don’t care!"

"Franklin, we know what it’s like to lose family," Ben took a step forward. "All of us have lost our folks … we’re Orphans, just like you."

Franklin fell to the ground, letting the tears pour out, "I thought I was supposed to be the Balance! I had the power to set everything right. I was gonna free Unca Johnny of Galactus’ curse and let him be the Human Torch again, but I can’t ‘cause Johnny is dead! Just like everyone else! I hate being alone. Why can’t I be the Balance?"

"Easy, Franklin," Angelica smoothed.

"Balance comes from setting things right," Franklin cried into his hands. "But how can I make Johnny the Torch is he’s dead?"

"You can’t," Galctus said from above. "What you describe isn’t Balance, but Order. You’re order, not the Everything’s. Lord Chaos and Master Order do the best they can to keep the Everything in balance, there is no need for anyone to deal with the minutia of an individuals life. That way lies only madness."

Franklin looked around at the crowd of people and suddenly his thoughts became crystal clear. "I’ve got to go. If my place in the Grand Tapestry is to be Balance, then we can’t have Lord Chaos and Master Order around. THEY. MUST. DIE."

Franklin Richards vanished.

FRAGMENTED BALANCE TO BE CONTINUED …

Natures Collide. Realities Converge.

NEXT ISSUE: FRAGMENTED BALANCE, PART SIX

"And the jokes," Santa replied, brushing dust off his boots. "Where are all the jokes? Can’t have a good story without the comedy."

"Good point, Thanta," the Bunny nodded his head. "Lotta comedy in Thakethpeare."

"This story ain’t Shakespeare."

"I’ll drink to that."

-- MBQ … 9.January.1999

AGC 9: Fragmented Balance, Part 4

The Ninth Tale

Fragmented Balance, Part Four

Chapter Nine - Learnings

MIDGARD Standard Year 2003

In the end, it was the Centric Sceptre who killed him.

She did it not with a sword or gun or particle accelerator, but with the most powerful weapon in all the Everything … an idea.

Sometime during the year 2000, the last year of the 20th century, she had come into contact with young Franklin Richards. She was not the first grand cosmic entity that had come looking for the young god, but she was, unfortunately, the last.

It was during that final battle, in the last moments of 31.December.2000 that Franklin had finally realized just what he thought his role in the Everything was. The Centric Sceptre had come to eradicate what she thought was the grand flaw in the Everything, the Multiverse. She longed for order, for the simple, plain understanding of one timeline, one continuity, one instance of each being.

The Centric Sceptre wanted to take all realties and make them one. The death toll would be incalculable, of course, and that bothered young Franklin, as did much of the world’s horrors.

He knew he should stop her. It would be the right thing to do and his mama and papa had always taught him to do the right thing.

That’s when the idea that she had planted in the dreams of his susceptible mind came to the forefront.

"Yes, it’s true, Franklin, I do want to end the Multiverse. I want to make it all one reality. I know you seek to stop me, but I ask you, why? Why should you? Are we not Opposites in this Grand Tapestry. I seek to end realities, while you can create them with but a focused thought. Is this why you seek to stop me? Because opposites are, by their very nature, in opposition?

"I have an offer for you, my Other Half. Instead of stopping me, Franklin, why don’t you stand by the side and let me achieve my goal? In return, I shall step aside as you create the Multiverse from your mind. Imagine that, Franklin. You have the chance to start everything all over again. All those divergent realities would exist only because you decided to create it.

"Think of how wonderful everything will be.

"You could create realities that held no Galactus, so no one there would ever have to live through the horror that you lived through for what he did to dear old Unca Johnny.

"It would be Paradise, would it not?

"And all you have to do to create that Paradise is not do a thing."

Franklin, much to his eternal shame, had stayed out of the Millennium Encounter, but the Centric Sceptre was thwarted nonetheless. The shame that befell him for not acting was almost too much, but it paled in comparison to the shame he held at the disappointment of not being able to create Paradise.

He tried, of course, creating several alternate realities despite the nonconduciveness of the situation and the warnings of the Living Tribunal, but all were met with failure. They became known, aptly, as the Franklin Realms and access to them is strictly prohibited, by order of the Living Tribunal itself. There are no recorded instances of anyone ever venturing to or returning from the Franklin Realms after it was sealed shut and there is only one person from the original Multiverse known to be trapped inside - a villain from the First Age by the name of Madcap.

But he couldn’t get the idea of creating Paradise out of his head and it drove him to personal ruin as he tried and failed and tried and failed again and again. The Everything began to take notice of young Richards - he drew the ire of Thanos, who watched but made no move against him. The Living Tribunal had several chats with the parents of Franklin, original members of the Fantastic Four Reed and Sue Richards, but the were powerless to contain his blossoming mind. The Silver Surfer came to council Franklin, but it did no good.

He couldn’t stop himself from dreaming of a better world, and a dream was all it took.

The shame of his inactions during the Millennium Encounter and subsequent actions led to a deteriorating mind which led to that fateful day in 2003 when Franklin Richards appeared before the world and made the proclamation, "I have to go, I gotta learn some things that mommy and daddy can’t teach me. I love you mommy and daddy and Unca Ben and Johnny and Auntie Alicia and Crystal and even you, Mr. Pietro. Bye Luna, sorry about your dog. I’d make you up a new one, but mommy said not to." His eyes became solid white with power then as he told the Everything, "I will return one day. This is fact." His eyes returned to that of a youngster to give one last message, "I’m so sorry mommy and daddy. I’m so sorry."

And then, Franklin Richards, a young god with unimaginable power, took the most simple and violent of Earthen weapons, a handgun, placed it into his mouth and pulled the trigger.

MIDGARD Standard Year 2200

ASGARD - The Heimdall Library

Skrull 4 closed the History and turned to return the book to the shelf in the Heimdall Library from which he had taken it. To his surprise, he saw Beta Ray Bill, the writer of these Histories, standing there.

"The story is as I remember it," 4 announced in his soft voice. "Time can change one’s remembrances, but in this instance the story is the same today as it was the first time I read it."

"King Balder came to read it this afternoon," was Bill’s only response.

"I am aware. Interest in Franklin is high these days."

"It is a shame that Ben-Vell has not come to read these tales, as of yet. I thought I had made the impression on him that knowing the past was important."1

1- ALL GOD’S CHILDREN 1 - THE VENGEANCE OF HOPE

Skull 4 said nothing in response. He knew that the reason that Ben and the Orphans hadn’t come to read the Histories was that they were on a search for the recently returned Franklin Richards. "What thoughts are yours, friend Bill, of his possible status as one of the Unspeakables?"

Bill came and sat down at a large table, the same table he had sat at not that long ago and convinced Ben and Angelica to increase the intensity of their studies. 4 decided against returning the book and sat down as well, across the table from the warrior/historian.

"I think," Bill finally answered, "that we would be better to not ask IF Franklin is one of the Unspeakable, but WHICH of them he would most likely be."

4 nodded in agreement and referred to the History in front of him, "Such a sad tale, in the end, was it not?"

"Franklin’s tale is not yet finished, 4. He has every chance to improve the ending."

Skrull 4 said nothing. He didn’t want to disagree with his friend.

Chapter Ten - Comings

OLYMPUS

Astoria, an Elder of the Universe, stood with the Cosmic Flame, Herald of Galactus in the ruins of Olympus, watching Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny pummel each other throughout the once proud city.

"Why is Olympus in decay?" the Cosmic Flame asked, finally realizing what about the scene was really bothering him.

"The Olympians have left," Astoria answered. "They have traveled to a higher plane of existence."

"They’re dead?" the Flame asked incredulous.

"No, they have simply left. I’m sure most of them still live."

"Are they all gone?"

"No, not all of them … Hercules is still around, as is Pluto. Maybe a few of the lessers, as well."

"Huh, well that’s a surprise," the Cosmic Flame shrugged. "Guess a lot changes when you leave for 100 years or so."

"One hundred and fifty years, Flame," Astoria smiled, pleased to see the Flame’s memory, and his humanity, returning.

"You were saying that you make myths real, Astoria," 2 the Flame brought the conversation back on course. "And that you could make me, as you have made Santa and the Easter Bunny. I take it that you seek to take me and transform me into a myth of legend?"

2- ALL GOD’S CHILDREN 8 - FRAGMENTED BALANCE, PART THREE

"Yes, that is exactly what I have in mind," Astoria beamed. "Is that appealing to you?"

"Depends. Who would I be? I have little interest into being made as Chicken Little."

"No, Flame. I would seek to make you into one of two mythic creations that you should know from you days as an Earthman. The first is the Headless Horseman and the second is the Great Pumpki-"

Something caught Astoria’s eye and she turned quickly, surprised to see that a collection of ten Elders had suddenly appeared on Olympus.

"What are you doing here, brothers?" Astoria asked, annoyed at their presence.

"This will soon become the focal point of the Everything," the Contemplator, a short, fat, nearly naked man, mused.

"Speak not in riddles to me, brothers," Astoria commanded. "What do you mean by your words?"

"Why, my dear Astoria," the Grandmaster beamed, "to continue your theme … the sky is falling. The sky is falling! THE SKY IS FALLING!"

MIDGARD - Greece

The Orphans of War made their way through the proud city of Athens. Sometime during the mid stages of the 21st century, the Athenians had decided that "technological advancement" really meant "architectural ugliness" and "societal decay". In response to the world clicking away on their computers, sliding faster and faster into a ruin they didn’t realize was coming, the Athenians decided to ban technology and rebuild their ancient city, restoring it to the heights of its greatness.

It was, as it once was, the most beautiful city in the world.

Unlike the filth of New York City, Athens stood shining and glorious. It’s people didn’t huddle to themselves or walk with the gait of someone in a hurry - no, the people of Athens stood in the glorious sun, said their thanks to Apollo, the sun god and walked through the open markets without a care in the world.

"Remarkable," Eshir admired, his eyes seemingly shining with power. "A city fit for a King."

"This is a city that is admirable," Attumidunn beamed. "Glorious."

"It’s natural that we feel this way," Angelica tried to shake herself out of her dismal state. "Ancient Greece was a place that believed in the Olympian gods and the city, this whole region, reflected that with their temples and oracles and the like. It is a place much more akin to Asgard than New York City ever was or ever could be."

"Wow, that’s awesome you know that, ‘Gel," Ben smiled at her, rubbing her back gently with his hand, trying to bring Angel out of her funk. He’d hoped as well, that it might even make Toomi a little jealous, but the Atlantean/Inhuman Valkyrie was too interested in the surrounding city to pay him any notice.

"Where’s the Bridge to Olympus?" Eshir asked, eyeing two lovely, giggling locals as they walked by them, absently slipping his two arms behind his back. For all his vitriol about what had happened on that day long ago, Eshir held the two stumps that sat on the end of his arms instead of hands in shame.

"Up on Mount Olympus," Attumidunn recounted from Angel’s earlier teachings, pointing towards the mountain that dominated the skyline.

"I was aware of that," Eshir shot angrily at Toomi. "I was wondering, where, on the mountain, this bridge was located."

‘With your amazing power, Eshir," Toomi feigned awe, "we should find it in no time."

Behind them, Angel closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of Ben’s hand rubbing itself across her back. If only …

OLYMPUS

"My Herald. You have returned."

There were few sights in existence that could impress an Elder. When you were the last remaining survivor of the first sentient races to come into existence in the Everything, when you had seen all of your people die, when you had witnessed the death of not only your planet, but your galaxy, when you had watched the Everything give birth to new galaxies give birth to planets give birth to life, there wasn’t much that could make you stand in awe.

But the assembled Elders, eleven in all, quickly snapped their heads to the sky, not in fear, but in awe-filled respect.

Galactus had arrived.

Natures collide.

Even Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny stopped their brawling.

"My master!" The Cosmic Flame soared to the sky, his memory returning more rapidly now, back along his own history. "I would have sought you out, but this is where you told me to meet you, all those years ago when you sent me on that Quest to the other side of the Universe."

"You performed well. Tell me what you found."

The Cosmic Flame hung in the air in front of the hundred foot tall Galactus and hung his head in shame. "I found no planets for you to consume. Life has ceased to exist in that corner of this Universe."

Galactus nodded, but said no more.

In the distance, moving from the Dimensional Bridge that brought them here from Midgard and onto the Golden Street, the Orphans of War crouched low and dared not do anything but whisper.

"I think we’re in over our heads, guys," Ben remarked. "I count eleven Elders, Santa Claus, a guy in a pink bunny suit, one Planet Devourer and a guy on fire. Who’s he? Any ideas?"

Eshir, Attumidunn and Angelica shook their head No.

"Should we go get help?" Ben asked.

"Ready to give up already?" Eshir chided.

"Cram it, Esh," Ben shot back. "Your egotistical "I am God" manner fails to take into account what we’re looking at here. That’s a lot - a LOT - of firepower out there, and Franklin hasn’t even arrived yet."

"It’s good to see you do not overvalue my capabilities anymore," Esh replied, making sure to give Ben a look at the stumps on his arms where his hands should have been.

Ben said nothing, but glared daggers.

Chapter Eleven - Wantings

ASGARD - The Residence of Steve Rogers

"When will we have to say our good-byes?" Dani Moonstar asked Steve Rogers as they held each other in bed.

"Soon, I fear," Steve answered, a pang in his heart. "If all stays quiet, I leave for the Fantastic Colonies in four days, though I may stop over at Titan 3 on the way."

"Still bothered by what we didn’t find?" she asked softly, knowing what a sore subject she was walking into. There had been reports that a young group of kids had taken on the name Avengers, after Steve’s fallen comrades, and that they had been held prisoner on Titan 3. Steve, in typical Steve fashion, Dani thought, felt guilty about their capture, even though he had no ties to them. They were stupid kids, inspired by legends of a dead and gone group of heroes.

"Yes," Steve frowned. "By all intel reports we have, Titan 3 is a POW camp for Thanos. We’ve got hard data of prisoners being brought below the planet’s surface, but our raid uncovered nothing."3

3- ALL GOD’S CHILDREN 1 - THE VENGEANCE OF HOPE

"Aye, but you felt what I did, that there was more going on under that surface than we are aware of. The tunnels seemed almost alive."

"Yes, they did."

Dani didn’t respond and Steve let the silence reign. He hated that the few moments he and Dani got to spend together always ended in talking about this damnable Eternal War. They were in love and Steve wanted nothing but to relax in her arms and tell her everything he felt for her. It had taken him a long time to get involved with someone, and even longer to let down the walls he had spent lifetimes letting grow higher and higher. He knew Dani underwent similar feelings.

In regards to a loving relationship, they still had a lot to learn.

ASGARD - Logan’s Bar and Grill

A mind, impaired by liquor, does not function at full capacity.

That was exactly the way Eros liked it.

As night rolled on, the brother of Thanos tried to read the label off the myriad of bottles in front of him. ‘Well,’ he grinned, ‘I guess if you can’t read what they say, it doesn’t really matter what’s going down the hatch.’

He scratched his large stomach, reaching for a blue - he thought it was blue - liquor. Shame about his body and behavior was not a feeling familiar to him. After watching the original Titan, and his family and friends along with it, destroyed, he ceased to care about anything but his own pleasure.

Eros had no idea how powerful he was about to become.

TITAN 3

Canticle, the young woman kept alive by ISAAC, the Supreme Intelligence for around 175 years as a prisoner of war, cried herself to sleep.

She awoke several hours later and cried again.

ISAAC, who Canticle still called the Machine, had tubes and wires strewn throughout the still young looking Earth woman, so it was easy to keep her body full of the water it needed to keep the tear ducts full. He so enjoyed watching a prisoner lose themselves to their emotions - it helped him learn.

The more ISAAC learned, the greater the glory for Thanos.

"Oh god, please help me!" Canticle cried to the darkness, listening to the echo reverberate through the empty hallways. "Please, please, please …" she whimpered until sleep claimed her again.

Canticle had no idea she was about to get her wish.

Chapter Twelve - Convergings

"Something’s about to happen."

"No thit, thtupid," the Easter Bunny scolded Santa Claus through his broken jaw.

"Silence, my children," Astoria commanded her creations, but her voice wavered slightly. The sky began to swirl with clouds of brilliant colors: orange, blue, purple, grey. The wind began to howl like a thousand pleading dogs.

"Something’s about to happen."

"Brilliant deduction, Ben-Vell," Eshir scolded from the Orphans location on the Golden Street. Without being told, Esh enveloped the Orphans inside an Electro-Magnetic Bubble to protect them from the unexpected.

The brilliant clouds rolled out and a darkness rolled in, chasing the color to another place. Lightning flashed across the sky in a display that would have impressed even Zeus. Thunder rumbled like a hundred Haphaestus’s striking a hundred hammers.

Rain came suddenly, the tears of the Everything as it readied for any possibility. Creation centered on Olympus. The living and the dead turned their eyes upon the abandoned city.

In Asgard, King Balder was standing at a window, staring out at his realm, when the flashes and rumbling started. Steve and Dani had just drifted off to sleep, when they were awakened by the groaning of the Everything. Steve winced in pain as his Cosmic Awareness reached out to find the source of the conflict. Beta Ray Bill and Skrull 4 rose as one, drawing their weapons, prepared for anything. Eros lay slumped over the bar, drooling into his spilled liquor.

On Titan 3, ISAAC the Supreme Intelligence, felt a surge run through his systems and feared for a break in his large operating system.

In Necropolis, Thanos watched the workings of the Everything stretch to near breaking. The action made him smile, the power behind it, jealous.

The Third Army in the Eternal War was making another play.

"He has arrived," Galactus quietly boomed above the roar of manipulated nature.

The Orphans huddled together, Toomi seeking out Ben’s arm to wrap around her as she clung to him. Angel watched the scene before her in awe and any thoughts of jealousy about Ben and Toomi couldn’t crack the deepest levels of even her subsconsciousness. Eshir stood watching, craving to have such power as was being displayed by an unseen force. Somehow, some way, Esh and Angel’s bodies reached out and found each other.

The Elders watched, more fearful than they’d want to admit. To live since the beginning of time was, in a particular manner, a primal fear of death. And they felt, as they rarely did, that death may just befall them this day. They wondered individually if they made the right move in coming here, but how could they, who had seen nearly everything the Everything had to offer, stay away from this?

They knew it could get no louder, but it did. They knew the lightning could flash no brighter, but it did. They knew the wind could not pick up intensity, but it did.

Something inside all of the living beings on Olympus made them look directly above, at the dark shifting clouds that they could still somehow see despite the darkness that engulfed them.

Ten-thousand feet above them, a light, like that of a silver moon, could be seen behind the clouds, growing brighter as it dropped in the sky.

Realities converge.

The Everything hushed in anticipation … the clouds parted like a mother giving birth and a ball of silver light slowly slipped from the womb, making it’s way slowly downward. The light of the sun streamed through the gaping hole left in the cloud, spotlighting the arrival of a god.

"I. HAVE. COME."

Though they couldn’t see the speaker of the words through the bright silver light, and though few there had ever heard him speak, everyone on Olympus, and everyone in the Everything knew …

Franklin Richards had returned.

FRAGMENTED BALANCE TO BE CONTINUED …

Natures Collide. Realities Converge.

NEXT ISSUE: FRAGMENTED BALANCE, PART FIVE

Franklin Richards was back and all present knew that the power of the Everything had just shifted to his direction.

"I. AM. BALANCE."

-- MBQ … 1.January.1999