K I N G S 2200
the Seventeenth Tale
ASGARD - THOR ODINSON HALL OF PEACE
MIDGARD STANDARD YEAR 2200 / NOVEMBER
"Eight years since True Ragnarok began," King Balder the Brave said to an empty room inside the Odinson Hall of Peace. A cup of mead sat, untouched, on a table behind him as he looked out onto Asgard. "Eight years since the start of the end of the world."
His thoughts drifted this night, a rare moment when there was no business to attend. The Council had met this afternoon and, while he was involved, it was hard to differentiate this day's briefing from yesterdays from last months. Things had almost become normal in this world in which he was King of Asgard, a position that now carried with it the fate of the Everything. The Eternal War had raged across the Everything since the Midgard year of 2022, when Titan, the space home of the Eternals, was destroyed.
It had seemed like such a trivial thing at the time. No one could have predicted what darkness it's fall would plunge the Everything into.
The Everything. Balder allowed himself a smile, ironic smile. They did not call it the Everything, then. Few did. Then it was only the Universe.
Times change. Thanos' plan to gain his Mistress Death's hand was beyond anything imagined before, seeking not only to destroy this Universe, but every Universe in the Multiverse and every Realm that transcended the Multiverses, and every being that inhabited them all, from the lowliest bacteria to Galactus, the Living Tribunal, Eternity and Master Order and Lord Chaos. The stakes they were warring over could get no higher.
Asgard was beautiful this time of night, the Golden Realm almost completely rebuilt, it's spires more wondrous than ever before. 'How I wish you could see her, Karnilla,' he thought, his hands ringing tighter together. 'And you Odin, and Thor, and Heimdall, and all our brothers in arms lost in this War. Forsooth, Valhalla must be the happiest place in the Everything, the fallen warriors regaling each other in epic tales of bravery and courage.'
From this vantage spot, he could see out into the Forest of Earth and the Plain of Ida where troops would be guarding the borders. Dire Wraiths were known to make their presence known in the Plain and it was there the troops would center their watch. The Forest of Earth had it's own protector, a Guardian of the Nexus of Realities. His name was the Man-Thing and it had taken Asgard to be it's Home when Earth vanished during True Ragnarok.
When the Earth had reappeared, they had thought for certain that the Man-Thing would make it's return, but it had not. 'But then,' Balder thought, 'maybe it has. There is no telling with that creature where he goeth or where he stirs.'
A knock at the door disrupted his thoughts. "Enter," he ordered after clearing his throat.
"My King, I hope I am not disturbing you," came the voice of Dani Moonstar of the Valkyrior as the wooden door opened gently.
"Nay, Moonstar, but please, no formalities this eve amongst Asgardians," he smiled. While it was true that Moonstar was not of Asgard by blood, she was Asgard by spirit and her position as Lead Valkyrie was unquestioned.
"Aye, Balder," she smiled. "The formality doesn't suit me, as you know, but one can never be too cautious with the Shi'ar and Kree Ambassadors lurking around."
"Tis true, milady," Balder smiled warmly in response. "They have never warmed to the King of Asgard leading our side in this War. How is Ash'lin and Kovar the Accuser?"
"Squabbling, most likely," Dani reported, her face turning serious. "But it is not our allies that I have come to discuss this evening. At least, not the allies we know."
"Oh?" Balder asked. "We gain new strength in our struggle?"
"Perhaps, and perhaps not," she said, sighing, trying, Balder noticed, to control a growing anger. "I beg forgiveness, Balder. It is not my intent to speak in riddles, but there is group of people downstairs who would have an audience with the Council. Men who seek to place someone upon the Council."
"Who would these people be?" Balder asked, his curiosity piqued. "Which distant land do they hail from?"
"Not a distant land, milord," Dani said gravely. "They come from Earth."
"Earth?" Balder asked, taken aback. "But there already sits an Earther on the Council. Two, in fact, yourself and Captain America."
"I know," she responded, her voice sharp as ice, "but they are insistent in the fact that … we do not count."
NECROPOLIS
Thanos stood in an empty room, alone with his thoughts. He looked out on his city of fire, blood and bone, discontent. His mind was restless, seeking something that it could not grasp. Throughout the Everything plans were in motion to destroy more and more life.
The Mad Titan allowed himself a smile. The Asgardians and their allies would never be ready for the final battle. They fought a war of attrition, seeking to wear him down by stopping him here and frustrating him there. They sought to cause him a deep frustration that would lead to a rash act.
Not this time. No, this time Thanos would see his plan through to the End, an end which could only come about when his great nemesis, Captain Mar-Vell, rose from the dead to battle him one last time. Two men in one battle to decide the fate of the Everything.
Thanos knew that Mar-Vell would eventually return. He had to. Their kind always returned to the stage of life, always found some way to escape Death's grasp. He would wait until Mar-Vell returned, but he knew that before that was to happen, the stakes needed to be at their highest. They needed to achieve the moments before the Everything either lived or died before Mar-Vell would return.
And Thanos knew that before that was to happen, the current Cosmic Protector would have to die. It wouldn't be hard, Thanos knew, because Captain America was a poor substitute for the great Mar-Vell. Sooner or later, Mar-Vell would realize this. It was only a matter of time.
A knock at the door disrupted his thoughts. "Enter," he ordered after clearing his throat.
"My King, I hope my disturbance does not displease you," came the voice of his highest female General as the wooden door opened roughly.
Thanos turned, his eyes aglow, "That depends on your message, woman."
The General, tall, proud and beautiful bowed low before her lord, "We have a report that the DNA sample you requested has been obtained. Work has already begun on the 'Perfect Army'."
"Excellent," Thanos smiled. "Perhaps it shall not be long before we strike against Asgard directly. You would like that, yes?"
"Very much, milord," the General's eyes sparkled with hatred.
Thanos laughed, deep and hard, "It shall be a glorious day when we squash the bugs of Asgard under our heels. Soon, the Pens will overflow with the finest stock you have ever gathered."
"Aye," the General answered, her helmet shining, covering all of her face save for the eyes, nose, mouth and chin, it's ram horns standing proud. "The head of Moonstar belongs nowhere but upon my mantle."
"Is there anything else?" Thanos asked, already bored with the fleeting moment of good news.
The General brought her full attention back to the moment at hand, "Aye, milord. Ikaris would like a conference with you, if you have a moment."
Thanos thought about it for a moment before responding, "What does he want?"
"He did not say, but Ikaris is far too wise to request your presence on a frivolity."
Thanos spun quickly, his eyes glowing intense in their bony sockets, "Watch your tongue, woman. You may be an important part of my plans, but you can be replaced. Perhaps you'd like to return to Niffleheim and Hela's cold embrace?" He walked across the floor to stand directly in front of the General, who shivered, but did not back down. "Tell Ikaris I will meet him in one hour at Crucifixion Row." He grabbed the warrior's chin, "And if what he has to say is not important he may very well find himself upon one of the crosses, begging for Death's kiss."
THE DEAD CORNER OF SPACE
Franklin Richards did not look out a window because, quite simply, there was no window here to look out from. "What a pitiful place," he remarked to his rag-tag band of travelling companions. "Dead. All of it. No life at all."
Casually, he looked at a rectangular asteroid chunk that floated by. He thought it looked about the size of a football field so he waved his hand and upon the flat surface grass suddenly burst forth, then white lines were laid on top and goal posts sprung up from the backs of each endzone. "Better. Much better."
He turned to look at those that followed him. The traveled inside a clear bubble that Franklin constructed from his thoughts, standing on a flat platform across the middle. The most recent to join them was the Cosmic Flame, former Herald of Galactus, his burning frame reminiscent, to Franklin of his Unca Johnny, the second Human Torch. The Cosmic Flame was, in fact, Johnny Storm at one moment in time, but no more. Now it was someone named Phil Sinton, who'd switched places with Unca Johnny back during Franklin's time in the Void.*
* Phil's story is recounted in AGC 12 and 13, VANISHING STORMS
Beside him sat a young woman named Canticle, a woman who had been kept alive by ISAAC, the Supreme Intelligence, the super computer that ran Titan 3.* Franklin had rescued her from it's grasp and she had decided to stay with him.** She was still skittish, but, Franklin readily admitted, easily the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
* See AGC 1, 5, 8 & 9 for details
** In AGC 11, Fragmented Balance, Part Six
In the middle stood Astoria, an Elder of the Universe who's pursuit was myth. It was she that had concocted this plan that they now followed, but Franklin was sure he would have thought of it himself, eventually, because it was a very good plan. She was responsible for recruiting the Cosmic Flame* and Eros.**
* AGC 14
** AGC 12
Beside Astoria sat two of her creations, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. They spent most of their time arguing, though both had been smart enough to stop after making Franklin angry the first time.
Eros, a fat disgusting slob who's only function in life was to eat, drink and have sex with as many women as possible, drank deeply from a flagon of Jack Daniels that Franklin had generously refilled thirty times over in the past few days. It was the only alcohol he had ever tasted in his life and he found it deeply disturbing that anyone would put that willingly into their body. Franklin had decided quite quickly that he did not want Eros around, but Astoria had talked him out of removing him. "He's very important, you shall see. The fact that all he does is eat, drink and have sex with as many women as possible is exactly what we need," she kept repeating and once Franklin found he could keep him silent by letting him drink himself into a fog, he agreed.
That was the motley crew from which he would build his Empire: an Elder of the Universe, a dysfunctional Herald of Galactus, a woman who looked sixteen, but was closer to 200, a hedonist and two holiday myths from Earth.
"This will be perfect," Astoria said from the bubble behind him. "No one comes here anymore. We shall have free reign to do whatever it is you desire us to do."
"Yes, I suppose," Franklin agreed, not bothering to turn around and look.
"You are the Balance, after all," Astoria continued.
"Yes, I am the Balance," Franklin answered, knowing he had his work cut out for him. Especially with the twisted Muppet troops behind him.
THOR ODINSON HALL OF PEACE - MEETING HALL
"So you see, Balder, Moonstar is a Valkyrie and Captain America, well, we don't want a traitor to the human race speaking for us on this Council."
King Balder tried to control his anger - not an easy task. He was confronted with a Bureaucrat, a military General and an Earthbound hero. They were quite adamant. "I fail to see how one can call Captain America a traitor. He hath taken the greatest mantle in our Universe, that of Cosmic Protector. Perhaps thou are not aware of the current dilemma the Everything finds itself embroiled in."
"Yes, dilemma, Thanos and all that," the Bureaucrat smiled politely. Her name was Sandra Almond and she wore a sharp business suit with a knee length skirt, professionally tailored, Dani thought. Slick. Political. Sharp. "I needn't remind you, yet again, I am certain, King Balder, that my title is that of United Nations Non-Human Political Affairs Liaison. As such, I am quite well versed in the … affairs of Thanos the 'Mad Titan' and his plan to 'end all life'. That is, I am well versed in the intelligence that somehow filters down to the planet Earth."
"Non-Human Political Affairs," Dani scoffed. "That mean you take care of mutants, too?"
Miss Almond turned, her long dark hair pulled tight behind her head. Her glasses were thin - 'Probably doesn't even require them for reading,' Dani continued, finding an innumerable amount of ways to cut this woman apart. "I am a mutant, Miss Moonstar," she said icily. "You may forget, up here in your palace in the sky, that mutants and humans have long since come to peace with each other. Things are not perfect, even after all these years, of course, but mutants are no more outcast than whites or yellows or reds or blacks or Catholics or Muslims or any sub-genre of humanity."
Dani's eyes flashed in anger, but Balder cut her off, "Still, Miss Almond, your request is, you admit, something of a surprise. Earth has never been in favor of a direct alliance with the Council."
"Times change," Miss Almond said again, smiling politely. Again.
'Times may change,' Dani thought, 'but politicians don't.' Disgusted by Miss Almond's continued existence, she turned her attention to the UN Military General and the hero. The General was stereotypical General - old, gruff, hard face, continually blood shot eyes. It was a reminder that things were not easy down on Earth and hadn't been for close to a century and a half. Not since the so-called Abandonment, at least.
The hero was someone she wasn't familiar with, which was something of a surprise since he was an older hero. Not elderly, but a veteran, a man in the prime of his career, a man who looked like he'd seen his share of battles. Dani didn't like him, but, she had to admit, she wasn't inclined to like anyone today. The primary cause of her disapproval was because he draped himself in the image of the American flag - a sore point given her relationship with Steve. His costume was red with white highlights at the belt, gloves and boots. An 'A', made in red stars surrounded by a white circle, adorned his chest - the symbol of the United States colonies. The cape that swirled around him was blue with white stars. His red mask had a white star on the forehead where Steve's had the letter 'A'. There was no shield at his side, but there was a sword.
She looked at his face and found him staring at her, smiling kindly. Unfazed, she held his gaze until he turned back to look at Balder and Miss Almond.
"There was a time when we wanted nothing to do with your Eternal War," Miss Almond continued, "but we have recently come to the conclusion that you're not doing so well. As such, we want to make sure the citizens of Earth have a say in these proceedings since Thanos has taken such an interest in our planet in previous years."
"The War goes as well as can be expected," Balder reservedly answered.
"I'm sure," Miss Almond smiled. "But you undoubtedly will call upon us for assistance when you have need of it. Earth still has a high superhero population, higher, on average, than any of the other worlds in your Council."
"Tis true," Balder admitted.
"So it's settled, then," Miss Almond said confidently. "The United Nations chosen delegate for the Earth Ambassador will be Empire, here," she motioned to the hero, "and I will stay on as his advisor."
"And the General?" Dani asked.
Miss Almond didn't turn from Balder's gaze, "He will return to Earth, but we wanted you to see who will be advising Empire on military affairs." The General nodded, forced a smile, but didn't say anything. She continued to smile. Dani continued to want to punch her in the face. "When shall we move in?"
Balder sighed, "It's not that easy, Miss Almond. A meeting of the Council must be called. A seat on the Council is a high honor, with great responsibility, and membership is given out sparingly."
"King Balder-"
"Nay, Miss Almond, wait until I hath finished," Balder said gently, but firmly. "I do not agree with your assessment of Captain America and Moonstar the Valkyrie as traitors, but I do agree that Earth is deserving of a seat on the Council."
'Wonderful,' Dani thought.
"But although I lead our side in the Eternal War, the Council votes as a democracy on matters such as this." He turned to Dani, "Call the Council to Assembly," then back to Miss Almond. "Thou will need to impress some wildly different people, Miss Almond."
"Thank you, Balder," she smiled. Dani was convinced the smile never left her face so long as anyone was around. Maybe that was her mutant power.
NECROPOLIS - CRUCIFIXION ROW
"This had better not be a waste of time, Ikaris," Thanos glowered as the Earth Eternal descended down a long dirt path to Crucifixion Row. Men, women and children hung on crosses as far forward as the eye could see, waiting for Death to come claim them. Fire burned from lava pits at their feet, cracks in the crust of Necropolis that only hinted at the raging fire within this Realm.
"Spare me your threats, Thanos," Ikaris said proudly. "I am not some boy frightened by your glowing eyes and gravelly voice. I am ruler of the Eternals!"
"You are a bigger fool than any child I have ever sacrificed to Mistress Death," Thanos responded.
"You waste your breath, Thanos," Ikaris shot back as he came to stand before the Space Eternal. "We may be allies in this War, and I may fight under your command, but I am no puppet for you to control and no dog who will cower at a raised voice."
Thanos growled low in his throat, but chose not to continue the argument. The Eternals and Deviants both were valued soldiers in his crusade, far better as allies than as enemies. "Then tell me what you want, Ikaris, so I can stop being bored by your presence."
Ikaris smiled thinly, loving the temporary victory over Thanos. The Titan was far too elitist for his own good. "Intelligence reports from the Fantastic Colonies report that Captain America is heading for the planet Ondur'ra."
"This means what to me?"
"Ondur'ra is a wealthy planet, Thanos."
"Bah! Money is of no concern to Thanos."
"You misunderstand. It is an environmental paradise, rich in minerals. If we could take Ondur'ra we could populate it with your Deviant drones to strip and bring us valuable resources to build and power our warships and battlements." Ikaris decided to press his luck, "Or perhaps the Eternals shall take it as their new home, if I decide it's beauty is fitting enough for the gods of the New Everything."
"If it is so valuable, boy, why have I not taken it before now?" Thanos' voice rose in anger.
"The Everything is a large place, Thanos, so surely you forget that we have tried, on several occasions, to take Ondur'ra and every time we have tried, the men we have sent have not returned. We do not know why. If you paid more attention to your intelligence reports-"
"I pay attention only to that which interests me!" he boomed. "Failure does not interest me! If you want to go to Ondur'ra, Ikaris, go, but do not wrap your desires into a package that has appeal to me. Admit that you go for one reason … to destroy Captain America and end your personal feud with his death."
Ikaris smiled as he turned to walk away, his eyes glowing bright red, "Oh, yes. There's that, too."
THOR ODINSON HALL OF PEACE - ASSEMBLY HALL
Miss Almond, the military General whose name no one had gotten and Empire, the Earthen hero, stood at the foot of the large wooden table, presenting their case to the Council. The Council sat and listened, giving her their full attention. While Ash'lin and Kovar did not like to admit the power that Earth possessed in it's heroes, they were aware that adding an arsenal like that directly to the front lines could tip the scales in this stalemate to their favor.
Balder watched those that sat at the table: Dani Moonstar the Valkyrie, representing Asgard, Ash'lin of the Shi'ar, Kovar the Accuser of the Kree, Skrull 4 of the Skrulls and Beta Ray Bill, who served an advisory role as the Council's Historian. Captain America, who had a seat at the table but was on a mission to the Fantastic Colonies was not present and they hadn't been able to reach him.
"Excuse me," Ash'lin of the Shi'ar interrupted Miss Almond's pitch, "but why should we agree to let you have a seat on this Council?"
"Because of the heroes we can provide, of course," Miss Almond said matter-of-factly through her smile.
"But they will aid us, anyway," Kovar spat. "Or they will die at the hands of Thanos!"
Miss Almond met the Accuser's gaze," Thanos had made deals with other forms of life, correct? The Eternals, the Deviants, the Wraiths … perhaps if you are not willing to take our assistance, Thanos will."
Dani, Ash'lin and Kovar exploded out of their seats, shouting at the Earth contingent at the top of their lungs. Balder and Beta Ray Bill exchanged a questioning glance, Were they serious? Or was this a bluff? Only Skrull 4 sat silently, as he almost always did, seemingly lost in his brown robes.
"Please, settle down," Miss Almond assured. "That's not a threat, just a long term analysis. Earth will do what's best for Earth's survival, as will any race here, I'm sure. But even though many of our heroes abandoned us long ago and it did take years for the superhero community to restock itself, we have more superpowered individuals now than we ever have before. One in every three children born has latent mutant abilities and all signs indicate no lessening of that ratio. Likewise, our scientists are still among the brightest in the universe."
"I wish to hear from Empire," Balder spoke, regaining control of the meeting by his voice alone. "For it is he who will sit at this table, after all. As the advisors and staff the other members of the Council retain, Miss Almond, thou will not be permitted to sit in these chambers during Assemblage."
"Yes, I know that," she smiled, "but like I said, I am here in an advisory role only. My job was to get Empire seated on the Council. The United Nations is completely confident in his abilities once seated. Empire?"
"Thank you, Miss Almond," Empire nodded, smiling politely. He strode to the edge of the table and met each member of the Council in turn as he spoke. "You may call me Empire," he began, his voice rich and commanding. "I am a hero on the planet Earth, though those of you who are familiar with the hero scene on my planet will likely not have heard of me. Up until several months ago I went by another name, Eagle One, but when I was chosen to represent the Empire of the United States on the United Nations sanctioned super hero team I was given this identity. Our team represents the world at large and we are called the Saviors. A bit too theatrical, I must admit," he turned and shot Miss Almond a look, endearing him to Dani, "but we held a worldwide vote and that's what won.
"The people on Earth need heroes these days. They need something to believe in and if the Saviors, a mix of heroes from across the globe, can help provide it than it doesn’t matter what we're called. Earth is in bad shape, some say the worst shape it's ever been in. There are four superpowers: the Empire of the United States, China, Soviet Europe and the CDK, the Confederation of Desert Kingdoms. They make up most of the land mass. The Atlanteans, who live under the water, ignore all efforts at communication. They haven’t been seen for fifty years, though one serves with us in the Saviors, against the wishes of his people.
"Our environment is irrevocably damaged, only 10% of the water is safe to drink without being run through expensive purifiers. I'm sure, though Miss Almond is too proud to say it, that what we want most of all from our seat on the Council is aid. We don’t want handouts, far from it. But if there's a clean water supply out there that can be used, we'd sure appreciate being told about it so we can send some cargo ships to go get some and bring it back to those that need it. Which, unfortunately, is most of the planet.
"I bring years of experience as a super hero to the table, including victories against the Wraiths and Deviants, as well as many battles with other cosmic entities. I believe, Kovar, that the man you succeeded as Kree Accuser tasted defeat at my hands, as well, though," he was quick to add seeing Kovar start to rise, "it was a glorious battle and victory was mine through luck as much as through skill.
"I know things, too, that Miss Almond and the United Nations doesn't," he smirked, causing Miss Almond to rise in consternation. "While I may not be the man that Captain America is, I humbly submit that I will be an added member of the Council, both for my wisdom," he looked to Dani, Beta Ray Bill and Balder, before turning to Ash'lin and Kovar, "and the might I can bring to bear behind me."
Empire paused, looking at each member in turn once again, before stepping back and letting Miss Almond come back to the edge. "Shall we leave you to your discussions, or are you ready to vote?"
"Leave us," Balder announced with a smile. "We shall deliberate as quickly as we can, but also as fully as we need-"
"The Shi'ar call for an immediate vote!" Ash'lin announced, standing up and banging her fist on the table. "And we vote in favor of Earth's seat on this Council!"
"Very well," Balder said cautiously, unsure of Ash'lin's instant acceptance and unhappy that she wanted a vote without a discussion that included Captain America. Which is probably what fueled her wish for an instant vote - Steve Rogers had a way of convincing everyone to his position and no one hear quite knew what his opinion on this would be. Balder thought it would be for Earth's inclusion, but Ash'lin, apparently, hadn't wanted to take the chance. "That is your right, unless there is any objections?"
There were none, though a scowl formed on Moonstar's face.
"The Skrull vote yes," Skrull 4 said softly. "We owe the planet Earth a large debt for allowing many Skrull refugees a haven in the past. While we have yet to return to our full-strength, we would be even less without the assistance of Earth."
"The Kree vote yes, provided the Earth embargo on alien visitors is lifted," Kovar said roughly. "If you open your ports to the Kree, we shall agree to your seat on this Council."
"I have been authorized to grant a small tourist trade," Miss Almond said pleasantly, knowing that the Kree long lusted after Earth's mutant population to spike their own stagnant DNA. "And we thank you for your vote. How does Asgard vote?"
Dani stood up, looking Miss Almond square in the eye, so there was no doubting her words, "Asgard votes yes, with the reminder to Earth that it can be voted off the Council as easily as it was voted on."
"It is settled, then," Balder announced, rising to his feet. "Rise, everyone," he ordered and they all stood. "Salute Earth, our newest ally in the Eternal War! For Earth!"
"For Earth!" the Council members boomed, looking to Empire and Miss Almond.
"Thank you," Miss Almond answered, her smile, for once, gone.
FOR EARTH
NEXT ISSUE: AVENGERS WITHOUT CONSENT
Captain America's body rolled easily over onto his back as he began to fall through the atmosphere towards the planet's surface.
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