Chapter 56: Let's Siege the Moon

The Avengers

Captain America (Steve Rodgers) - Sentinel of Liberty

Hawkeye (Clint Barton) - Unerring Marksman

Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) - Kree/Human Binary Hybrid

She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters) - Gamma Powerhouse

Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes) - Hell's Rider

Nova (Sam Alexander) - Galactic Centurion

The Shadowlands.

Todd: It's now or never Sam. You ready?

Sam: No but I don't know if I'll ever be.

Todd: I'll take that as a yes. I'm going to push you back into your mind, to the spot you left when you were sent here. That's where the Maw is and how he is controlling your body. Kick his ass kid.

Outside Avengers Mansion. The Avengers are shifting debris to reach the quinjet stored in the mansion's lower levels. Nova is not doing the lifting but is instead watching Black Swan.

Nova: I can trigger your collar any time I want Swan. This body has so many tricks for me to use, one you should be concerned about is the focused gravity pulse. One of those to your collar and...well I would stay quiet.

Black Swan: Do you think I fear death Maw?

Nova: Of course you do. I know who you are and what you have done Swan. It was all to have more of this precious life. You'll do anything to stay alive. And staying silent is nothing compared to your past crimes. Perhaps I...

Nova stops talking and simply stands still.

Blank space. The Ebony Maw finds himself standing in whiteness. He looks around in confusion.

Ebony Maw: What is this?

Sam Alexander appears in front of him.

Sam: This is me, kicking your ass and getting my body back.

Ebony Maw: Sam you cannot possibly have any chance of-

The Maw is cut off as Sam punches him in the face.

Sam: Shut up! SHUT UP! You don't get to make me feel that bad again!

The Maw falls the floor and Sam kicks him again and again.

Sam: I'm Nova. You hear me? I messed up but I'm still Nova! I'm still an Avenger! And you...you can go to hell.

The Nova uniform forms around Sam and he picks up the Maw, he throws him towards a black portal that has opened up.

Ebony Maw: NNNOOOOOO!

Todd leaps through and the portal vanishes.

Todd: So that's your superhero outfit huh? Can't say I'm a fan of the helmet. But you did it. You'll find your back in control any second now. However as for me coming through it might be-

New York. Hawkeye and Ghost Rider stand in front of Nova. Nova is on the floor unconscious. Hawkeye aims an arrow at the Black Swans head.

Hawkeye: What did you do?!

Black Swan: This is not my doing.

Nova's eyes open. He sits up.

Nova: Hey guys. Sorry about that. Had to take my mind back. Took me AUUUHHH!

Sam vomits out some shadows that form into the shape of a man.

Ghost Rider: What the hell?!

Todd: Hi, I'm Todd. I helped Sam get his body back.

Nova: Long story.

Hawkeye: Then you'd best explain fast.

The Moon Fort. Proxima Midnight prowls through the fortress corridors. She stops and sniffs.

Proxima: I have your sent.

She keeps moving and then turns a corner. What she sees stops her in her tracks and Proxima's face twists with disappointment.

Captain Marvel is unconscious on the ground and not moving.

Proxima: I had heard much about you; the Kree Binary experiment. I had hoped you would be a challenge for me. Clearly I was mistaken.

She approaches Captain Marvel and pokes her with her spear. But then Captain Marvels eyes snap open, she grabs the tip of the spear with both hands.

Captain Marvel: It's called playing possum!

Proxima: Let go!

Captain Marvel: Not a chance! This spear is energy right? What happens if I absorb it?

Proxima: No! You cannot-

But she does. Proxima's spear shatters and the energy is absorbed into Captain Marvel. She glows bright and floats above the ground grinning.

Captain Marvel: I don't know what's in that spear but it's just what I needed! I'm back to full strength. Guess what that means?

Five floors up. An alien soldier is woken up as Proxima Midnight crashes through his floor and the ceiling.

Fifteen floors up. Proxima Midnight has finally lost enough momentum so that when she hits this ceiling she doesn't pass through. She bounces off and onto the floor where she doesn't move.

New York. The Avengers have finished hearing Nova recount his story.

She-Hulk: That's a story...we had no idea you felt like that Sam. If we'd known... Sometimes we're so busy taking care of everyone else we forget to look after our own.

Hawkeye: I hate to be that guy but we don't have time to chat. We'll talk later though. But now everyone onto the jet. It was Todd wasn't it? Are you sure you're up for this? It sounds like you've been through a lot.

Todd: I'm a superhero too, how could I not help out? Just wish I could remember my name...Shadow no that's not it...Sentinel no...Midnight? Never mind it'll come back to me.

Todd forms a black outfit onto him with a black cape. He heads onto the quinjet with the other Avengers. Except Nova. He doesn't go on.

Hawkeye: Nova come on!

Nova: I think I've still got some residual knowledge from the Maw spinning around my head. The stuff he was last thinking about. Corvus Glaive is paranoid about this exact thing happening; someone using one of his order to get on board. Throughout the fortress they have checkpoints with traps and stuff designed to stop us. The Maw was going to turn you guys loose as a distraction for him. But I know a way around. I keep them busy.

Hawkeye: Keep them busy? Nova that station is the size of a country!

Nova: It's not something I'm thrilled at fighting. But if I don't we're screwed. Which means everyone is screwed. I'm Nova. I can do this.

Hawkeye studies Nova for a second. The doubt, the lack of confidence is gone. Nova is standing tall and is ready to go.

Hawkeye: I had my doubts about you when you joined. I didn't think you had what it takes. But I was wrong. You are an Avenger.

Nova: Finally starting to feel like one too.

The Moonfort. Alien soldiers are flung by a blast of energy from Captain Marvel. She grabs one and thrusts a charged fist in his face.

Captain Marvel: The prisoners. Where?!

Alien: Level 3, Central Core. Turn left at the fountain. But you'll need access to-AAAHHH!

She throws him into a wall.

Level 3. The cells are protected by a metal door several feet thick. It takes Captain Marvel three punches too knock it off its hinges. She walks inside and grins.

Captain Marvel: I've got your clearance right here.

The heroes within are not contained in cells. Rather they are all simply lying down with ropes made of energy all linking them to one sphere. Within the sphere she can see images of the various captured heroes battling waves of monsters.

Captain Marvel: What is-

Stellaris: They are prisoners of the Black Order. Trapped in the games of the Grandmaster. Once these games have begun they can only be ended until the game has run its course or the games master wills the games to end. I am the games master and I will not allow this, thus they trapped for good. Their minds kept occupied keeping their bodies chained. They-

Captain Marvel: You love to talk don't you?

Stellaris: You would be wise to listen. For you do not want to fight me. I am Stellaris. I am a hunter of Celestials. My armor can-

Captain Marvel blasts Stellaris. Stellaris's armor shatters and she is flung across the cell. She was out the moment she was struck.

Captain Marvel: Hunter of Celestials huh? Might want to consider a career change. And as for you all hold on. I'll have you out of here in a minute.

Captain Marvel approaches the sphere, her eyes glow as she scans the sphere.

Captain Marvel: It's energy, I can control energy. This should be easy.

She grabs the sphere and pushes pulses of energy into the sphere.

The throne room of Corvus Glaive. Corvus paces in front of his throne, Black Dwarf and Titanus enter.

Black Dwarf: Brother. We have-

Corvus: Where is she? Where is Proxima? Her hunt cannot be taking this long, she must-

Black Dwarf: Were you not the one who told me to not worry about our women? That they are more powerful than us?

Titanus: Then you both perhaps.

Corvus: Watch your tongue Titanus! Brother find Supergiant, have her track down Proxima and-

Doctor Doom strides into the throne room as if he owns the place.

Doctor Doom: So this is your throne. How... quaint.

Corvus: What is this one doing here? How did-

Titanus: We tried to explain before you began mewling about your woman. This human has come to join us. He breached our shields and-

Doctor Doom: I am more capable of explaining then you Skrull. For a long time I have sought to control this world. I have failed many times. And now I am faced with a power I cannot best. Your power. Thus I must compromise. You can have the Earth. I just want my Latveria. I will forgive your strike against my people and join the Black Order. In exchange for Latveria I will assist you with taking the Earth.

Corvus grins.

Corvus: Brother go to Supergiant, Titanus and I shall be sufficient here.

Black Dwarf leaves.

Corvus: The famous Victor Von Doom begging to join me.

Doctor Doom: Not begging. Never begging.

Corvus: You can call it what you like and I will do the same. You wish to join my Order do you? We are a culture of strength. Prove you have what is required. Defeat Titanus and you shall have a place here.

Titanus steps down in front of Doom. The armor clad Skrull dwarfs Doom.

Doom: Very well.

Doom begins to charge up a spell as Titanus charges him.

Level three. Captain Marvel falls to her knees. She is covered in sweat and pants heavily. She can see down into the floor and watches the heroes fight as if they are on a screen but try as she might she cannot bring them back.

Captain Marvel: I can't...weaves are too complex...shifting.

Then she hears the sounds of guns firing echoing throughout the fortress.

Space. The quinjet exits Earths atmosphere. Nova, who was riding on top of the quinjet leaps off and accelerates towards the Moon.

Nova: Wait here!

Nova rockets towards the base. The guns turn and aim at him and then fire. Nova does a barrel role dodging the first projectile that heads his way. He then fires a gravimetric pulse at the projectile that envelops it, he swings it towards the other projectiles. There is a huge explosion and Nova flies right through it towards the Fortress.

Nova: That it? That all you got?! COME ON!

The guns fire again and Nova charges up some power in his hands. He flies towards the fortress.

The quinjet spins up it's engines and flies towards the station.

Hawkeye: You're up Swan.

Black Swan grabs a microphone and speaks into it.

Black Swan: This is Black Swan. Access code Corvus-5, Cabal-2, Worlds-57. Open the docking doors.

The jet flies into the fortress without incident. They see Nova still holding off the guns. But as they enter the station something flies past them and out the docking bay doors as fast as it can. It's Captain Marvel.

She-Hulk: That was Captain Marvel! I thought they captured her at the Peak. Maybe she escaped!

Todd: Then why is she running?

Black Swan: Perhaps she is a coward.

Hawkeye: She's many things but not that. She's got a reason. Now you shut up and take us to our friends.

The five of them step out of the quinjet and head into the fortress.

Supergiant's quarters. Black Dwarf knocks on the door.

Black Dwarf: Supergiant! Corvus summons you, we need you to-

Inside the quarters Supergiant doesn't hear him. She is busy draining more mutant mental energy. She laughs as she gorges on their memories and experiences.

Supergiant: More! More! MORE!

The throne room. A burnt and smoking Titanus falls to the floor. He's dead. Doom stares up at Corvus.

Doom: Does that meet your expectations?

Corvus' grin fades and a snarl replaces it.

Corvus: What do you want Doom? Really? We are both kings. Kings do not share power.

Doom: Because you have what I want most. My greatest enemies at your mercy and a knife ready to slit their throats. Give me the knife and I will give you the world.

Corvus: You swear?

Doom: Give me Richards and I will do whatever you wish.

Captain Marvel flies back to Earth and towards the Atlantic Ocean. She hits the water and dives. Once she reaches the bottom of the ocean she has arrived. At the home of the Blue Marvel. She goes inside and within the underwater fortress in a bed and hooked up to many machines is the comatose Spectrum.

Captain Marvel: Hey Monica, sorry it's been a while. Alien invasion...I need to tell you something. I've always said that being Captain Marvel was the most important thing in my life but to tell you the truth it's the only thing in my life. For years I just did this, kept working, kept pushing to get up here. To be one of the big boys, to be part of the A-list. I pushed people aside and then stepped over them to climb higher. And let's not even talk about the stupid things I did to stay there, to continue being relevant. But it was worth it because I could do so much; Avengers, Ultimates, Alpha Flight...it was worth it. But then my powers acted up thanks to that other dimension. And I was terrified. Terrified that I couldn't be Captain Marvel anymore. That I'd only be Carol Danvers. And that's so scary because I don't even know who Carol Danvers is anymore. I've been so focused on Captain Marvel I forgot about her. But then it seemed like I didn't need to worry because my powers were back to normal. But then I couldn't get them out. My friends are dying and I can't save them! And that's...that's what Captain Marvel and Carol Danvers are all about. If I know anything about myself it's that. So I've hit a wall and I can't get past this one. But you can Monica, you can dance through the EM spectrum like it's a night out. That's why I'm giving you all I've got, I'm burning me out to give you a chance. Don't let me down girl.

Captain Marvel lays her hands on top of Spectrum and channels all her power into Spectrum. The fortress is consumed in light.