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Two years have passed since the war to end all wars was finished. Two years since Earths best
and brightest and Mightiest heroes all fought off a horrific evil that sought to consume the entire
world. Now , in the year 2011 a new threat has reared its head. One of alien and decidedly evil
design. This time the world is unprepared, but even so the Earths first and best hope lies with the
aging heroes known as ...The Avengers!
They came in the morning with the sunshine of a new day. Thousands of them. They filled the
sky like locusts . Inside vehicles little larger then a car. Fast , efficient and deadly, they avoided
all forms of detection from our battered and weary forces world wide. Washington DC was
devastated in a matter of minutes. The capitol is rubble. The pentagon , leveled cleanly. Our
fighters scrambled to attack them, but they were to fast, and to small. While our forces did their
fair share of damage against the invaders, they were hopelessly out gunned. It was over very
quickly. Lord only knows how the rest of the world made out. I know I can still hear the screams
of the children and women , as these alien bastards herded them like cattle into huge ships that
vacuumed them up like dirt. Or so I believe. I was buried in rubble here, what little I've seen
through these shattered walls has frozen me with grief and anger. If the rest of the world has
suffered the same fate.....
I try not to think about this as something shifts above me in the shattered and blasted hallways
surrounding what may be my final resting place. Who are these invaders? Like no one I've ever
seen, that's for sure. I've been across galaxies, seen alien worlds almost to numerous to
remember fully, but never have I seen so ruthless and determined a foe. They treat the people
like .....like insects! Like humanity was a bug to be crushed. Vermin.
Again I push with all my might against the ceiling that pins my back and again I hear it give just
a little , but then the pain, the agony becomes to much, and I pass out. Mercifully.
My mind wanders back to the treaties signed with the Skrulls , the Kree, and the Shiar. All in the
past two years. We all agreed on universal non-interference. In our case, it was a bargain. The
Earth was devastated by the War of 2009, and we knew we wouldn't survive an outside attack,
especially at that time. The treaty was actually the idea of the Cosmic Heroes who assembled to
defeat Surtur in the wars waning and defining moments. They suggested that the Earth was now
ripe for conquest, but a show of power might avoid that.
We showed them. We showed them all. We showed them holographics of how we defended our
homes from attack, of how we marched through Mexico city, forcing the enemy back. Of how
we drove them from the jungle paradise known as the Savage Land. As well as the African
Nation of Wakanda. We showed them all. And they collectively shuddered.
"If you would make war like this upon your own kind...." Stammered Lilandra Neramani of the
Shiar, while the Kree and the Skrull merely nodded to themselves and agreed to the terms of a
non-interference pact.
Then the rebuilding began. The Avengers themselves , as well as the Fantastic Four and the
Defenders all joined in. In two years we had made such progress. I shudder to think of what is
left right now. God and Country! What about my friends and team mates? Are they even alive?
How will I know?
Again the images in my mind waver and change, as delirium invades my perceptions. How many
hours have I been trapped here? Or is it days? My mind reels in agony. The atrocities I imagine
they commit against my people, all people. My stomach turns as I feel bile well up inside of me.
I awaken choking . My rasping , hacking cough is the only sound reverberating off of what is left
of the walls.
Then I hear the vibration again. The damnable low pitched hum that shakes the rubble around
me and rattles me to my fillings. Again the shadow comes and covers everything with it's evil
presence. My world has become nothing more then horrible snatches of waking hell, combined
with the nightmares of the last day while I sleep restlessly. And that damned hum! I hear more
rubble shift as the vibration causes already precarious debris to tumble down again. Then I hear
something fall to the ground. Something that was hanging on one of the few remaining walls.
With a loud clang it drops . And I see it. The circular shape and design set my heart to pumping
faster and faster, as I watch a part of me appear suddenly before my weary eyes.
Then another sound intrudes upon my silent, hellish reverie. The sound of heavy bootfalls. A
clanging metallic sound, accompanied by a wet gurgling sound almost as if whoever was here
was breathing through liquid. Then I see the owner of the foot steps, and my heart skips a beat
with revulsion. It wears a blue-black suit of armor, carrying a weapon of out of nightmare! A
long barreled energy throwing gun of some sort, with a glowing , ragged blade mounted to its
tip. The tentacles that enwrap the gun almost caress it lovingly. The opaque face mask seems to
shift and move on its own. What are these beings? These soul less invaders? Then I suddenly see
it (Him? Her? Is there even a difference where they're concerned?)seemingly slide across the
room with nary a movement, to return a moment later dragging a kicking and screaming woman
with it, wrapped in its horrific tentacles. It stares at her, cocking its head to the side slightly, as if
trying to discern what she is, as one might do to a strange piece of meat found on your dinner
plate.
I must be hallucinating, this can't be happening . What are these things? Where did they come
from? What do they want?
I recognize the woman now, it's Mary Sellers from the tour office. My God what is this thing
doing to her? I can't see her completely from where I am, but her sobbing! It's ...it's My GOD!
She's disappearing! Her skin is folding in upon itself, as if her insides were being sucked out of
her! NO!
With a roar like the fiercest Lion, I stretch my muscles to the breaking point and beyond!
Muscles honed every day of my long adult life, even up until this morning for two whole hours
of rigorous training! The things devilish head turns toward the sound of my voice, as finally ,
after almost a day of being trapped here,I Push what must be a ton and a half of debris off of me
as if it were paper! That shouldn't even be possible, and yet I do it! Such is my anger and
revulsion at this invaders presence. They say great men do great things in times of need. I don't
consider myself to be great, just a man doing the job he was born to do, and nothing more. A job
I have forsaken for two long years as another calling had entered my life. I realize now what a
mistake that has been, as I roll across the floor, this beasts energy weapon firing after me and
missing every time.
My right hand stabs outwards and grabs the round disk that tumbled to the ground moments
earlier. The red white and blue symbol of myself and so much more. In a motion like lightning I
hurl the shield out, to see it smack into my enemy, and rebound, landing in my outstretched hand
like a part of myself that was missing, and has now returned. You see for the past two years I've
gone by my given name, Steve Rogers, President of the United States of America. But Now I
once again I am the man I was created to be,
I stand before this monstrosity , wearing rags . My dress shirt is in tatters about me, my suit pants
hang on me with gaping holes. I must look horrendous. The thing before me raises its weapon
again and makes a sound that I can only call a giggle, then it fires! With a motion that surprises
even myself, I raise my shield up to deflect the wave of force upwards to the ceiling over the
things head, burying it where it stands!
I walk over to the spot the beast last disappeared beneath, searching for any trace of it. And I
find one, or rather it finds me.
Serpent-like, its tentacles wrap themselves around my legs and pull me through the floor, to the level below. I snap my shield down on top of the tentacles, severing three of them instantly, as I backflip away, kicking the thing in mid air. I land effortlessly , as the monster throws itself towards me , chittering like some B-Movie boogie man. In another time, I would have ducked below and flipped the enemy over my shoulder, but not tonight. This is war, and if there was something I learned during the great war of 2009, it was that during war time the rules change. It was something I knew a lifetime ago, and had forgotten, or maybe I had chosen to forget . I don't really recall. All I know is that this is war. And in war, God help me, soldiers KILL!
I jab upwards , with all my prodigious strength, using the cutting edge of my shield, as I haven't
done in years. I slice through this things armor, and out the other side, as ichor oozes over me.
The two halves of its body tumble down separately, falling to the ground out of sync with each
other, with a wet "Plop, plop" sound.
I stand in the corner of the room, away from the dead thing , and I throw up. For a long time.
Finally, after many minutes, my mind clears as I make my way to a basement level that was
untouched by the assault. There I quickly shower, scrubbing the slime of this creatures internals
off of me. Once done I quickly make my way to what remains of my bedroom. It is mostly
demolished, but I find what I was looking for. I don my familiar costume , and now finally,
Steve Rogers, Politician and President is truly gone, and in his place , for the first time in two
years is Captain America!
I make my way cautiously through the rubble, to the outside. There the huge humming ship sits
over head. Vacuuming up survivors like an insane electrolux. The warriors of this race fill the
street, herding the silent people forwards, their heads held low, like cattle to the slaughter. I
bring my arm back to hurl my shield at the closest oppressor, when suddenly a missile from on
high streaks past me, followed by a thunderous and booming voice:
"Have at thee alien scum, verily will thou rue the day thou didst decide to attack the home and
hearth of Thor, God of Thunder!"
Ba-KOOOM!
Thors hammer shatters the ships hull, sending it crashing to the pavement, I spin as I see several
other Avengers descend from the clouds behind the God of Thunder! The wraith-like form of the
Vision silently flies through a dozen grasping straining aliens, as he disrupts their bodies,
dropping them into unconsciousness, or worse!
Behind the Vision, War Machine and Ms Marvel , followed by Namor the Sub-Mariner himself,
attack the enemy forces, as lastly, a battered and broken Quinjet drops from the clouds , to allow
the diminutive forms of Yellow Jacket and the Wasp egress to the battle itself!
With a whoop of joy I leap into battle, kicking a heavy suited alien hard in the chest, as War
Machine salutes me as he nails another with a repulser blast.
"Glad to see you among us again President Cap." War Machine speaks , between deadly blasts of
power.
"I'm just happy to see you hero. Where are the rest?" I ask, as my shield slices through yet
another putrid alien thing.
"Monica's * back west, holdin' the fort down, or at least tryin' to. Herc and a few others are with
her. But we can't raise Hawkeye on the com-cards, or Iron Man for that matter."
*Monica is Photon, War Machines Wife.
"Not good Jim."
Behind me I see the Vision suddenly change tactics, as he becomes diamond hard and begins
pummeling his enemies with his incredible strength. Their energy bolts seem to splash off his
dense form as he silently wades through them. Then I realize who is missing.
"Jim, where's Wanda?"
"We don't know Cap. She disappeared in the first attack. Vizh is tearin' himself apart over it. We
don't know if she's alive or dead, she's just....gone."
"Okay," I begin, "We'll deal with finding her, or avenging her , and the others if need be later. "
Across the lawn, I see Thor smashing his way into the great ship, freeing prisoners, and
decimating the vessel until there is nothing but scraps of alien metal filling the lawn. I decide
this battle is won, and that it's time to clear out before the reinforcements arrive.
"Good job team, now lets get to a safe haven and regroup. These people are free, abut we're not
out of the woods yet."
They all surround me, my friends and team mates. Yellowjacket smiles that smile of his, I
Imagine the once blonde hair beneath his cowl, as it appears now, mostly grey. Jan, still as cute
as ever, even though wrinkles now cover her diminutive face. The Visions continued silence is
all he has to ad to the grouping, as Thor grasps my shoulder in one powerful hand.
"Tis good to see thee again my friend. In truth we would have been here sooner, but not for the
resistance we encountered o'er Maryland."
"I'm just glad you all showed up when you did."
Namor nods grimly, as his eyes meet Ms Marvels and we all silently head off to the Quinjet.
"Where do you suggest we go Cap? I don't think going back to the Bunker is a good idea right
now."
"Neither do I Hank. But I have a suggestion, and it's not to far from here, to the west...."
And all our eyes turn skyward as we hear the sound of the enemy approaching. Quickly we all
enter the damaged Quinjet , and jet away, into the western sky.......
Next : Haven
Well gang, it's finally here. It's been over a year, but the future Avengers are back, and in more
trouble then ever. This series is something that's been brewing in my mind since before the end
of 2009, so expect some scary moments here as the Mighty Avengers face the most horrific foe
of their careers.
Let me know what you all think.
Ralph
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