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!

Avengers 2011: Invasion!

#2

Lines in the sand

By Ralph L. Angelo Jr

The battered and crushed Quinjet makes its way shakily across the treetops, barely skimming them. Here, in the West Virginia forests, the small craft has finally shaken off its pursuers. Within the barely functioning vessel, earths mightiest heroes wearily slump in their respective seats. All save Captain America and Thor, who man the controls of the once mighty ship.

"Are we close Captain? "

"If I remember correctly old friend, I'd have to say yes, particularly close."

Janet Van Dyne-Pym, The Wondrous Wasp joins her team mates at the front of the Quinjet. Her grey streaked hair, and some small crows feet around her eyes betray her age, but since this disaster began two days ago, she hasn't had the time for a touch up. In truth she doesn't need one, she's still beautiful, as her husband, Hank Pym, Yellowjacket will attest to.

"Any luck boys?" She asks simply, the bouncing lilt still in her voice.

"Nay fair Janet, not as of yet but-"

Suddenly Captain America points outwards, to the crafts right side, interrupting Thors sentence.

"There! That billow of smoke."

The Quinjet banks slowly its hydraulics protesting, even at this low speed, to enter a clearing, where a house still burns and smolders.

"Oh my God." whispers the Wasp

"Aye. Indeed", adds Thor, Last of the Asgardians.

"The house, I-its burned to the ground."

"I know Jan," Answers Cap, low and mournfully, " I see these aliens arrived here before us. One of their ships is still over there , destroyed. I can only imagine, who did this to it. Lets land the Quinjet, perhaps Spider-Man and his family got out before this happened. Maybe they're in the woods somewhere nearby."

The Quinjet lands and Thor, Captain America, The Wasp, Yellowjacket, The Vision, and War Machine disembark, followed by Namor and Ms Marvel.

"Okay Team ." Cap begins, "lets scour this area, but at the first sign of trouble contact each other, If these aliens are nearby, I want to know it, and fast. Let's move people."

Ms Marvel turns towards Namor, "Boy, the old ways come back to him fast, don't they?"

Namor nods as they begin picking their way through debris and wreckage. "Yes

Carol, he is a soldier, a leader of men. This comes naturally to him. I have served with Steve Rogers for many years, in many different conflicts. Sometimes fighting against him, moreso fighting at his side. No braver or battle ready man exists. Anywhere."

"And to think," She begins with a slight smile, "If not for you, he'd still be frozen in a block of ice."

Namor says nothing, as he sweeps away wreckage, suddenly revealing...

"A steel plate of some kind! What is this? This is no normal addition to a surface dwellers home."

The other Avengers come quickly, within minutes, the steel plate is cleared away of debris, revealing a massive hatch.

"Tis a doorway of some kind, Verily, the Odinson will not be denied!"

Ba-ROOOOM!

Thor slams Mjolnir down, with all his legendary might upon the strange, steel hatch. But...

"Unbelievable. It must be pure Adamantium."

"Aye Yellowjacket, but the God of Thunder will gain egress!."

Thor raises his hammer yet again, but then the Vision intervenes.

"Wait Thor." Is all the Vision says, as he silently slips through the steel plate intangibly . An instant later , the hatch unlatches from below, as they all make their way below ground, to seal the panel behind them.

"Good work Vision."

"Thank you Captain." A terse answer is all the Vision makes. He is worried about the disappearance of his wife, his soul mate, The Scarlet Witch. If he saw her now, his worries would be justified.

Aboard the alien command vessel , high above the Earth. Another prisoner is brought aboard, with so many others. Wanda Maximoff has rid herself of her familiar witches garb. To wear standard clothing. She wants to blend in with the crowd of humanity, and she prays no one notices her for who she is. Alien combat suited warriors herd the helpless prisoners into cells , where energized bars keep them at bay. All the while Wanda keeps her silence. She's not finished yet she thinks, but she is inside. This may work to her, and the Avengers advantage. If only she could understand what these invaders were doing here, what they truly wanted.

In the command module of the great craft, one of the armored marauders slides on its viscuous trail up to an ornate chair that sits in the vessels bridge.

*"As you have commanded, so am I here oh great one."

*Translated from the Ca'ShuBak tongue

"You have done well Commander, but tales of resistance have returned to my hearing stalks."

The slug like alien, with it's long tendrils and multi faceted eyes stares down upon the commander, awaiting an answer. Its bile green flesh pulses and moves, seemingly of it's own volition.

"There has been some unexpected resistance, yes my master. It seems there are many on this feasting world, who are ...empowered."

"What say you?" Gurgles the vile creature, as it shifts its weight forward, more like unto a snake sliding forwards, then a mans movement.

"These beings, are more then just baseline sentients. They have a large number of their make up who are above the baseline norm, with varying abilities. They, in conjunction with their armies, are resisting our righteous gathering."

Again the creature on the throne surges forward, this time more like a landslide then anything else.

"Eliminate them all if need be. I will have this world. I will feast upon the inhabitants, and I will have all this planets resources to ad to our own! No matter how poorly you have handled the situation thus far."

The creature upon the throne slides back into its position, silent again, and the Commander, turns and leaves the audience chamber.

Back below ground... The Avengers make their way deeper below the Earths surface, in a well lit cement corridor.

"What's this look like to you Hank, Jim?" Asks Captain America

"Fairly new, according to the tin cans scans Cap, maybe a year or two old at most." Answers War Machine

"Yes Steve, I have to concur as well."

Then, the Wasp flits back towards them, from further down the corridor.

"I found an exit guys. There's another door though, and it's locked."

Again the Vision opens the door, once he has phased through it, and the Avengers find themselves in an uncharacteristically familiar place.

"Avengers Bunker? " A surprised Ms Marvel blurts out, "We're back in Manhattan? How can this be?"

"You're not in Manhattan." A quiet voice answers them from the other side of the room, as a chair swivels around and a haggard and drawn Peter Parker is finally seen."You're in my home."

"Peter." Cap Steps forward to see to the disheveled man who sits before him. "What happened here?"

Then , another voice, younger, female answers for Peter. "Those things came here Captain, those monsters . They burned our house to the ground. And... and..."

The young girl , May Parker , throws herself into her fathers lap and sobs.

The Wasp is the first to understand what happened here. "Oh my God, Mary Jane..."

Peter nods immediately, as tears well up in his eyes.

Captain America and Thor place their hands on their friends shoulders. No more words need be spoken. The damage is obvious to all now .

Hours later...

"This base was built by Tony Stark about a year and a half ago. He contacted me about six months after the war ended, and asked if I'd be willing to have a bunker placed beneath my home. At first I said no, but Mary Jane talked me into it. She said it would be a good idea if anything ever happened again, at least May would be safe. She was right, as always."

Peter turns towards Cap before speaking again.

"So where do we go from here?"

"We have to get this infestation off our planet Peter. No matter what else has happened, there are millions of human beings out there, who are right now helpless, and as always it seems the Avengers are the ones needed to restore hope. I know this is a bad time for you, but can we depend on your help?"

Peter looks around his home. He hadn't rarely stepped foot in here since it was built, but now, now he's living here. His home above obliterated, as well as his life. He looks at his young daughter, barely 14. And inside he shutters at a world where she can no longer see sunlight for the rest of her existence The answer is a simple one to a man such as him, a man who takes responsibility so seriously.

"Yes, I'm in. And this place will serve as the Avengers base for now, it's yours Cap. Bring in everyone you want . This is the new home of the Avengers. At least until these slime coated alien bastards are thrown off our world."

Nearby , The Wasp shudders, she's never heard Spider-Man speak with such vehemence of anyone or thing. Gone is the happy go lucky man who, no matter the odds stacked against him, never looked down. Now before her is someone frightening. Someone seeking vengeance. Again , she represses an involuntary shudder.

The Arctic circle, a frozen wasteland burns. Amid the snowy wastes a fire rages, as a hidden fortress has recently been found, and scattered throughout the wreckage are golden suits of armor...

Next: Taking the offensive

Invasions of privacy

C/O [email protected]

Subj: Avengers 2011 #1
Date: 7/10/99 4:24:13 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: [email protected] (Alvaro Ib��ez.ancestry.com)
To: [email protected]

dear ralph,
Finally! The wait was killing me. Since reading your excellent 2009 story,
I have been eagerly awaiting it's sequel. Although a little more action
would have been nice (and this issue seemed far shorter thatn the 2009
ones), I must say it was worth the wait. Can't wait for the next one to
come out.


Life is a White Wolf RPG and god is the Storyteller.
Alvaro "BigCheese" Ib��ez
And yes I do Yahoo, I already got my free hotmail adress and I already have
internet access so I don't care if you don't need it to have e-mail.