BOOK ONE, CHAPTER 6

Galactus stood in his chambers, flanked by the Avengers’ leader Thor on one side, and the Eternals’ leader Thena on the other. They were all fixated on a giant holographic monitor on which they had drawn their battle plans.

“In the past, Xunn-Zwar has always relied on fleets of insectoid ships.” said Galactus. “They will be his first line of offense, along with the organic pods known as the Seeds of Evil, which he hopes to spread across the universe.”

“Our ships will be more than a match for Xunn-Zwar’s ships.” declared Thena confidently. “At the same time, I will lead a charge of Eternals to exterminate the Seeds of Evil. Thus we shall provide a clear path for this flagship to engage Xunn-Zwar’s flagship in battle. If all goes to plan, that is where you and your Avengers come in, Thor.”

“Yes,” agreed Thor, “we shall board the ship and battle its crew. I hath made it clear to the Avengers that I and I alone am to engage the Magus directly. I hath fought him before, back when he was newly born and known as Him, so I am the most qualified.”

“If I may,” interjected Thena, “I would like to suggest that you try to force the Magus outside the flagship, where I may attack him as well. I have telepathic powers similar to Moondragon’s, and I may find a vulnerable spot.”

She did not mention that, due to some unfortunate events in past centuries, she had not used her telepathic powers in a long time.

“Any assistance from thee wouldst be welcome. I am not fooling myself into thinking that I face an easy battle.” replied Thor.

“And, finally,” said Galactus, “once the army has fallen, I shall be able to engage Xunn-Zwar directly, and hopefully defeat him once again as I have in our past encounters.”

Thor turned to Thena. “My one concern,” he said, “is Thanos. I worry that he may have a selfish agenda.”

“I do not doubt it.” responded Thena. “But that is why it is best to have him where we can watch him.”

*********

At that moment, however, Thanos was safe from prying eyes, sitting alone on the floor of a dark room, bare-chested and without his headgear, a sacred cosmic dagger in his hand.

With this dagger, he began carving arcane cosmic symbols on his own flesh. No one in the universe was better versed in the cosmic dark arts than Thanos, and he got what he wished from the ritual – to witness the rebirth of the Xunn-Zwar.

Thanos watched as the cocoon shattered and the demonically ugly Xunn-Zwar avatar emerged, growing in seconds to its full height, matching that of Galactus, and spreading its wings, which made it even more awe-inspiring.

The Xunn-Zwar avatar now reached out to the nearest planets and, by an act of will, enslaved their populations and transformed the animal life into the monstrous army that the Magus would command, and the plant life into his Seeds of Evil. Xunn-Zwar then obliterated the planets, transmuted their remains into metal, and built his fleet of insectoid ships.

Thanos felt vicariously exhilarated. It had not been that long since he had commanded similar power. But for that very reason, power interested him no longer. No, his objective now was to assist in any way he could in delivering the ultimate sentient cosmic evil into the embrace of Death. It would be his ultimate offering to the entity which had obsessed him from birth, the culmination of his devotion to Death.

*******

“Life can be a funny thing,” said the Black Widow to Crystal as they stood in the crowded room where most of the Avengers and Eternals were awaiting their orders to proceed to battle stations. “I’ve lived a long and full life and I have no regrets...” she paused, “...but at the same time, there’s a lot of things I never did that I wish I had done – like starting a family. You’re so lucky, Crystal, to have your daughter, Luna.”

“I know you meant well by what you just said, Natasha,” whispered Crystal, “but if I start thinking about Luna, and the possibility that she may soon be motherless, I feel like I’ll burst into tears.”

“I’m sorry. I should have thought before I spoke.” said the Black Widow.

“No hard feelings.” said Crystal, wiping away a solitary tear.

*********

“I just don’t understand it.” said the Wasp to the Black Knight and the Vision. “I thought I knew you guys. How could you join in a...a killing expedition??”

“If I learned anything from my time in the Crusades,” said the Black Knight, “it’s that the battlefield brings out the absolute worst in people.”

“Yes,” agreed the Vision, “and you were not there, Wasp, so I fail to see how you could possibly comprehend...”

“Now, having said that,” the Black Knight interrupted, “I’m not going to pretend that the Supreme Intelligence’s death-scream hasn’t been ringing in my ears non-stop, and that it doesn’t keep me up at night. But, like Sersi said, what’s done is done.”

Any further discussion became a impossible when Thor and Thena entered the room and said the words the assembled warriors had been waiting for, “To your battle stations on the double!”

The warriors filed out in an orderly fashion. But as Hercules and Thunderstrike walked past Thor, they felt as if their friend’s stern, angry stare was burning holes into them.

“You think he’ll ever forgive us?” Thunderstrike asked Hercules.

“We must have words when the battle is over.” said Hercules, who then reiterated for emphasis, “We must.”

Ikaris the Eternal paused next to Thena and sneered at her. “You know as well as I do that I should be in command.”

Thena didn’t mince words. “You arrogant moron! If you cannot rise above such petty concerns at a time like this, then maybe it is best you sit out the battle!”

“Never.” hissed Ikaris before walking away.

Thena sighed heavily and looked at Thor. This battle promised to be an even greater challenge than they had originally predicted.

*********

On the bridge of the Xunn-Zwar armada’s flagship, the Magus postured and preened before his troops.

“The battle is nigh!” he cackled, rubbing his hands. “The blood of our enemies shall nourish our master and set the course for his conquest of the universe, after which he shall grant a generous portion of said universe to his most loyal servant, me!”

“Enemy ships within range.” said the helmsman.

“At last, the moment of truth.” said the Magus. “All ships, OPEN FIRE!”

The Xunn-Zwar’s ships, resembling giant metallic insects colored in garish hues of orange, blue, red, and green, commenced firing on the Eternals’ ships, whose coloring and design suggested silver birds of prey.

The Eternals’ ships swooped and swept, gracefully dodging the enemy fire. Counter-attacking, they were quickly on their way towards decimating the Xunn-Zwar’s fleet. Blindingly bright explosions filled the air as both sides claimed casualties, but within minutes, the heroic fleet’s victory was assured.

The heroes had won the first battle, but the war was far from over, for as the Eternals themselves flew through airless space, they could see that the swarming Seeds of Evil would be difficult targets – they were fairly small, making them hard for the Eternals’ to accurately focus their ocular beams upon. As if this weren’t enough, they had to fire from a fair distance, since, according to Galactus, proximity of an organic sentient being to a Seed was dangerous.

Ikaris, characteristically, grew frustrated and impatient, and he flew in closer to the Seeds, even as Thena yelled, “IKARIS! Get back in formation, you fool!”

As Ikaris came closer to the Seeds, they drew closer to him, attracted to his aggression like iron filings to a magnet.

Suddenly, one of the Seeds peeled itself open and unleashed a long, tentacle-like stinger that thrust itself at Ikaris’ torso, injecting him with the essence of evil.

Thena witnessed this. “Karkas, Sprite,” she telepathically ordered two of the Eternals, “assist Ikaris immediately, but be cautious.”

From a safe distance, Karkas and Sprite fired their beams at the Seeds surrounding Ikaris, blowing up the Seeds messily.

Heeding Thena’s warning, they kept their distance as Sprite reach out to Ikaris telepathically. “Ikaris,” he said, “are you okay?”

Ikaris turned around, and the answer was definitely a negative one. Ikaris had begun transforming into a monster with an appearance even more hideous than that of Karkas, the Deviant adopted by the Eternals.

With startling speed, he lunged toward Sprite and lashed out with his claws. Sprite barely dodged the attack.

“Ikaris, NO!!” he pleaded, “It’s me, Sprite, don’t you recognize me??”

Ikaris replied by striking back. But this time, Karkas valiantly put himself between Ikaris and Sprite. Despite his extraordinarily thick hide, Karkas was thoroughly disemboweled by Ikaris.

Thena did what she had to do. “Keep firing, do not allow yourselves to get distracted.” she commanded. But it was too late, as several Seeds had already flown out of the Eternals’ firing range. This meant that even if the Xunn-Zwar’s armada and avatar were defeated, the universe might still be doomed.