THE EVERYTHING ENGINE

Part VI: The Turning Away

the forty-ninth tale of agc

written by Mark Bousquet

2201 / March

NIFFLEHEIM

"I am not pleased," Thanos announced to Death, as they stood on a ledge overlooking the large cavern below. "It was … unwise that Pluto would make an alliance without my knowledge, especially with one such as Mephisto."

"It was necessary, my lord."

Thanos turned on his heels to see Ikaris step through a teleport ring to join them on the ledge. "You were ordered to stay behind," the Mad Titan announced.

"I was, Thanos," Ikaris replied, "but our intelligence officers have brought news to us that I think you would be angered to have waited for."

"What is it?" Thanos replied, anger rising within him.

"Our spies in Asgard proper report, and our source in Nornheim confirms," Ikaris said slowly, his eyes not leaving those of Thanos, "that Brono, son of Balder and heir to the throne of Asgard fights in the battle below."

Thanos raised an eyebrow, turning to look down at the Asgardian side.

"My lord," Ikaris said slowly, "I need not tell you what this means. If both Balder and Brono die in this battle… Asgard shall be without a king and the Eternal War shall be, for all intents, over."

"If I need not be told of the significance of Brono's death, General," Thanos asked, turning back to his military leader, his eyes glowing with rage, "why do you bother to tell me of it?"

Ikaris didn't blink, "Because I want to kill him. I want all Eternals who come after me to know that it was I who ended the Eternal War. If Asgard is shattered, the center that holds the Council together is gone. Who among them can keep the balance? We already know the Kree and Shi'ar have been using the Skrulls as slave labor, and that none of the three will ever follow one of the others." Ikaris paused, letting his words sink in, "Earth will unite them? Earth? No, Thanos, they are too late in arriving to this game. Take out Asgard and all the pieces of the Council fall apart. They will retreat into their own little, isolated empires. We can eradicate the rest of the Everything with ease, leaving only five individual pockets to destroy one by one by one. Give me the order, Thanos!" Ikaris voice seethed with the rage of two centuries of unfulfilled revenge, "Let me end the Eternal War before this day is complete!"

Thanos turned away to once again look down, his eyes searching for the silver-haired young man. "Wait until Brono has been weakened from the battle, then end his life. But Ikaris, be forewarned, when the son falls the father will turn his attention to you. Balder will need to fall as well, this day."

"Then let us hope," Ikaris growled, "that the Olympians can fulfill their obligation to our cause."

BELOW

The roar was instantaneous and deafening.

The warriors of Asgard were still looking up at the one-hundred foot high image of Mephisto that Captain America had brought forth in the wall of smoke when the call to battle was raised once again.

They turned their gaze back to eye-level and watched as Olympians poured through the smoke, charging towards them with weapons raised and death in their eyes.

They watched as all the Olympians they had slain the day before came roaring back at them, appearing alive and none the worse for wear.

"How do we end their lives now that their blood is fused with the Kirbyonic energy?" King Balder asked Amora, the Enchantress.

Amora gave a half-frown, and cocked her head to her King. "My liege, I hath no idea. If the legends are true, we can slay them a hundred, a thousand, a hundred-thousand times, and watch as they rise back to life again and again and again, so long as there is one skilled in the ways of drawing the Kirbyonic energy back together, and so long as their soul desires a mortal rebirth."

Balder nodded, feeling the weight of the Eternal War resting squarely on his shoulders. He looked Amora hard in the eye, and gave her an order he did not know if she could fulfill. "Return to your books and find us a way to kill them permanently, magician. I will not see the Eternal War end in Niffleheim this day."

Amora nodded, hoping in her heart there was but some way for them to escape to fight another day.

To her far right, she could hear the joining of the battle between the forces of Olympus and Asgard.

Directly in front, she watched as the only person in the room who's eyes still remained on the crucified body of Dani Moonstar flew across the room to catch her as she fell. "Odin's beard," Amora whispered to herself, "I am ashamed at how much better I feel because Captain America, is here. You have won over even one such as I, Steve Rogers."

The Enchantress then began the slow casting of a spell that would return her to the Heimdall Library, where she could research what the histories had to say about Kirbyonic energy. While her fellow Asgardians would fight and die, she had been ordered to return home.

She wondered how many of these proud warriors she would ever see again. Just before teleporting away, she caught a glimpse of Hela, the ruler of this realm, watching the battle unfold without emotion.

HALA / KE-RETRIBUTION

Ben's eyes took in the ceiling, as his back lay flat on the silk sheets of his bed.

"A credit for your thoughts?" Thalia asked, rubbing her naked body across his underneath sheets that were worth more than her yearly military stipend. Gently she kissed his cheek, then whispered, "Of course, there is nothing wrong with laying here in silence."

Ben closed his eyes, then slowly re-opened them. "In the past several hours I have discovered that I am a clone of a baby that was the son of Genis-Vell and May Parker. I have discovered that I am a clone of the true grandson of Mar-Vell. I have learned that my entire existence is a lie, that I am a fraud who was created by Odin to serve as a back-up weapon and nothing more. I have … I have cheated on the only girlfriend I have ever had, with a woman I have known for less than a half-day."

Thalia raised her head to look into Ben's eyes, "Ben, I-"

"No," he said, shaking his head gently as his eyes locked onto hers. "Somehow, in some manner, through all of this, I feel that I have come out to another side, Thalia, that a purpose in life has come to me. I have you to thank for that."

"What … purpose is that, Ben?"

Thalia waited for an answer that never came, as Ben's eyes were locked on visions only he could see.

UNITED LEAGUE OF NATIONS BUILDING

Cable was too old to play games with himself.

The woman who rode the elevator with him was named Rebecca Almond, a smart, educated, attractive woman in her early-thirties who looked great in a business suit and, almost certainly, great without it. She knew it, too, Cable could see, and had most likely made a habit of getting what it was she wanted.

At the moment, she wanted him to be the Earth Ambassador to the Asgardian-led Council, to look out for Earth's interests as the Eternal War raged on.

She must have known there was zero chance he would agree to that position, which is why she had brought him the one thing that could bring him in - the Prophecies of Grey. The resting legacy of Jean Grey that, legend held, was filled with all the keys to all the doors.

Cable believed it to be the mutant equivalent of the Holy Grail, and doubted he could ever gain any knowledge from its pages. All who had ever tried to read the Prophecies, or simply copy its words, had gone as insane as Jean Grey had been when the Prophecies were created from her hands.

He knew they were playing him, but what was a Holy Grail for if not for the gods to watch mortal men push themselves to the very brink of physical and psychical breakdown?

"We are here," Miss Almond announced, and Cable allowed himself to follow. They approached a security checkpoint and he heard Rebecca say to him, "We did not force you to check your weapons at the gate, Mr. Summers, as a sign of respect. Please do not make us regret it."

Cable said nothing, as he turned to face himself in wall mirror. The older I get, the more I look like my father, he thought. Gone was the over-muscled soldier, replaced with thinner, leaner musculature. Age crept up on all, even time travelers, and Cable needed all the speed he could get.

"Do not mind the security guards," Miss Almond waved at the ULN's interior police force. "They have, most likely, never seen a trenchcoat before. Outlawed in the Americas, you know, back in 2013. I wonder where that contraband item came into your possession? Hmm? From the past, or from Great Britain?"

Cable met the gaze of every ULN cop he passed until they turned away, then answered, "The past, of course. Britain is too difficult to get in and out of, even for me."

"We're here," Rebecca announced for the second time as they entered the ULN's Diplomatic Rotunda. Cable noted that there were four large screens with silhouetted, non-sexual images, each representing one from all the four Earthen super-powers: United American States, Greater China, Soviet Europe and the CDK, the Confederation of Desert Kingdoms.

"Impressive," the CDK silhouette announced in a flat voice. "I did not think you would be able to deliver him, Miss Almond."

Rebecca gave the CDK screen a curt smile, "I am happy to have fulfilled my mission." She then turned to meet the gaze of each of the other silhouettes.

"It is very simple," the Soviet Europe representative announced as a doorway to Cable's left opened, revealing entrance into the Negative Zone. Floating in place, locked inside a small satellite, Cable could see the Prophecies of Grey right there, waiting for any whom would dare look.

"We have what you want," the Chinese silhouette said in the same monotone voice as the other two representatives had spoken in, "and you have what we want."

"To serve on the Council," Cable stated. "Fine, let's do it."

"No," the UAS representative said flatly. "We have changed our mind."

"What?" Rebecca exploded, instantly furious. "You can't do that! I gave him my word that-"

"Silence!" the Chinese silhouette thundered. "The deal is still as it was, the Ambassadorship for the Prophecies. What my American counterpart was alluding to is that we require, as I am sure Cable does as well, trust. A trust which must be developed. We cannot have you acting on your own, Cable, although we are certain you do not wish to simply be our puppet."

"Got that right, at least," Cable replied, staying cool but feeling uneasy.

"What we have decided," the CDK representative relayed, "is that Cable complete a task for us. Upon completion of this task, we will promise to abide by his decisions as Ambassador for at least six months."

"Frelling politicians," Cable shook his head, turning to look at an exasperated Almond. He could see that she was pissed, and decided he would need to figure out later if it was real emotion or just a show for his benefit. He looked back to the four large silhouettes, "Well, what is it?"

It was the UAS rep that spoke, "We require you to kill someone for us."

"Who?" Cable asked, not surprised.

"One of the following," the Soviet Europe silhouette spoke. "And, please, present day versions from this continuity. No time travel tricks. Except, of course, from the fourth candidate."

Cable and Miss Almond watched as, one-by-one, the four silhouettes were replaced with images of those on the ULN's Most Wanted List.

The Black Knight.

The Green Gobliness.

The Black Panther.

Kang the Conqueror.

"We would like the head delivered as soon as possible," one of the voice's announced, leaving Cable and Miss Almond alone with images of men Cable was being asked to kill. Rebecca wondered, for a second, if Cable would actually agree to kill any of these men, or if some moral code would stand in his way-

She glanced over to him to see which of the images above he was concentrating on and found, instead, that his eyes were glued to the Prophecies.

Rebecca had no doubt at all in that moment that one of the four people the ULN wanted dead would soon be just that.

NIFFLEHEIM

Captain America lay Dani down at the entrance to the tunnel that would return them to Asgard.

"Steve …" she choked, her throat raw and voice rasping.

"Be quiet," Steve answered gently. "You need rest."

"No," Dani said, pushing Steve away. Gingerly, she slowly rose up into a sitting position. She looked at the concern on his face and smiled, "It is … okay. The torment that Mephisto put me through was primarily … of the mind." Dani winced, rubbing her throat.

"Even still," Steve pressed her, "you should remain here to regain your strength."

"Asgard needs me on this day," Dani insisted, turning to see Aragorn trot to her. "I do not know if what Mephisto showed me was true, but…" Dani shivered, shaken by the memory. "A universe with no life save mine." She looked at her lover square in the face, "Today, I will fight."

Steve nodded, knowing there was nothing he could say to stop her. "I love you, Dani Moonstar," he offered instead.

As the brutal fight between two races of old gods reached a fever pitch behind them, two lovers shared what they feared might just be their last kiss.

THE SURFACE OF HALA

"I can't believe this is happening," Attumidunn ran her dirty hands through her flowing blonde hair - hair that was matting with dirt, sweat and debris. Her eyes drifted skyward, to the KE-Retribution, the current capital of the Kree Empire. Ben-Vell was up there, she knew, being treated like a glorious legend while she, Angelica, and Eshir worked on the planet's surface, clearing the rubble and debris caused during the Kree's recent Three Day Civil War. At the moment they were working inside a destroyed building, ten stories off the ground, trying to take the building apart so that no more death could be caused by the building's further collapse.

"What's not to believe?" Eshir asked, using his magnetic powers to hold a chunk of metal in place. The metal was once part of some building, but now lay blown outwards, hanging onto the frame by one steel beam that bent outward. He nodded to Angelica, who stood on the opposite side of where the beam attached to their floor. Without saying a word, Angel raised what looked like a flame-thrower in her arms, pointing it at a spot in the beam between the floor and the metal chunk connected to it's end.

"Sure you can handle this, Esh?" Toomi asked. "This chunk must be twelve meters by eighteen meters. That's the biggest chunk, yet."

"Is it?" Eshir asked, trying to be nonchalant. "I hadn't noticed. Whenever you're ready, Angel."

Angel nodded and depressed the trigger of the would-be flame-thrower. The two tanks connected to her back gave up their storage, and where the Orphans had once thought flame would shoot from, a haze of acid spewed forth, covering the beam's surface.

Stepping back, Angel made way for Toomi who quickly withdrew her sword and waited the ten seconds it took for the now-sizzling metal to burn up the applied acid. What was left was a weakened, corroded beam that Toomi sliced in half with her blade.

"Ungh," they two girls heard Eshir grunt as the weight of the metal slab fell solely to him. "Shrab … nit!" he swore under his breath as he lowered the slab slowly and cautiously towards the ground, where a large Kree dump truck waited for enough garbage to haul away.

The three Orphans were at the too of what remained of this building, and from this vantage point on a floor that only weeks earlier had housed military offices, they could see the destruction caused when a people went to war with itself.

It was heart breaking for about ten minutes.

And then General Van'Rogg had put them to work cleaning up the Kree's mess.

"I wonder if the Nebulae are feeding Ben grapes, yet?" Angelica asked, looking to Toomi, wiping the back of her hand across her face to wipe the stinging sweat away.

"If they want their necks slit, they are," Toomi smiled back. "I have no fear of Ben leaving me for some Kree trollop."

Angel gave Toomi a weird look, "I didn't know people still used the word 'trollop.'" Toomi let a small laugh escape her lips despite herself.

"I wonder what K'Zan is doing?" Angel mused.

"He's living with the Enchantress," Toomi's smile grew. "He's doing what any man in his position would do - at least when he was alone in his room. His hands might be useless for spells…"

Angel returned the smile, "Men. So predictable. Right, Esh?"

Eshir held up his arms to show the girls his two stumps, "I think I can claim innocence in this regard, don’t you?"

The two female Orphans laughed - the words that had come from Eshir were the same that would have been said had the reply been made to Ben, but the tone was different, lighter, with Ben not here.

"Did Esh just crack a joke?" Angel asked.

"I believe he did," Toomi replied.

"Although it does raise an interesting question how Esh… you know… without hands," Angel mused. She raised an eye-brow to her fellow Orphan, "How 'bout it, Esh? Care to answer that question?"

Eshir's face recoiled and started to shake slowly back and forth, "That is not an area I have any interest in discussing with either of-"

"Magnetic powers," Angel answered for him, looking back to Toomi. "Got to be."

Esh turned away to hide the reddening that was occurring across his face's scarred flesh, "We are done with this floor, I believe." He stepped off the edge and floated gently towards the surface, leaving the two grinning females in his wake.

THE DEAD CORNER OF SPACE

"Things do not go well for you, Lord Chaos."

"Nor for you, Master Order."

"I do not see how you can say such a thing."

"Cable will soon join the Council, by all appearances.* Time travelers are the natural enemy of Order, are they not?"

"They are," Master Order allowed, "but Nathan Dayspring Summers has never been one to corrupt the timestream."

"Unlike Kang."

"Unlike Kang," Order agreed. "But he has removed himself from the board."

"Unless he chooses to reinsert himself," Lord Chaos countered, thinking of the recent conversation between Immortus and Kang.**

"He will not take the risk. He despises becoming Immortus more than he despises defeat."

"Perhaps."

Master Order smiled, "There are contingency plans for Kang, Lord Chaos. Of that you may be assured."

Lord Chaos frowned, "Plans of yours? Or merely plans that coincide with your interests?"

"Are they not one in the same?"

"You are starting to bother me, Master Order. I will not let you actively plan my eternal destruction."

"We have always been in opposition, Lord Chaos, that is our way."

"To keep the balance of the Everything," Lord Chaos replied. "We serve a greater purpose, after all. We fight so that we may remain equals. If either Chaos or Order were to defeat the other …"

Master Order's face grew despondent. "I am tired of balance, Lord Chaos. So very, very tired."

Lord Chaos said nothing, wondering what, exactly, happened, when a balancing concept decided it no longer cared.

"Come, Lord Chaos, there is something I wish for you to see."

"Oh, Master Order? What would that be?"

"The dying of a dream."

"And where, may I ask, is that taking place?"

"In Niffleheim."

* AGC 45: THE EVERYTHING ENGINE, PART II

** AGC 46: THE EVERYTHING ENGINE, PART III

HALA / KE-RETRIBUTION

"All I want to do is take a shower," Toomi groused as she walked down the hallway with Eshir and Angel to their quarters. She was not pleased to see General Van'Rogg walking briskly towards them.

"I am afraid that will have to wait, Attumidunn," the General said crisply. "The Supreme Intelligence would like to see you."

"General," Eshir stepped forward, "with all due respect, we have been in the hot sun all day moving heavy debris. We are not complaining about our duties," he said quickly, "but if this is not an emergency, we could use a meal and a shower."

"I am afraid the Supreme Intelligence has ordered you to come to him immediately," Van'Rogg shrugged. "I apologize for the timing, and I can assure you that the Kree people are both thankful for your efforts today and will make certain that you receive a hot meal, and have the time to bathe and rest before the work begins anew tomorrow." The General met each of their eyes in turn, and the Orphans found they could not read his eyes in the least.

"Let's go," Angel shook her head. "Let's just get it done and meet back up with Ben-Vell for dinner."

As Van'Rogg turned to lead them down the corridor, he said, "Ben-Vell is already with the Supreme Intelligence."

Toomi and Angel turned to see Eshir roll his eyes. "May I ask what this is about?"

Van'Rogg replied succinctly, "I was not told, but there have been reports," he lowered his voice, "of war between Asgard and Olympus. A war that does not go well for our side."

The Orphans quickened their pace at that news, and in a minute they had arrived at the Supremor's control room. The Intelligence floated in the air, and Ben stood just slightly off to the side, his eyes glued to the same large monitor on the side of the room that he had witnessed his origin on just hours before.

"What's going on?" Toomi asked, her eyes finding Ben.

"Look for yourself," Ben replied, his eyes not leaving the screen, his voice betraying no emotion.

The Orphans turned and felt their hearts twist in their chest.

Galactus was standing in the middle of Asgard, and his words were those the Everything, in the days before the Eternal War, once dreaded beyond all else.

"I HAVE COME."

Pause. His voice thundered across the Golden Realm and the Orphans could see citizens running from their doors to look into the sky.

Just in time to hear Galactus speak again.

"I HUNGER."

The Orphans felt their heart sink, but it was Ben-Vell who spoke. "I suppose this is as good a time as any to let you know," he said confidently, waiting for the Orphans to turn to him.

"Let us know what, Ben?" Toomi asked, impatient.

"Balder has led the forces of Asgard into Niffleheim to battle the rebirthed forces of Olympus," Ben announced flatly. "The battle rages now, and victory is assured for no side. We have been ordered to take haven in the Fantastic Colonies, for what reason I do not know."

"Like hell," Angel replied. "If Asgard is in trouble, we're-"

"Stop being such a stupid child," Ben said harshly. Angel's reaction would not have been different if Ben had slapped her in the face. He continued, ignoring the stunned looks on Eshir and Toomi's face, "Go to the transport area and get to the FC. Those are your orders. Follow them."

"And you?" Toomi asked. "Are you not coming, too? Or have you been given different orders?"

Ben met her with eyes so cold that Toomi could almost not believe they were those of her boyfriend. "I have been given no other orders."

"Then you will come with us?" Eshir asked.

Ben turned to Esh, his face softening. "We should have been the best of friends, Eshir. I want you to know that. I want you to know that when the time comes, I will have your back."

"Ben, what-?"

"We are at war. Perhaps in the final moments of the Eternal War. This is not the time for questions, Eshir. This is a time," Ben took a deep breath, "for declarations."

Ben met each of their eyes for a long second, then turned to watch the screen, "I am not going with you. As of this moment, my allegiance to Asgard is superceded by my allegiance to the Kree.

"The next time you see me I will not be who I am today. Good-bye, my friends, I do admire you all in many different ways. It is a shame that … that Asgard has treated us as they have. General?" he said, turning to Van'Rogg.

"Yes, Ben-Vell?"

"See the Orphans out," Ben said coolly, knowing that if he turned to see his friends one more time, he might just go with them.

NIFFLEHEIM

The battle raged intensely.

From their vantage point above the floor, Thanos, Ikaris, and Death watched gods kill each other.

"It is beautiful," Thanos mused, his gravelly voice rumbling through Ikaris' brain. "A ballet of death, solely for our enjoyment. Tell me, Ikaris, do you think yourself man enough to kill Brono? I will be intensely disappointed if you should fail in your assassination attempt. Today is a fine day for the Eternal War to come to an end."

Ikaris bit his tongue, then looked across the large cavern to see Hela. The Asgardian goddess of death caught his eye, and nodded.

"There is another way for the Eternal War to end, Thanos," Ikaris sneered at the Mad Titan's back.

"Oh?" Thanos asked, turning around to receive a fierce blow from Ikaris' hands.

"In your death!" Ikaris announced, jumping from the ground to deliver a double-footed kick to Thanos' stomach. "May Asgard feast on your bones!"

The Eternal General watched as Thanos fell towards the cavern floor, grim surprise on his face as his body fell directly towards the center of the raging battle. Ikaris' voice was heard only by Death. "You have been betrayed, Thanos. You have been betrayed."

The Everything Engine to be concluded…

Today is a fine day for the Eternal War to come to an end.

YGGDRASIL

Comments c/o bousquet22@earthlink.net

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Here we are, at the threshold of AGC 50. I hope the actions throughout this issue have raised some interesting questions in your mind, and I can assure you that it is my intent to answer ALL of them next issue. The goal is, quite simply, to write the greatest issue of AGC to date. I guarantee you next issue will sees twists and turns you did not see coming, but I hope, when all is said and done, that they are true to the nature of these characters and the 49 issues that have preceded it. Thanks for all of your support, and I hope to see you here at least one more time.

AGC 50: THE END OF THE ETERNAL WAR.

-- Mark Bousquet …

Northern Bear Productions

4 July 2002