Post by Spider-Man Beyond on Aug 13, 2007 11:14:28 GMT -5
Namor: The Sub-Mariner #9
Thanos Part 1 of 2
Thanos Part 1 of 2
Written by Mallet
Edited by Daniel Dyer (Spider-Man Beyond)
Namor flew inwards, through the cityscape, towards Dr. Strange's Sanctum. It was without a doubt one of the strangest flights he had had in recent memory. The city he had, so long ago, fought through had been seized by strange blue men in silver green uniforms. There ships hovered back and forth, shuttling more men into the city, where they began working in "sorting camps" of some sort. He would have sought to intervene (he may have had distaste for the surface but not to this extent) if not for the subtle realization that Strange may have the answers. He wove between the buildings and stayed within their shadows so that he may travel unmolested and it worked, he had arrived at Strange's home.
Next to it, on either side, doors had been kicked in and, presumably, the occupants kicked out and forced to march to their own enslavement. Why Strange had been spared, Namor could only attribute to his ally's bizarre workings, but that mattered not as he stepped in. His eyes were taken aback, there sat before him not just Strange but an entire group of men all of whose eyes fell upon him as he entered. Not only was their Dr. Strange but next to him a tall human, Shang Chi, the martial arts master he had previously been saved by. Then, sharing a sofa, sat the Black Knight, complete with mystic armor and ever sharp ebony blade, and the Zombie, whose undead body wore a mystic gem containing his soul. Then standing among them, a humanoid shape, wearing the uniform of the invaders!
As if sensing his thoughts, Strange stood and held his hand up. "Ease Namor, this is Captain Mar-Vell. He may be our only hope."
"You would tell me conspiring with the enemy is our only hope?"
"I am not with them, Namor!" said the enemy. "I am Kree by blood but I come to you to protect humanity from... my error."
The others stared at Mar-vell before Dr. Strange finally spoke up. "Mar-vell, I know your story and time is of the essence but I believe the others need to know and aren't quite as clairvoyant as the Sorcerer Supreme." Strange chuckled to himself. He was trying to keep their hearts light.
"Very well." Mar-vell gave them his story, sent as a spy, fell in love, developed weapons, the coming of the Sentry, destroying the Sentry, his learning of his people, the Earth brought to attention of Thanos. Mar-vell told them all.
"So. You fought to save yourself. I don't blame you, Mar-vell," spoke the Black Knight, to which the others just nodded.
A grunt came from Namor, signifying his acceptance.
"Still, we have a problem. Thanos needs farm and resource planets and slaves to work them. Earth represents an easy target. It has a negligible space force and its ground forces are no match for the Kree. My people have made an entire culture and empire around conquering. They have fought multiple wars for hundreds of years."
The Zombie shifted slightly. "Then what hope do we have?"
"Thanos are unprepared for Earth’s 'special' forces. Rarely have they encountered the type of beings like those on this planet. Only the Shi'Ar has a similar group, but even there they lack the abundance of Earth."
"So?" grunted Namor impatiently. His people were returned to him, what seemed like moments ago, and now he had to fight once more to prevent their eventual enslavement? That is why Namor had stayed; truly, his people would fall in their current state to the Kree. If these men offered some chance to prevent that, then whatever wounds he had suffered previously he would gladly double to aid them.
"So if we manage to hit Thanos himself, his own pride may force him out," Mar-Vell began. "My people are those of a twisted honor. If we take out their leader, they will withdraw and select a new leader. The only problem is Thanos."
"He is only one man! I am the Prince of Atlantis!"
"You don't get it. He conquered Hala, home world of the Kree. By himself."
"So what then? Fly up to Thanos' ship and fight through an army, then, apparently, a demigod?" the Black Knight inquired.
"Essentially, yes." Mar-vell looked at their now curious stares. "Between Namor, Dr. Strange, and myself, we should be able to catch the Titan by surprise. We'll attack him through brute force, magic, and technology. Any one of those and he'd be able to mount a defense, but with a sudden onslaught, we might be able to overcome him."
"So where do we figure in?"
"Well, Black Knight, we'll need an opening and cover to launch our attack. That means you three will have to hold off the rest of his command ship."
"What?! We have a dead guy, a magic sword, and a man whose power is knowing how to punch!"
"I am in the room, Dane," Shang Chi finally spoke up, "and if it will save my home, I will gladly fight off this army, or do you doubt my abilities?"
"I doubt you can fight off men with ray guns."
"I don't."
"Enough!" Strange rose to his feet. "Dane, even if we rallied all the others together, we would stand as much of a chance as we do now."
"I... I know, Stephen. I'm in, but I just..."
Strange nodded to Dane before addressing them all. "I will use my magics to transport us to Thanos' ship. Any who would like to stay, please exit the bus." He smiled one more time as they all stayed still.
"R'katan Fth'aykr!"
And just like that they were gone.
Continued...