Unlimited Marvels #6 (Featuring Nova)

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Unlimited Marvels #6
Another Day in the Corps. Part One

Written by G. Brown (Nygfan)
Edited by Daniel Dyer (Spider-Man Beyond)

Featuring...


Deep space.

The Corellian Warship hovers just outside the orbit of the dying planet. The huge humanoid form adorned in purple and blue seemingly bathing in the energy of the terminal orb as he consumes the very life force from the globe.

“Amazing, isn’t it? The most beautiful thing in the universe,” the huge, muscular man said, reverence obvious in his every word. His marble grey skin taunt with excitement as he watches the cataclysm below his ship.

“I’m relieved that Mother Corellia was not the chosen world. His Herald flew into our atmosphere just yesterday. That poor planet’s fate could have been ours. Praise D’Rian that Corellia was spared his hunger.”

The smaller marbled skinned Corellian was startled as his commander turned to step to him so suddenly. The red cape of a commander snapping from the speed of his reaction. A look of extreme anger in the larger man’s gaze.

“Poor planet? To be chosen to feed the Great Galactus is the highest honor any world can be selected for. To become a part of the Devourer of Worlds, to become a part of his whole... It is THE only honor.”

The smaller second in command looked at his feet and tried to save some face before his leader.

“Yes, well it was obvious the Herald found Synthal much more worthy then us this time. All the pity.” He tried to hide all sarcasm from his words, but his commander was too mesmerized by the view to pick up on it even if he hadn’t.

“Bah. The Herald is a fool, unworthy of his Master. He passes many suitable planets making his Master wait far too long between feedings. It is a disgrace! Never leading him where he truly should bring the Great One.”

Not wanting to encourage his commander’s unhealthy obsession with the Devourer, but wanting to know just what he was talking about all the same. The Number two responded gently.

“And just where should he lead him?”

“Earth, you dolt! That planet is young and ripe. Its inhabitants barely able to reach past its own moon, still struggling to explore its own system. The life forms still new and fresh. Its energy would be as a feast to the Devourer. Don’t you believe the Herald knows this as well?”

“Yes, My Captain, but the Herald also surely knows that Earth’s sector is patrolled by the Nova Corps. The Corpsman of that sector would absolutely engage the Herald. Earth is in its infancy and not to be interfered with by order of the Prime Directive. The Corps would surely rally against the Dread One. It isn’t worth the headache. Not when there are a myriad of other planets to choose from. Others that the Corps have no vested interest in.”

“What does a Herald of Galactus care of the Nova Corps? A true Herald, a worthy Herald would weaken Earth’s pathetic defenses and serve the orb to its Master as a banquet of honor. Nova Corps be damned!”

The smaller second in command rolled his eyes behind his Captain’s back.

“A shame that you were never chosen to become a Herald. No where in the universe would a planet be safe.”

“Yes! It is indeed a shame, a shame above all others! The position of heraldhood should be mine. Noone that has held that title before has respected the position or its importance as I would. None would serve the Great Galactus as loyally as Greyven would... none.”

“I agree, Sir. Lucky for Earth that it is not so. We all have dreams never quite fulfilled.” He had had enough of his leader’s insane rambling, He no longer cared if he was insulting or not. Good for him that Commander Greyven was beyond caring at this point himself.

“And yet, it is said that it is never too late. Never too late to make one’s dreams a reality.” Greyven stepped from the control deck, purposefully striding toward the transport elevator.

“Sir, you can’t be serious. We can not take a Corellian warship to Earth. The Corps would hold all of Corellia in violation.” He tried to plead with his Captain.

“Don’t be a fool. You will take the ship home to Mother Corellia. I and I alone will take a fighter to Earth. As a Corellian Elite, I was born with enough raw power to lay waste to any Earther defenses that come against me.” As he spoke the last phrase, his fist began to glow with black energy as tiny spots of black power sparked from his enclosed hand. His eyes glowed as well, but with a fire of obsession rather than cosmic power.

“And what of the sector’s Nova Centurion?”

“In less than two days Earth will be laid waste and waiting for Galactus to pick it clean. I will have proven myself most worthy to be his Herald and should a Centurion interfere...” An evil grin spread across Greyven’s marble features. “ The Corps will have a vacancy to fill in their illustrious ranks.”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Staten Island, NY; Midville High School

“Hey, Rich, you coming down to the Mall after school? The Flaming Flamingos are doing a set at the food court tonight. The whole teams going.”

Richard Rider turned as he closed his locker smiling like the big man on campus he was.

“What do you think? It’s not a party if the Rider doesn’t show.”

“Too true, too true. See you tomorrow at six. Later Rich.”

Richard Rider stretched his arms as his muscles strained against his Hollister shirt. He leaned his entire 6 foot frame against his locker, popping his back in the process. Life couldn’t get any better. This was his Senior year and everything was coming up roses. He was heavily recruited by Rutgers and looking down the barrel of a full football scholarship. He had a great car, cheerleader girlfriend, great family and no worries in the world. Rutgers awaited and then the NFL. Yeah there was no stopping the Rider. All he had to do get the life of his dreams was score high enough on his SATs. Even the Rider couldn’t get around standardized testing. For that to happen he needed a little help, help in the form of one...

“Ginger! Ginger Green, hold up. Wait a minute!”

The red head with short bouncy hair didn’t even stop or look around. In fact, her pace only quickened as she held her books tight to her chest.

“Ginger, come on. I’m sorry. I already told you that.”

She turned around sharply, Rich almost knocking her over, but stepping to the side at the last moment to avoid hitting her. Her freckled nose and green eyes boring right up into his eyes.

“Don’t you dare apologize to me, Richard Rider. You’re not getting off that easy. You need to go down to the park and do what you promised. Those kids were so excited to be coached by Midville star, Rich Rider. You promised, We had a deal! I tutor you in math and you coach my volunteer kids. I refuse to help you any more. Not until you finally show up, you pompous jerk. If they weren’t looking forward to meeting you so bad I’d wash my hands of you forever and be done with all this.”

Rich was always impressed with Ginger’s fire. Most everybody at school backed down to him, heck even some teachers wouldn’t talk to him the way she did. Ginger was a brainy girl, not a cheerleader or a jock, but not mousey like some of the others. Ginger was active in all types of school activities and volunteered around town almost non stop. If anyone could get Rich past the SATs it was her.

“I know I’ve missed a few practices...”

“A few?! You haven’t shown up for any! Do you know how hard it is to fake like I know or care about football? Ohhh! Never mind. Rider, no more excuses, you show up for the next one or else it’s all over. You pass your test on your own. I swear no more games.”

“OK, OK. I’ll make the next one guaranteed. You just have to help me a little more. I’m actually getting the hang of it now, but I still get confused. Just a few more sessions, the way you explain stuff just makes sense. It all seems so simple the way you teach it.”

“No.” Ginger stared up at Richard leaving no room for negotiation.

“What do you mean ‘no’?”

“No. If you want my help, you show up tonight at Buscema Park.”

Rich winced as if he was hit with something in a hurtful place. “Tonight?”

“No excuses, no stories. This is it. No Rider tonight, no tutoring... No tutoring, no Rutgers... No Rutgers, No NFL. Thats a lot of No’s. Do you need me to slow down so you can follow? Do you need me to make it simple for you?”

Richard smirked and sighed. “No.”

“Now you’ve got it!” Ginger smiled for the first time. “It’s your life, Rider. Grow up and stop acting like a boy. Time to stand up and be a man. Start caring about somebody other than the Rider. See you at the park or I won’t be seeing you at all.”

Ginger spun around and marched down the corridor and into the Midville crowd, leaving Richard speechless. He knew she was right, about a lot actually, but he also knew he wasn’t going to miss the concert at the Mall.

“Blue Blazes, what a tyrant,” he said to himself as he walked toward his next class. Two football players were leaning against a nearby locker as Rich passed. They were obviously close enough to have witnessed the whole scene with Ginger. As he passed they grinned and snapped imaginary whips making snapping sounds with their hands.

“Hah, you’re burnt, Rider! She owns you. You’re so whipped.”

Rich just smiled as he walked by. Whatever. Shirking responsibility was what he did best. Richard Rider would find a way to do both, be at the park and go to the concert. If anyone could pull it off he knew he could.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Earth’s orbit and closing

Nova Centurion Rhomann Dey’s life force was draining and fast. He had intercepted the Corellian fighter before it could land on Earth. It should have been a routine turn away. Corellians had no business in Earth’s system, let alone on her surface. What Centurion Dey didn’t know was that the fighter was piloted by Commander Greyven himself. As a Corellian Elite, the Commander’s power level matched that of any Nova Corpsman alone. His power level was well documented in the Nova Corps files and world mind, but who would have expected him aboard a lone fighter? Dey had half expected the fighter to have been lost or damaged, Greyven’s attack had been ruthless and unexpected.

“Rookie mistake...”

The last mistake he would ever make. Dey had been in a rush to get home and Grayvon easily intercepted him, now with his power levels too low to even contact the Corps and call for backup, Dey found himself alone and preparing for a crash landing on Earth. With his life force all but drained, he couldn’t use his Nova powers and he needed to find one to bestow them on before his death. He coughed and struggled to stay alive long enough to find one. He couldn’t leave Earth defenseless against Greyven. No Earther would have been invited to join the Corps, they simply weren’t ready. Dey smiled as he thought how fate was about to draft an unsuspecting human into the ranks of the Corps whether the Corps or the human liked it or not. The power would help hold off Greyven enough and with a little luck, the human would figure a way to signal for help. There was no time to allow the power to search the planet for one without fear or one far braver than all others. No, today Rhomann Dey had no such luxury. Fate had chosen Earth and fate would chose this sector’s next Nova. He closed his eyes and prayed a silent prayer as his ship crashed down into a park in Staten Island New York.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Richard Rider arrived at Buscema Park early. He was proudly wearing his team jersey, all the more to impress the kids. A few snaps, some game stories and he was out of here. Ten, maybe fifteen minutes tops! Make the kids happy, more importantly, make Ginger happy and then on to the concert. All in a day’s work for the Ri...

BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!

The explosion erupted in a flash just beyond the playing field. Richard was thrown through the air like a rag doll. He hit the ground hard and kept moving! When he stopped, he looked up to see a huge smoking trench as long as a football field! He tried to clear his head as he looked at what could have caused such an explosion, not giving a thought to why he wasn’t hurt at all. When he got to his feet, he saw a sight that left his jaw hanging open.

A grey marble skinned man floated above the wreckage of a plane or maybe a space shuttle. Richard couldn’t tell what it had been.

“People of Earth, You are about to be blessed as I prepare you for the coming of the Devourer!”

Blue Blazes! What the heck is going on? Richard’s head was spinning. Where was Spider-Man or the Fantastic Four when you need them? Staten Island wasn’t that far from Manhattan. Richard watched transfixed as the grey man landed on the grass, stepping toward the wreckage only to stop and turn. His attention alerted to the Midville HS yellow bus circling the park trying to get a better look at the crash.

“Oh no, Ginger... the kids.”

As Richard rose to his feet, he noticed for the first time that he wasn’t wearing his jersey any longer. Now he wore a skin tight uniform of blue and gold. On his chest was three interlocking gold starbursts. Two over his pecs and one over his abs on the blue vest. The vest was sleeveless with gold arm wrappings covering the arms and his hands. Blue bands wrapped his wrists as well. His pants were blue, with a gold stripe down the sides.

“What is all this?”

He took one step forward, stopping as he gently kicked a gold helmet with a red starburst just above the eye holes and down its nose guard. Instinctively, he seemed to know he should pick it up. He stood, holding the helmet in his hands, staring at it. Richard heard a tiny voice in his head.

>>Richard R. Rider. You are now empowered by the Nova Corps. You are the new Nova Centurion of Space Sector 11249-44396.<<

“What does that even mean? The Who... what Corps?” Richard spoke aloud to no one but the helmet that seemed to look right back at him. Just then he looked up toward the sound of squealing tires to see the grey humanoid floating in pursuit of Ginger’s school bus.

“Oh jeez. What in Blue Blazes do you think you’re doing, Rider?”

Richard Rider put the helmet on his head with a natural ease. To his surprise, the helmet fit perfectly as his eyes matched the eye holes and the open mouth area fit as if it was made just for him. Richard Rider began to float inches from the ground. He levitated over the ground, acutely aware that he wouldn’t be making the concert and it was a good bet his well planned out life would never be the same again.

To Be Continued