Sarka Imperium
Sarka, Tilnast Star System, Milky Way Galaxy

As the shimmering blue bubbles of light faded around, the world they had entered came into focus. It was dark and cold, endless shades of royal blues and indigos. One building melded into the other, the same could be said for the residents of the planet as they hurried away from the strangers in their midst. As Mantis raised her eyes she noticed that Major Victory had already taken his position as the leader, he had walked forward and, in his standard yet somewhat offensive walk, approached the statue that praised the leadership of the Sarks Royal Family.

Sensations of fear, and hate ran deep through her very core as Mantis struggled to stand. Her empathy was kicking in to full affect and she had noticed that they were unwelcome. Before she could speak to alert her leader she felt an overwhelming sense of hatred from behind them. Standing proud the beautiful and elegant, green skinned Mantis turned to face the man who detested them upon sight.

Ignorant prejudices, she concluded as she squared up to him.

“What the…?”

Mantis heard Major Victory from behind her but she didn’t acknowledge him, instead she focused all of her attention on the blue skinned, somewhat amphibious creature, which stood before her. It was easy to force her way into his mind but deciphering the incoherent thoughts was much more of a task and in the time it had taken her to fully understand the depth of the males thought patterns, the man raised his arm and slapped her across her cheek as she clutched herself and prevented her from falling.

Returning her gaze with disgust to the creature she noted Rocket’s reactionary gun-pull.

<”Mind witch,”> growled the General of the Sarka Militant Forces.

WHAT IS AND WHAT SHOULD NEVER BE

Part II: New World Order

By Gavin McMahon

Sarka Imperium
Sarka, Tilnast Star System, Milky Way Galaxy

For once Major Victory wished that one of his good intentions hadn’t backfired in his face. His memory was foggy, spotty at best, concerning his past life but as he watched the Sarka turn against them and saw the official ahead of him injure Mantis, he had a feeling it was something that he had witnessed on far too many occasions. Watching the alien man lift his hand, as if to strike again, Major Victory followed suit. In lifting his own hand the alien’s strike collided with an invisible wall of energy.

It was a small act, but it had worked to their advantage.

Mantis used the time to recover, a brief nanosecond but it was all she needed, and as she brought her leg high she gave the alien a roundhouse kick to the face. The alien creature had barely fallen before Rocket opened fire on any of the militant aliens that dared to oppose him. However, remarkable as the two were in their fighting prowess, it was the being known as Arthur that had caught his attention. Arthur looked on in the scene with the curiosity and unknowingness of a child. It wasn’t until an alien charged at him that Major Victory felt an eerie suspicion concerning the man.

The Sarka were a strong, muscular and statistically powerful race, something that was obvious from the mere sight of them. All these things had been noticed by Major Victory yet, a slightly startled but still composed, Arthur merely lifted his hand to prevent the attack and the blast of emerald energy that was emitted from his palm completely destroyed the alien Sarka, there was not even a burnt crisp of a corpse to be seen. It worried Major Victory but his attention was caught elsewhere when he was struck in the neck from behind.

Major Victory fell limply to the ground.

Sarka Imperium Citadel
Sarka, Tilnast Star System, Milky Way Galaxy

Opening his eyes even seemed like a chore, it wasn’t what he wanted. He didn’t want to express the pain that was running through every cell of his body; it would be like giving into what they had wanted from him. Nevertheless, at the sound of chains clanging, Vance Astro opened his eyes and saw clearly what fate had befallen him and his brethren. Chained like animals and lain before empty thrones. Guards stood by the walls as if magnetised, their weaponry was cocked and alert.

Down the line of the four, Major Victory’s eyes fell upon Mantis. Her lashes conjoined and her face was tranquil as if she were deep in prayer, her lips pursed in the sheer droves of concentration. Drifting his eyes past her, he noted that there was an underlying menace that echoed from the very core of Arthur. It was something that intimidated him; it made him regret what he had regarded as simply formalities, in his quest to be the ‘hero’, he had come to misunderstand what a hero truly was and that allying himself with the right people was also of high importance.

It worried him now that he had made those decisions to lightly.

A high pitch scream echoed around the chamber and a brute of a man, clothed in robes of indigo, stormed in from behind them. The doors swung on their hinges as he was followed by a scrawnier male and a slender and beautiful, yet slightly hawkish, female. They were regal in both features and movement, and Major Victory recognised them from their place on the statue he’d seen in the town square before the chaos had kicked off.

They were the Sarka Royal family.

<“What is the meaning of this?”>

The voice was unexpected and he was uncertain of the origin until he noticed the shrill screaming that reverberated from the walls around him. It was then that he realised the voice was coming from none other than the bulkier of the royals. It was while looking into the eyes of the leading royal that Major Victory received the answer to his miracle. He caught the eyes of the silent and elegant Mantis in his gaze; it was with her simple nod that he was aware.

<“Dearest, Emperor Hn’rik, we have brought the intruders from the Forestry to be sentenced for the murder of a colleague.”>

As the General spoke, he cupped his hand around Mantis’ chin in his large blue hands.

<”Justice can be served.”>

Mantis narrowed her eyes as she was released from his grasp, tumbling backwards as she lost her balance. Mar’cel stormed off as he made his body towards the Royal family who remained behind the backs of the four hostages. Major Victory attempted to burst to his feet in indignation but the chains that clasped his arms hissed with sizzling electricity that crippled all four of those detained.

Energy crackled from Arthur’s eyes as his temper raged.

“There is no justice in this,” yelped the Major.

Emperor Hn’rik stared, with an accent of boredom, on the face of Vance Astro. It was then that he approached them, placing his brutish hands on the head of Vance, while grasping his hair.

<”You did not say they spoke the language of the Gods, General.”>

The alien Royal hissed at the man that he called his inferior; Hn’rik then waltzed forward as he made his way towards the key throne, lying at the forefront of the other two. The scrawnier male and the hawkish female marched after him, with an air of self-importance yet the cowered in the shadow of the man known as Emperor. A cough echoed as Rocket was struck from behind and quietened.

A light fell upon the Emperor as he began his role as judge.

The Control Panel, Knowhere
The Rip, End of the Universe

“Are we any nearer to contacting them?”

Her voice was agitated, sounding slightly huffy and holier-than-thou, the blonde waves of her hair shuffled around her face as her bust fluctuated in anticipation. Persephone had found herself locked into a seemingly pointless journey and now she felt abandoned. It had been almost an hour since the ‘away team’ had left for the planet Sarka an hour ago and had lost touch with the ‘home team’ shortly afterwards. She had been frustrated since that point.

Bill defined her behaviour as obstinate.

“Nothing new has occurred in the last five minutes,” he growled in reply. “As well you know.”

Persephone stepped back from the brutish alien, she was working up his temper and she had seen the affects of such an act in the past. It was definitely an event the Vietnamese wouldn’t soon forget. As she paced out from the room she checked over her shoulder at the lifeless, inanimate body of S.H.E.I.L.A, she had shut down her programming and disconnected herself some the mainframe of Knowhere.

It was still difficult for her to come to terms with the reliance of technology, in her world of magic and spells, a Goddess had no need to rely on the creations of a man. Here she was, in outer space, against her mother Demeter’s wishes and even worse, against the wishes of her husband Hades. What she had always done in her freedom between spring and winter had been monitored by Hades, but now she was beyond even the reach of one of the oldest of Gods.

S.H.E.I.L.A. had been something to awe at, with her impropriety and her incessant knowledge but after too long, she had become little more than a hassle and a conflict between Persephone and her comrade, Beta Ray Bill.

Exiting the ‘Control Panel,’ Persephone made her way into the abyss of flickering lights in the hallway.

Bill had watched her go, she was a hindrance and he was frustrated. He didn’t hate her, he didn’t even dislike her, and he merely felt apathy. Persephone was of no significance to him, none of them were. His ideals, however, and his constant striving to find his place in society were important. They were his lifelong goals, something he needed to accomplish.

Beta Ray Bill had been created as a protector, that was his destiny but it was foggy and uncertain. How could he protect a nation that had already succumbed to their own destruction? It wasn’t a possible feat, and unfortunately, it was something he had failed. Bill was not willing to fail again. He had made a pledge. He would help this team, and he would succeed. Blood would no longer stain his hands.

Lowering his horse-like features, the Korbinite warrior focused himself on the control panel ahead of him.

Technology had never particularly been his forte but Bill was a hero that could work with what he was given, when you were engineered for a purpose, flexibility came easily. As he worked towards re-establishing contact with the people, and creatures, he had found himself allied with. His train of thought was so intense that he failed to realise the flickering shadows that had started to appear and disappear only a few feet to his right, from the room next door.

It was the ‘Teleportation Bay.’

Sarka Imperium Citadel
Sarka, Tilnast Star System, Milky Way Galaxy

“You fail to understand the situation,” rebuked the Major. “We are not the criminals who started this.”

The Emperor lifted his hands as he asked for silence. Only an hour had passed since both he and his comrades had been taken captive by the very race they had intended to protect. The misunderstanding had only gotten worse as the time drew on. Hn’rik seemed determined that someone should pay for the murder of his Lieutenant and the destruction and chaos that had been reaped on the Outer Ring of the planet. Sarka was a desolate place.

<’You say you are not responsible for this heinous crime, yet our planet has been attacked and you are found at the scene.’>

“You’re not listening!”

<’Do not speak to my Lord in such a way,’> ordered the brutish Mar’cel, bringing his weapon down on the back of Major Victory, and knocking him face first onto the granite flooring.

“Gentlemen,” sighed the feminine voice of Mantis. “If one would be permitted to speak then perhaps the dispute could be resolved?”

The congregation looked aghast at Mantis, she had broken a taboo. A smirk formed on the Emperor’s rigid features.

<’Go on,’> Hn’rik informed her to proceed after a moments thought.

<’But a female must not speak in the court!’> replied an astounded Queen Vik’trya indignantly.

<’Hold your tongue, dear sister,’> Rap’rt reminded her as he leaned forward in his chair.

Mantis stared at Major Victory as he adjusted himself back into a seated position. Her skin tingled in an anticipation that she had never felt. It was clear in Hn’rik’s thoughts that he intended to make a statement to his foes with them, a public execution was his current thought but what he had planned for her was viler than she cared to think of. Turning her eyes back towards the judge of their fates, she prepared to work her charms. All the time she had been manipulated their thoughts so that they understand their words.

“One is called Mantis, and we are from the planet of Earth. One’s purpose here is not to harm you, but it is our intention to save you. There are creatures from an ancient race that plan to destroy your world and all those who live in it. Allow us to help you; blaming us will not avenge the deaths of those to come.”

Mantis made her plea bargain, even if it only bought them some extra time.

Rocket noticed the concentration portrayed against Drax’s face and it worried him. Bristling his whiskers with a sniff, he leaned forward just a few inches so he made eye contact with the Major. A smell was clearly in the air, perhaps it was simply because of his enhanced sense of smell but Rocket could sense that there was a power stronger than any he had known in the room. First hand, Rocket had learnt the power of Drax back when he had met the Starjammers for the first time, without the cloaked figure he wouldn’t have survived to suffer this fate.

Drax’s eyes were closed; his face was tight and tense.

Mar’cel continued to pace around them, a thuggish grin spread across his face as he smacked the truncheon in his hand. There was violence in his eyes that caused Rocket to wonder what kind of law enforcement he was. It was clear to the anthropomorphic raccoon that these qualities were not those of an upstanding gentleman.

Since his ‘birth,’ Rocket had been a man of the law. No one was a better judge of character.

Hn’rik prepared to give his verdict but as he did, it all went wrong.

<’Open your eyes, cretin,’> ordered Mar’cel as he brought the truncheon down towards his prisoner.

Drax opened his eyes.

The Market Place, Knowhere
The Rip, End of the Universe

It was unusual for her.

Persephone was anxious about the well being of someone other than herself, the Major. In her head there was turmoil and annoyance yet as she walked through the Market stalls of Knowhere she realised that even in the harshest of times life goes on. It would have made sense for her to think of this before now, had she really thought her mother just moped while she was in Hades?

Ruffling her long blonde hair, which shimmered like gold in the light of the deck, she stopped only to run her hands across a scarf that looked like satin yet it felt like running water. The novelty was something that she briefly enjoyed. Normally, Persephone would be admiring the attention she received from others but for once she let them stare.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she failed to notice the small creature that watched her from beyond the market stand.

“Tik Tik.”

Sarka Imperium
Sarka, Tilnast Star System, Milky Way Galaxy

Desdmonea ran her hands through the hair of her partner as she smiled, the newlywed was hidden in everything but her eyes yet her beauty was evident. Long flowing hair of the deepest indigo, she was a rarity in all aspects. It wasn’t until she felt the tingling sensation running through her body that she realised that she had left the safety of her city. The princess had never given much thought to the woods that surrounded the city of Sarka but as she stood at the edge of them she knew she should leave.

Turning to walk away, Kohl grabbed her arm and pulled her back towards him.

<’There is no need to fear, my sweet.’>

<’Just trust me on this,’> she begged him.

Letting go of his wife, Kohl removed himself from her and walked further into the forestry. He was proving an unnecessary point. Desdmonea had learned from a young age that she had a gift; there had always been a warning in her body when she was near danger. It was a tingling sensation. Her mother, Vik’trya, had often referred to her as foolish but her father, Hn’rik had often known the truth.

Kohl stood a few metres from her and she clutched her arms.

A purple, almost insectoid creature launched from a tree as it crashed into Kohl, sending him hurtling into the shrubbery. Desdmonea screamed and started forward but as she neared the creature and her husband, the monster ripped Kohl’s chest apart and the blood splattered his wife.

Standing in shock as she watched the creature eat her husband, Desdmonea was unable to move.

Screaming when the beast turned to face her, Desdmonea ran for her life. The light of the city burst to the trees as she rushed forward. Collapsing onto the hard pavement of the city centre, the rustling of the dead leaves had left her ears as she panted. The beast was gone, or waiting for the next person foolish enough to enter the cave.

<’My lady, what happened?’> enquired her handmaiden, Amarelle.

Before a single word could be ushered from her lips, the beast’s green and slimy tongue shot out from the trees and grabbed the princess. she was dragged back into the darkness. The screams stopped when her blood shot out over all in the vicinity of her death.

Amarelle screamed, and she ran.

Sarka Imperium Citadel
Sarka, Tilnast Star System, Milky Way Galaxy

Mere seconds after the green aliens eyes had opened, a blast of energy fired from his hands. The blast propelled Drax backwards, catching Mar’cel in his path, and the two collided against the cold hard wall. The chains that held the prisoners together snapped and all were pulled back alongside him.

Crawling from the crevice, the bald being reached in and pulled Mar’cel into sight before throwing him towards the thrones of his lords.

“Is this what you bind me with?” he growled.

Major Victory pushed himself to his feet, the voice was not the voice he had previously heard and the eyes were clearer and they made him uneasy. This was not the Arthur he had met back on Knowhere, it was someone entirely knew. The Major knew little to nothing about the alien race from which he had come, and this could easily be a trait of that race but there were more pressing matters at hand. Lifting the shield that had once been weld by the Captain America of his time, the Major tossed it towards the man he had too easily trusted.

“Justice truly will be served,” grinned Drax maliciously as he placed his foot on the General’s head.

The Control Panel, Knowhere
The Rip, End of the Universe

Continuing to tap on the keys of the Control, Bill found he was having little to know avail. Whatever had happened to the ground team upon their arrival on Sarka was unknown, but he had now been out of contact with them for far too long. He’d been out of contact with anyone for far too long, S.H.E.I.L.A was still out of operation and Persephone had yet to return from her latest strop. Bill was a man who worked well on his own but it wasn’t something he would have chosen given the circumstances.

It wasn’t that anything frightened him; Bill was a capable and brutal warrior when he needed to be but when he was in unfamiliar surroundings in the middle of nowhere, it wasn’t exactly a favourable position.

A crash startled him, and Bill jumped to his feet, his eyes darted around as he searched for the disrupting influence. Lights flickered in the teleportation bay, something he had initially missed but now he would confront this face first. Reaching for the Stormbreaker, Bill edged towards the room that had seen the exit of his comrades only hours before.

Bursting in, he paused at the site of the beast ahead of him.

It was one of the Uncreated that he had saw destroy that being, and in its mouth was a bloodied and torn body. As he tightened his grip of Stormbreaker and moved closer, he was shocked to see the device that dropped from it mouth with the body.

It was one of the teleportation devices that had been given to the ground team.

Sarka Imperium Citadel
Sarka, Tilnast Star System, Milky Way Galaxy

Footsteps sounded but that did little to appease her, everything felt hollow as she walked down the hallway, which was so familiar, towards the Citadel. In a matter of moments, her whole life had shattered before her very eyes. She had always been certain of her path, never before had she doubted anything that her Gods had shown her but now she was uncertain, it was too late to do anything now. She knew the past could not be changed.

Pushing open the large doors, the young Sarka woman entered. Her eyes were wide with shock, and the grey blood of her people dripped from her flawless body. She paid no attention to the chaos that was ahead of her, one of her one people held under the hand of a stranger.

Amarelle simply stopped, Vik’trya screamed upon the sight of her and the others of the Royal family raised themselves from their thrones and stared at her in disbelief.

<’We’re too late,’> she breathed heavily before she collapsed.