The Avengers (Marvel;Re)/Issue 5 (GazzaB9)

The fifth issue of Ant-Man's Avengers in Marvel;Re and the fifth part of the "Stellify" arc.

Synopsis
After discovering the true nature of Adam Kadmon as well as finding out that someone is erasing the universe, the Avengers decide to find and interrogate Galactus, who they hope has some information about the situation. Things do not go as planned.

Plot (unfinished)
Picking up shortly after we previously left off, the Avengers, Stella, Tel-Kar, and Kl'rt all gather around a table. Kl'rt and Tel-Kar stare daggers at each other from across the table.


 * Wasp: In hindsight, inviting Tel-Kar into the room probably wasn't the best idea...
 * Tel-Kar: No, it's my fault for accepting.
 * Super-Skrull: Apologies for my stoic nature around you, it's just that I can smell the blood of my people emanating from your pours so I'm a little bit angry right now...
 * Tel-Kar: You've killed a lot of my people too, don't act like a saint, Skrull.
 * Ant-Man: Listen, I know that the Skrulls and Kree have never had a good relationship, but can we put that aside for now? Countless people died on Hala when it erased and we have to find out what did it before Tarnax IV and maybe even Earth suffer the same fate.
 * She-Hulk: Yeah, you said we had to meet Galactus for that or something?
 * Ant-Man: Look, I know it makes me sound insane, but like I said before, Vision told us that whatever is erasing the universe has energy readings that are similar to a Cosmic Entity and Cosmic Entities aren't particularly easy to find. The ones like Lady Death are always in their own realms, it's very hard to get a conversation started with a Celestial, and I'm not even sure a lot of them are actually allowed to help us in the first place. The only Cosmic Entity that's easy to reach and who's actually willing to talk to people is Galactus.
 * Moon Knight: Galactus is a lunatic, there's no way he's willing to help us!
 * Hercules: Actually, Galactus is surprisingly humble. He once confessed to me that he had been defeated by Ego, The Living Planet, and requested my help in defeating him.
 * Spider-Woman: You know, I never actually met the guy. During all of his attacks on Earth I never actually was one of the heroes that had to confront him. Is he nice?
 * Wasp: He very much is not! Hank, I can't believe you're honestly considering asking Galactus for help!
 * Vision: To be fair, Galactus and Earth have had a peace treaty signed for a good few years now.
 * Wasp: Yeah, Earth. He can still attack us if we're in space!
 * Ant-Man: Can you think of any other way of finding out what the Cosmic Entity is?
 * Wasp: Oh, I don't know, maybe we should track it down instead of GALACTUS!
 * Vision: We can't. The energy emitted by the entity I scanned isn't enough to track it down. I would need to directly scan it. I don't have scans of it due to the fact I have never met it before but I do have scans of Galactus.
 * Wasp: Well... is there literally nowhere else we can find out?! We found out Stella was Adam Kadmon from books, maybe we can find something written in some books about the thing?!
 * Super-Skrull: Trust me, if knowledge of this entity was written down anywhere then it would be everywhere. Every creature in the universe would know it exists and fear its name.
 * Wasp: Then why don't... We could... This...

Wasp grasps her head.


 * Wasp: Oh dear God, we have to meet Galactus...
 * Tel-Kar: How do you actually plan on finding Galactus, though? In spite of his size, he's not known for being easy to find. And I doubt that the android's scanners can reach far enough to track him down.
 * Stella: I can help.
 * Ant-Man: How so?
 * Stella: My power may be fading, but I think I have enough left in me to empower someone else. If The Vision borrows some power from me then he may be able to increase his scanner's radius wide enough to find him. Though it'll drain a good chunk of the small power I have left in the process.
 * Wasp: Stella, we can't risk doing that. We don't know how much power you actually have left or what it'll do to you if you drain it too much.
 * Stella: I don't care. If this helps me find out who I am and saves the universe in the process then I'll do it.
 * Tel-Kar: Sacrificing your power to try and save people you've never and will probably never meet. How human of you.
 * Stella: Thank you.
 * Tel-Kar: That wasn't a compliment.
 * Stella: I know.
 * Vision: If you're truly willing to, then I'm more than happy to accept an energy donation from you.

Stella gets up and walks up to Vision. She takes a breath and looks up at him. Vision grabs the sides of Stella's head and she begins donating her energy to him, the stone of Vision's forehead glowing as she does. When she's done, Vision lets her go and she trips slightly but it caught by Wasp. Vision then opens his eyes, which are glowing bright yellow.


 * Vision: I know where he is. Follow me.

Later, the Avengers and Stella are boarding the spaceship they originally arrived on the Kree moon with. Hank talks to Super-Skrull and Tel-Kar before leaving.


 * Ant-Man: What'll you two do if this planet starts to be erased as well?
 * Super-Skrull: I'll attempt to evacuate as many people as possible.
 * Ant-Man: And you, Tel-Kar?
 * Tel-Kar: Accept my fate.
 * Ant-Man: What?
 * Tel-Kar: I am currently one of the last Kree alive. The Queen of my people is dead. The heir to her throne was one of the first to go. The Supreme Intelligence was wiped out with my planet. What am I meant to do? Gather up other survivors? The Kree have enemies all across the galaxy, no sane planet would willingly take us in and risk one of those enemies attacking them. Even the people of Earth would treat us with fear due to some of the actions we've committed against it. If this planet were to be erased, I'd be more than happy to allow myself to be erased with it. Who knows? Maybe the Etherplex is real and I'll be reunited with my people.

Ant-Man stares at Tel-Kar. He opens his mouth to say something but closes it, lost for words.


 * Tel-Kar: You have a mission to attend to. Get to it to make sure none of that will have to happen.
 * Ant-Man: Y... Yeah...

Hank gets on to the ship with the others. The door closes behind him and the ship takes off into hyper speed.


 * Super-Skrull: You would honestly allow yourself to die if this planet were to be erased?
 * Tel-Kar: Would you not if you had been through what I've been through?
 * Super-Skrull: No. I would live. I would keep my people's blood flowing, even if it meant I was the only one left and had to resort to creating half-breed children, I would keep the Skrull Empire alive.
 * Tel-Kar: That truly sounds like the mindset of a Skrull.
 * Super-Skrull: Apologies for ignoring your comment but I have a question. Why didn't you go with The Avengers? If Galactus truly can point them to the entity that wiped out the Kree, wouldn't you want to take revenge for your people's demise?
 * Tel-Kar: In this case, vengeance is pointless. Killing the man who wiped out my people would feel good but it wouldn't bring them back. Although, I must admit, a part of me does want to know the one responsible.
 * ???: Do you?

Tel-Kar and Super-Skrull both turn and see a humanoid entity whose body is half white with the other half seemingly being made of the universe.


 * ???: Do you really?
 * Super-Skrull: Who... who are you...?
 * ???: I am no one. I haven't gained enough power to forge my identity.
 * Tel-Kar: What does that--
 * ???: One more planet would most likely let me gain my name. I'm so ashamed that it took me this long to grow my power enough to generate my body...
 * Tel-Kar: ...It was you... You killed the Kree...
 * ???: You're only now realizing? I thought that you would have figured that out the moment you saw me.
 * Super-Skrull: And I assume you're now here for Tarnax?
 * ???: Naturally.
 * Super-Skrull: That's all I needed to hear...

Kl'rt's arms grow in size until they rip his sleeves, revealing they've turned to stone not unlike The Thing's. They then catch on fire, à la Human Torch. Meanwhile, Tel-Kar's Sleeper symbiote completely covers his body, turning him into his full symbiote form.


 * Sleeper: I never thought I'd fight alongside a Skrull.
 * Super-Skrull: I didn't want to fight alongside a Kree, so I suppose we're even.

Sleeper lets out a small laugh before initiating the battle by very quickly making his way towards the entity and turning his arms into axes, cutting both of the entity's arms off. He then kicks the entity on to the ground and, moments later, a psychic forcefield created by Super-Skrull covers the entity. Super-Skrull then snaps his fingers, igniting the inside of the forcefield and covering the entity completely in fire. Eventually, the fire and forcefield dissipate, revealing the entity is completely gone.


 * Sleeper: Disintegrated... Good.
 * Super-Skrull: I feel as if you should know I did all of the work there.
 * Sleeper: Oh, please, if I hadn't cut his arms off he would have broken free easy.
 * Super-Skrull: Keep telling yourself that.

They both hear someone clapping and absolute horror crosses their faces. They turn around and their fears are confirmed when they see the entity clapping for them.


 * ???: So strong. You're both immensely powerful warriors.

The entity raises his hand in the air and energy erupts from it, completely covering the planet and wiping out everyone on it until it's left a hollow husk like Hala before it. The entity that destroyed the planet hovers in front of Tarnax IV's corpse with a content smile on his face.


 * ???: Finally... I remember my name...

Later, the Avengers continue flying through space. Moon Knight pilots and Vision gives him directions while the other Avengers sit in their respective seats. Due to lacking a seat for her, Stella sits on a nearby table.


 * Vision: We're very close to his location. It won't take long now.
 * Wasp: You say that like it's a good thing...
 * She-Hulk: Why are you so afraid of Galactus?
 * Wasp: Why are you not!? He's tried to eat our planet multiple times! And he's always got the exact same look on his face, it's impossible to tell what he's thinking!
 * Spider-Woman: Honestly, I'll take Galactus over the Skrulls any day. Their Queen really messed my head up when she impersonated me and stole a whole year from my life...
 * She-Hulk: You would take Galactus... over the Skrulls...?
 * Spider-Woman: Yeah?
 * She-Hulk: You know literally nothing about Galactus, do you...?
 * Spider-Woman: I know he's big and powerful.
 * Stella: He's more than that.
 * Spider-Woman: What do you mean?
 * Stella: Galactus is the fear of all races across the universe. His infinite hunger that causes him to devour planets is known far and wide. He's so terrifying that he's become the bogeyman of many species, who tell their children stories about him to scare them into behaving themselves.
 * Spider-Woman: Oh... well, holy crap...
 * Stella: Holy crap indeed...

Hercules leans in to She-Hulk and whispers to her.


 * Hercules: So, this isn't the best time but since we're about to meet Galactus and we've got a 50/50 chance of dying I thought I'd ask, are we going out now or was that thing on the moon--
 * She-Hulk: I'm not ready to be tied down, Herc.
 * Hercules: Okay, okay, that's cool. But, uh... when you are ready to be tied down, how much of a shot do I have?

She-Hulk does the "so-so" hand motion.


 * Hercules: Damn it...

They all suddenly hear a loud humming noise and turn around to see Ant-Man messing with a bunch of wires.


 * Ant-Man: Sorry.

He goes back to doing his thing.


 * Wasp: Hank, are you okay?
 * Ant-Man: I'm fine, why?
 * Wasp: You haven't said anything since we took off. You sure you're doing fine?
 * Ant-Man: I'm completely fine.
 * Wasp: Hank, it's okay to--
 * Ant-Man: Damn it, don't distract me!

Everyone goes quiet and stare at Hank, surprised at his sudden outburst. Stella in particular looks very disappointed in Hank.


 * Ant-Man: I, uh... sorry. I guess seeing Hala be wiped out messed with my head more than I thought. It's, like... I know that it's not my fault but I just somehow think I could've stopped it. And, yeah, I know I couldn't have but... I don't know, I just feel like all those deaths could've been avoided if I just did something a little different.

Wasp frowns and gets out of her seat. She flies up to Hank and crouches down in front of him. She then delivers a swift slap to his face.


 * Ant-Man: Agh! What was that for!?
 * Wasp: For God's sake, Hank, you know for a fact that there was nothing you could do! There's absolutely nothing you could've done differently that would've miraculously saved them all! Don't think this bullcrap is your freakin' fault, you're gonna mess your head up if you start thinking that way! Your head's already been messed up once, I couldn't stand seeing it be messed up again!

Ant-Man rubs his cheek while thinking about Wasp's words.


 * Wasp: WE!
 * Ant-Man: What?
 * Wasp: I said that I couldn't stand it, I meant we!
 * Stella: Good save.
 * Wasp: Shut up, you little...!
 * Moon Knight: We're here.
 * Spider-Woman: How do you know?

Moon Knight points out the window at Galactus' gigantic spaceship the Star Sphere, which is hovering through space in front of them.


 * Spider-Woman: Is that his?
 * She-Hulk: You don't even know what his spaceship looks like?! The damn thing floated over Earth for hours!

The spaceship flies up to the Star Sphere, which does nothing about its presence. Moments later, The Avengers float out of their ship in space suits and land on the Star Sphere.


 * Ant-Man: The ship isn't reacting at all to our presence... Something's very wrong here...
 * Spider-Woman: How are we meant to get inside?

Hercules walks up and headbutts the glass door of the Star Sphere completely shattering it.


 * Hercules: It repairs itself so get in fast.
 * Moon Knight: If you're this strong, it's a wonder how you lost against that Kree.
 * Hercules: Wha... you knew!? You weren't even there! Who told him?!
 * Wasp: I thought he needed to know.
 * Hercules: Why would he need to know that?!

The Avengers all get inside the Star Sphere, dropping the argument.


 * Hercules: I'm stronger than him, just so you know!
 * Wasp: Okay.
 * Hercules: I am!

The Avengers continue forward, a very upset Hercules following them.


 * Stella: What if I'm bad...?
 * Ant-Man: What?
 * Stella: I'm about to find out who I actually am. What if it turns out my mind was wiped for a good reason and I'm bad...?
 * Ant-Man: I'm sure you're not.
 * Stella: But what if...?
 * Ant-Man: ...If you turn out to be one of the bad guys, then I'll make sure to bring you back to your senses. Don't worry.
 * Stella: And if I have no sense to come back to...?
 * Ant-Man: Well...

Stella's face shifts to a mix of sadness and determination.


 * Stella: Mister Pym.
 * Ant-Man: Yes?
 * Stella: if it turns out I am evil and I attempt to attack you, I want you to fight back.
 * Ant-Man: O... okay.
 * Stella: And don't fight me as if I'm a friend that you can reach. I want you to fight me as if you intend to kill me...
 * Ant-Man: But I...

Stella looks at him.


 * Ant-Man: ...Okay. I'll do it...
 * Stella: Thank you, my friend.
 * Ant-Man: Friend... huh...
 * Vision: He's here.
 * Ant-Man: Excuse me?

Vision points at an incredibly large doorway in front of them. His eyes also stop glowing.


 * Vision: Beyond that doorway is Galactus. I can sense his energy from here...
 * Hercules: Let's go...

Hercules charges in through the doorway and dramatically points in front of him.


 * Hercules: Galactus! Tis I, Hercules! I have come to converse with thee and I am not afraid to face you in combat if you... um...

It's revealed Galactus is doing nothing but sitting in an almost meditative state in his chair.


 * Hercules: R... refuse...

The other Avengers walk into the room.


 * Hercules: He isn't doing anything, why isn't he doing anything?
 * Ant-Man: ...Galactus. I'm not sure if you're aware who I am, but I'm Hank Pym and these are my Avengers. We've come to ask you a few questions.

Galactus continues to do nothing. The Avengers all look at each other, very confused. Vision then floats up to Galactus.


 * Vision: Galactus. We are here to talk.

He doesn't react.


 * Hercules: Galactus! I helped you defeat Ego, The Living Planet! You owe me one! Now talk, damn it!

Galactus continues to sit in silence. However, he then lets out a long sigh and slowly opens his eyes.


 * Galactus: You have seven minutes...
 * Ant-Man: Wonderful. Now--
 * Spider-Woman: Are you okay, man? You seem, like... bummed.
 * Ant-Man: We aren't here to comfort the Eater of Worlds, Jessica.
 * Spider-Woman: Well, aren't you at least a bit curious what's making the strongest thing in the universe depressed?
 * Hercules: Well, he's not the strongest. He's like--
 * Spider-Woman: Oh, shut up...
 * She-Hulk: You know what? That's a good point. What the hell's going on, Gali?
 * Galactus: I am not depressed. I am simply waiting for my death.
 * Wasp: What? What could kill you?
 * Galactus: The heat death of the universe. I'm waiting for it to come for me.
 * Ant-Man: I'm guessing you're talking about that thing that's been wiping out planets?
 * Galactus: Yes.
 * Ant-Man: So it's going to kill you as well?
 * Galactus: It's already begun.

A hologram of a universe with a white circle surrounding it appears.


 * Wasp: What's this?
 * Galactus: The entire universe.
 * Wasp: And what's this white thing?
 * Galactus: That's a part of the universe.
 * Wasp: But... it's white...
 * Galactus: Yes. It's been completely eaten away by the heat death. It's tearing the universe apart to complete its destiny. And when the universe dies, I die along with it...
 * Spider-Woman: Why aren't you doing anything to stop him?
 * Galactus: It's the reason he was made. If I fought to save myself, the beings that keep the universe in-check would consider me their enemy. What's the point of fighting against destiny in the first place, let alone if it makes you an enemy of ones so powerful?

The Avengers all give looks to each other, acknowledging the hard situation Galactus is trapped in.


 * Ant-Man: Well... can we ask another question?
 * Galactus: You have a minute left, so I suppose.
 * Ant-Man: Who is Adam Kadmon?
 * Galactus: Why do you want to know?
 * Stella: Because I'm him. Or... I was him. It appears I've lost most of my memories and my power.
 * Galactus: Huh... odd...
 * Stella: What?
 * Galactus: Adam Kadmon is a name my brother goes by. The embodiment of the cosmos... Eternity.
 * Wasp: What!?
 * Hercules: How is that even possible!?
 * Spider-Woman: Who's Eternity?
 * Hercules: Eternity is... he's exactly what it says on the tin! He's the embodiment of everything! The universe itself! He's the biggest star in the galaxy and he's the smallest atom in the universe! But... why is he a little girl!?
 * Galactus: It makes more sense than you'd imagine. The universe is currently incredibly weak. It's weaker than it's ever been. So, to reflect that, Eternity took on the weakest form he's ever taken. A little girl.
 * Hercules: I don't... Okay then...

Ant-Man pats Stella's head once again.


 * Ant-Man: You hear that? You're not one of that bad guys! You're the biggest good guy there is!

Stella smiles and tears roll down her cheeks. However, she then gets angry and shakes her head to get rid of the tears.


 * Stella: Ugh! The water in my eyes are caused when I'm happy now!? The moment I think I'm starting to understand something, I find out something else that raises more questions!
 * Spider-Woman: So, now that we know for a fact who you are, do you want us to call you Eternity now and start calling you by male pronouns?
 * Stella: Hm... No, I don't think so. I don't resemble Eternity and I don't have his power, so I may as well be a different person. Until I am whole, you may continue to refer to me as both female and as "Stella".
 * Spider-Woman: Alright, sounds good. Now, let's head out!
 * Hercules: Hades yeah!
 * Wasp: Yeah! Let's go find the guy erasing the universe so we can kick his butt and turn Stella back into Eternity!
 * ???: Interesting...
 * Wasp: What? who was--

The entire Star Sphere begins moving, knocking all of the Avengers over. Everyone panics except for Galactus, who simply hangs his head, seemingly knowing what's happening. The Star Sphere eventually tilts enough for the massive eye of the entity to peer through the repaired glass door of the ship. Outside of the ship, the entity has grown so massive that it is able to hold the Star Sphere in its hands.


 * ???: You're all very confident in your abilities. So confident, in fact, that you believe you can defeat a being whose destiny is to destroy everything. Very interesting indeed... Oh, apologies.

The entity teleports inside of the Star Sphere, suddenly back to human size.


 * ???: I suppose that wasn't the best introduction, was it? I'm very sorry, I should've known better. I must've scared you all half to death! And, in spite of what I know a lot of you are thinking, I'm not here to kill any of you. At least, not yet.
 * Ant-Man: What the hell are you...?
 * ???: Ah, yes, a formal introduction! I knew I was forgetting to do something!

The entity turns around and bows to the Avengers.


 * Entropy: I am Entropy. The heat death of the universe and the total destruction of all. I am a member of the Seven Friendless, entities created to represent aspects of the universe. In my case, as I said, I represent the total end of all things. And I am also the son of Eternity.