Revelations
As Ikaris regained consciousness, he gasped for breath as his body ached from being drained by Asmund, and as he got up weakly, he realized that it was nighttime on Thena's property and he had no idea how much time had passed since Asmund had battled them and then flew off to who knows where. Ikaris looked around the property, looking for any indication on where Asmund may have flown off to, but didn’t see anything that could help him and he heard footsteps coming up to him before looking up to see Thena coming up beside him with a pensive look upon her face.
“You okay?” she asked Ikaris who nodded slowly, “Asmund has learned some new abilities since the last time we saw him…he never had that power before.”
“I watched over Asmund during his time away from us.” Ikaris told her and he looked at her with a dead serious look in his eyes, “He never gained a power like that on his adventures as part of the Avengers.”
“Perhaps some hidden ability that he has had since the beginning?” Thena mused thinking to herself but shook the thoughts away, “We need to find the others and tell them what is going on especially something about the Emergence?”
“Wait…” Ikaris said realizing something as he went inside the hut and inside the bedroom where he found Asmund’s phone laying on the nightstand.
He picked up the phone as Thena entered the room, and looked at its screen in confusion, not knowing how to operate it since he never had owned one so he started pressing buttons on the touchscreen when suddenly a video appeared showing Dane who seemed to be inside of his office back in London.
Ikaris? Dane questioned confused, What are you doing with Asmund’s phone?
“Dane, thank goodness.” Ikaris said in relief as he let out a grateful sigh, “Listen Dane…I need some help. Can you help me get ahold of Sersi?”
Sersi isn’t with you? Dane asked with a tilt of his head and Ikaris shook his head causing Dane to shake his head as if deciding not to ask questions, Very well, if she has service on her phone then I can try giving her call just give me a few moments.
Dane called Sersi and soon a video of the Eternal appeared on Asmund’s phone as she seemed to be a forest which made Ikaris believe that Sersi had joined Kingo in finding Druig within the Amazon forest located in Peru.
Ikaris? she questioned confused, Dane?
“Sersi, is Ajak with you?” Ikaris asked her quickly and she shook her head.
No, she went with Sprite to find Phastos. Sersi explained and Ikaris groaned in frustration, Ikaris, what is going on?
“Let me talk to her.” Thena offered as she saw the conflict within him as he was trying to decide what to do, “Go find Ajak then meet the rest of us in Peru…I shall head out to meet Sersi’s team while you go find Ajak.”
“Are you certain?” Ikaris asked her and she nodded as she smiled at him.
Ikaris handed her the phone before rushing out of the hut and blasting into the skies, flying towards Phastos’ home as fast as he could as he hoped that they would be able to find Asmund after gathering Phastos and Druig.
Sersi had arrived with Kingo in Peru to locate Druig, who was in charge of a small village in the forest and using his mind-control abilities to take over the villagers so they obey him and have no conflicts throughout the village, which Sersi found disturbing however she wasn't there to argue with his methods and instead was there to warn him concerning the Deviants and that they needed to unite together to confront the monsters. As Kingo was explaining the situation to Druig, Sersi’s phone rang and she walked outside of the small hut to open her phone and saw Dane and Ikaris on screen in a conference call of some sorts and she could tell that something was off with Ikaris as she saw that he looked like as if he was just in a battle.
“Ikaris?” she questioned confused, “Dane?”
Sersi, is Ajak with you? Ikaris asked quickly and she shook her head.
“No, she went with Sprite to find Phastos.” she told him and saw him groan in frustration as if something was weighing heavily on his mind, “Ikaris, what is wrong?”
Let me talk to her Thena’s voice came in from the background and Ikaris turned to her, Go find Ajak and then meet the rest of us in Peru…I shall head out to meet Sersi’s team while you go find Ajak
Are you certain? Ikaris asked her and Sersi watched as some relief filled the Eternal’s eyes before seeing Thena’s face coming into view of the phone looking as worried as Ikaris had been.
“Thena, what is going on?” Sersi questioned urgently as she grew concerned about what may have happened, “Is everyone alright there? Did the Deviants attack you guys? What about Asmund, is he awake?”
He attacked us, Sersi Thena said and Sersi looked at her in shock at this revelation, Ikaris has told me that Asmund attacked you guys at Ajak’s farm, but he believes that this time is different…he said that Asmund showed uncontrollable rage at the farm?
“That is correct.” Sersi confirmed as she nodded while walking through the small village.
Well, Asmund wasn’t showing any emotion while battling us. Thena told her, It was as if he was being controlled by someone or something?
Sersi widened in horror as a horrifying thought raced through her mind as she turned back to the hut where Druig and Kingo were talking, wondering if in some way Druig somehow controlled their powerful Eternal friend, but she then shook it off as it seemed impossible that Druig would do anything like that to their friend especially since Asmund was a dear friend to all of them including Druig.
“Does Ikaris have any idea who or what is controlling Asmund?” Sersi asked Thena as she returned to the conversation and saw Thena shaking her head.
No…just something about an Emergence? Thena answered musing to herself.
If you’d like, I can see if I can dig up anything about this ‘Emergence’ in the history books. Dane offered meekly and Sersi looked at him surprised, What? Just cause you guys are super heroes doesn’t mean that Asmund isn’t still my friend…if finding out what this ‘Emergence’ is can possibly help, then I’ll do my best to find out what I can.
“We appreciate that, Dane.” Sersi said smiling at the man who nodded and hung up, leaving Thena and Sersi to talk, “Anything that might help us?”
Just be careful if Asmund shows up before I get there. Thena warned her, He has the ability to absorb your strength and leave you defenseless and weakened.
“I shall notify the others to make sure we take the necessary precautions.” Sersi assured her, “See you soon.”
As she hung up the phone, she sighed heavily before turning to the hut and wondering if she should tell Druig what was happening because she thought he may have been involved in what was happening with Asmund, but she decided to hold off in order to wait for Thena's arrival and so she went on a walk outside of the village to clear her mind. While walking through the forest, she reflected on her past and how she and Asmund grew to be friends over the years after fighting side by side for years and growing to love humanity in spite of its flaws.
“Someday, all these fightings will stop.” Asmund said as he stood at a riverside overlooking a grand village in Egypt with Sersi coming up beside him and looked out to the horizon, “One day, all the humans shall come together and live for peace instead of squabbling amongst themselves over petty things.”
“Humanity has much to learn, but we can help guide them in the right direction towards peace.” Sersi replied as she nudged him on the arm slightly with a smile on her face and he looked at her, “It’s our mission after all…help guide the human race.”
“Mission…” Asmund muttered as if he was trying to remember something and his eyes glossed over as he became rigid and his cosmic swords were summoned to his hands, “Everyone is going to die…no one can stop it.”
“Asmund?” Sersi questioned worriedly as she saw him in a fighting mode and she reached towards him, only for him to turn towards her in a flash and slash down upon her with the intent to kill, “Asmund!”
Her eyes widened in horror as she barely dodged Asmund’s blades as she got cut on the shoulder and then fell down onto the ground as he stood over her and prepared to attack again when suddenly Makkari appeared and knocked him back with her super-speed as the other Eternals came running up towards Sersi. Ikaris flew quickly to aid Makkari as the others got closer and Sprite looked at Sersi in confusion.
“What the hell happened?” she asked as Ajak rushed up to Sersi and healed her wound while Gilgamesh, Thena, and Kingo stood in front of Sersi, Ajak, and Sprite in order to form a barrier against Asmund just in case he came back for them.
“I don’t know…we were just talking and then he attacked me.” Sersi answered shaking her head frantically, “This has never happened before and I have no idea what is going on with him.”
“I am going after them.” Ajak said as she stood up, “I am hoping that I can mend his mind if something is wrong.”
“I shall go with you.” Kingo offered and he looked at Thena and Gilgamesh, “You two alright here?”
“Go, we shall hold him off if he comes back.” Gilgamesh told Kingo as he nodded and Ajak ran off with Kingo to try and catch up with Makkari and Ikaris while Thena and Gilgamesh stayed by Sprite and Sersi.
Having been witnesses to the first of many violent outbursts, the others had tried to help him get over the rampages to no avail and Ajak was forced to suggest that Asmund's memories should be erased as a way to prevent any more random attacks from occurring, but no one could stand the thought of Asmund's memories being erased until Asmund said that he was going to accept it. The others were shocked but Asmund knew what that truly mean for him, but said that the others would be safer if his memories were erased and he would accept the consequences. Sersi had watched Ikaris and Asmund walk together off together that depressing night knowing that the two were likely spending their last time together, saying goodbye to one another and wishing for more time together but knowing that wouldn't be possible as long as Asmund’s uncontrollable rampages continued to harm the team and no other cure was available to help his mind heal. Ikaris had been devastated to see Asmund leaving with Ajak and Druig to erase his mind on the Doma and never returning as, according to Ajak and Druig, Asmund's powers had blown out of control during the process and he disappeared right in front of them before the process could be completed, and it would be another thousand or so years before Ikaris found him when the Avengers were able to save him from the Russians.
Meanwhile in Chicago; Ikaris arrived at Phastos’ home and landed gently on the ground as to not destroy the pavement and he started walking up to the house in urgency when Ajak came out of the house in confusion with Sprite and their friend, Phastos, behind her.
“Ikaris?” Ajak said confused as she walked up to him and looked upon him in horror at the injured sight of Ikaris and saw that something heavy was weighing on his mind, “What has happened?”
“It’s Asmund…” Ikaris replied shakily as sadness began to overcome him as he started sobbing in front of the Eternals and Ajak immediately hugged him in comfort before looking at Phastos.
“Come inside.” Phastos said motioning for the way inside and Ajak helped Ikaris inside where they went and sat down in Phastos’ living room as another man came in from the hallways.
“Babe?” the man said looking at Phastos confused.
“Ben, this is Ikaris.” Phastos told the man as he introduced the hurt Eternal, “Do you mind taking Jack outside for just a little bit?”
Ben looked towards Ikaris with a look of uncertainty before nodding and heading down the hall where he got a little boy and carried him outside so Phastos and the others could talk in privacy.
“I’m sorry to intrude like this, Phastos.” Ikaris sniffled as he wiped his eyes to try and dry his tears.
“Ben and Jack know about who I am but I rather keep them out of immediate danger by knowing what we’re dealing with right now.” Phastos said and he took in a heavy sigh, “Now what is this about our dear friend?”
He didn't leave out any details when he related what he and Thena saw when they were watching over Asmund, such as how Asmund's new power would absorb their strength and leave them defenseless and how Thena had spoken of an Emergence, which caused Ajak to sit back with a numb look on her face and Ikaris noticed her look immediately as he turned to her suspiciously.
“Do you know about this Emergence?” he questioned slanting his eyes and she looked at him sadly as she let out a deep regretful sigh.
“The Emergence is a cosmic event that gives birth to a Celestial like Arishem.” She told everyone in the room, “In order for a Celestial to be born, it requires the presence of a large number of intelligent beings on a planet that a Celestial's seed was planted on. The Emergence can be delayed by a sudden drop in global population, such as when the Infinity Stones were used by Thanos to cause the Snap. In the final moments leading up to an Emergence, the host planet is wracked by global earthquakes and tsunamis as the nascent Celestial begins to break out of the crust to become fully formed. Due to its immense size during the Emergence, the Celestial causes the world to break apart and kills everything during its Emergence thus destroying planets and life as it completes.”
As everyone sat in the room stunned by this revelation, it dawned on Ikaris that this was what Asmund meant all those times he went on a rampage and said that everyone would die, which meant that he was remembering past Emergences when the others thought he was just going mad because of his powers overwhelming him and Ikaris felt awful that he couldn’t have seen that Asmund wasn’t mad at all during his rampages but instead just reacting to what he was seeing and feeling when witnessing the previous Emergences.
“So does Earth have a Celestial then?” Phastos asked worriedly and Ajak nodded sadly causing Phastos to sit back in shock while running a hand over his face, “Alright, how can we stop it?”
“I’m not sure and I can’t ask Arishem since he is wanting the Emergence to happen.” Ajak answered with a shake of her head, “But I believe that we have a chance of possibly stopping it if we all work together, so we need to find Asmund and break the control over him.”
Papa! a boy’s voice cried out from outside and Phastos lunged out of his seat before rushing out of the house.
The others followed him quickly only to stop in horror at the scene before them as they looked up to see Asmund hovering in the air above them with Ben in his clutches struggling in Asmund’s tight grip while Jack was on the ground crying.
“Ben!” Phastos yelled fearfully and Asmund looked down at them, “Asmund, please don’t do this…just gently put him down.”
“Can you intervene quickly?” Ajak whispered towards Ikaris and he slanted his eyes as he analyzed the situation and nodded subtly, “Go now.”
In a flash, Ikaris shot towards Asmund to save Ben when suddenly a flash of green light appeared as Asmund snapped his fingers causing everything slowing down as though time itself was being manipulated, and Ikaris cursed mentally as he recalled that Asmund had copied the powers of the Infinity Stones while with the Avengers, thus was able to use the Time Stone’s abilities and move around freely as the others were frozen in place. Asmund turned his head towards Ben, who was still in his clutches, and raised his free hand as he summoned lightning and was ready to kill Ben when someone grabbed his hand before he could strike down causing Asmund to turn his head and looked to see Ikaris struggling to keep Asmund from killing Phastos’ husband.
“Interesting…” Asmund muttered as he tilted his head in amusement that Ikaris could still move in the radius of the Time Freeze.
“Asmund, this isn’t you…” Ikaris groaned as they battled their arms against each other, “This human doesn’t need to die.”
“You’re right.” Asmund agreed and the next moment, Ikaris felt something stabbing through his gut causing immense pain to flow through his body.
He coughed up blood as the realization hit him and he looked down to see that Asmund had let go of Ben, who was still hovering in the air, before thrusting his hand deep into Ikaris’ gut and twisting his hand around the organs causing the injured Eternal to cough up more blood while tremendous pain continued to flash through his body.
“I’m giving you one last warning, Ikaris.” Asmund said as he dug his hand deeper into the Eternal’s gut, “Don’t try to stop me or the Emergence or else you shall die for real next time.”
“Asmund, I know that you’re in there.” Ikaris said trying to brace the pain, “You have to fight this…please, love…fight.”
Suddenly Asmund grunted as his hand was slowly yanked out by itself and he hovered away from Ikaris, clutching his head as if he was struggling mentally, and Ikaris groaned as he grabbed Ben and flew him back down to the ground weakly before looking back at Asmund to see that he had disappeared, thus resuming time and the others became unfrozen.
“Oh my god, Ben…” Phastos said as he rushed over to his husband and held him close while Ajak ran over to Ikaris and started healing his wound, “Are you alright?”
“I’m okay.” Ben assured him, “I thought Asmund was one of the good guys?”
“He’s being controlled.” Ikaris groaned and they all looked at him, “And I believe that Asmund is trying to fight the controller’s hold…he could have injured me more, but he didn’t…something happened that caused him to break his hold and then disappear and I have an idea on who it might be.”
“Who?” Sprite asked and Ikaris took in a deep breath before looking at them seriously.
“Arishem…” he said causing the others to gasp in shock at the possibility that the Celestial would be controlling Asmund to rush in the Emergence.
Asmund appeared at an active volcano located in the Indian Ocean, gasping for breath as he fell to the ground and clutched his head while trying to calm down.
Not so strong are you, Arishem Asmund’s voice echoed from within and the Eternal’s eyes widened as he looked up and saw Asmund standing in front of him with his arms crossed as his body was transparent, You need to give it up.
“Asmund, you always were a strong one.” Arishem said slanting his eyes, “You aren’t strong enough to beat me and stop the Emergence though.”
Ikaris knows that I am still fighting, Arishem. Asmund told the Celestial that was inhabiting his body, They are going to break your hold on me and stop the Emergence.
“We shall see, Asmund.” Arishem said standing up and glaring at the spirit of Asmund before walking right through him, “None of your friends shall save you and your beloved shall die by this body.”
You’re wrong, Arishem. Asmund replied turning to his body while slanting his eyes, You are going to lose this war and so are the Deviants.
“Silence!” Arishem shouted as he summoned a cosmic sword and sliced through Asmund’s spirit making it vanish.
Arishem sighed in irritation as Asmund’s voice faded away and the Celestial looked up into the skies.
“It shall begin.” he said as his glowed red and he slammed his hands down upon the Earth, blasting cosmic energy into the Earth’s core as he began the preparations to summon the Celestial Tiamut.