Earth meets Nova Empire
Somewhere around the government:
“Sir?” the young woman was almost running now. “Sir please, there is an incident to discuss! The matter is rather urgent!”
At the new Avengers facilities, a large conference room was filled with some very illustrious people, some physically here and some on-screen in a live conference with them. Among the others, Stark sat back listening to an attorney who spoke for the consultation committee they had appointed when there was a disturbance outside. He heard some commotion and definitely someone tried to keep someone else out but soon the door was almost banged in and United States Secretary of State Ross appeared on the scene.
“Stark!” He exclaimed, and Tony could almost see steam emanating from his ears. “This is an unacceptable breach of the accords! I demand full cooperation to root out the newest threat to humanity and mankind in general! How could you hide some Inhumans and then even allow one of them to gain control of the planet!” I demand explanations!”
Tony just looked back rather calmly. The man was so out of it he didn’t even realize whom he was I a room with, his gaze absolutely fixated on him. “That’s hella lot of complaints and demands is it?” He stated and simply turned around again.
Before Ross could get himself wound up more, a slight cough from the other side of the room made him get silent again. When he turned around his face turned into a rather ill-looking shade of green, his mouth opened and closed but he could not get a word out.
“Anything else you have to say or ‘demand’ Secretary?” the stern voice of Matthew Ellis didn’t lose anything by being transferred over a screen. If not, I would like to go on and assess the actual situation. Oh, and thank you, Mr. Secretary,” the president of the united states went on, “for showing me life and in colour what I didn’t want to believe when I was told.”
Stark was very proud of himself that he managed not to laugh.
“I beg your pardon Sir but what have you been told and much more interesting by whom?”
The Secretary-General of the United Nations complained about a lack of US collaboration concerning the new threats to mankind and he especially complained about a lack of cooperation by you.” Ellis calmly went on. “He said, and I quote: he could not understand how I could send him a self-centred dick like you to assess and work at matters of such delicacy.”
The man settled back down a bit. “So, I find myself in the position to do a job that is not my job simply because I choose the wrong person for one of the most important positions in the world. Oh, and by the way, when did you plan on telling anybody you’d gotten in contact with an extra-terrestrial Empire and blandly denied their offer of negotiations?”
Ross paled and swayed, how could they already know about the contact from the Nova…oh no, the Secretary-General. Of course, they had contacted him as well. How could he be so stupid?
“Well, Mr. Ross,” the civil addressing shocked him more than anything else, “since the last thing we need right now is a political scandal running through the press, your considerable flaws will be overlooked for the moment but I suggest you sit down and don’t interfere further till we’re done to review the newest version of the Accords. Maybe this time we’ll find a solution that will do better than last time. After that, we need to prepare for the next UN meeting when the representatives of the Nova Empire will talk to all of us. The fact that our planet nowadays is sentient is also a complication we need to talk about. But funnily right now that of all things might not even be the most pressing matter.”
Ross let himself fall into a nearby chair. This was definitely the worst day of his life.
The preparations for the first official diplomatic meeting were meticulous. The information was given by Thor and the Guardians suggested that Nova Empire was one of the most powerful hegemonies in the Galaxy after all. It seemed a bit questionable that they had chosen the Guardians as agents now and then but no one could say with certainty they knew how things in outer space should be handled.
When the day came and the United Nations assembled, it was an impressive little fleet though that had appeared in space right next to earth. The entourage entering the assembly, presenting the flag and flanking the big screen consisted of a wide variety of aliens. Some looked very human, some not so much. The experienced diplomats had to admit it was a great display to show how many different species would back up the claims of the elected leader they would meet soon.
It eased their last uneasiness over the newly ratified Accords. They saw clearly now that the old accords and their racism would have been an extreme disadvantage in the upcoming negotiations with an empire that based upon the spirit of equality and united strength of so many different species, lots of them just as strong and capable by nature as many of the so-called Inhumans. It had been this warning that they should better not present themselves as frightened savages in front of possible new allies that had tipped the vote. The Secretary-General remembered the fear-driven decision that led to the first accords. It had been a dark day for the Security Council to push through a treaty that simply ignored the human rights of people just because they were born differently than others. He could not understand how they could have ratified something that forced people to do things just to be able to participate in society no one would ever ask from a policeman or a soldier. They had robbed the rights of privacy and self-determination of an unforeseeable number of people just to serve the fear-driven demands of some voices without even trying to make it right. Now there was a bigger threat out there, a threat that could cost them everything. Just this threat had managed what common sense should have done: unite the nations to fight together for their lives with everything they had. The fear of the Inhumans and other strong talents had led them to a decision that should have secured that things on earth stayed the way they were. Now they were forced to realize this was not going to happen anyways and if they alienated their greatest assets, they might be eradicated. The new Accords would not only appear to superhumans and aliens, but it was also an agreement the world had never seen before. It was an agreement of human rights, of general laws, of respect and protection. It would be applied to everybody setting foot on earth, treating everybody as equals, giving anyone the same rights and duties. It formulated sanctions for infringements against the agreed international laws, the human rights and avoidable destruction of property.
They were real. It was a very sad thought that they had to be threatened by alien fleets and mass destruction before they could have come up with something so sensible.
The Secretary-General stepped up to speak for them all. To face the leader of those alien empire and he had never been more nervous in his life.
Two of the aliens stepped forward holding guidons adorned with the sign of the Nova Empire, a red, axial-symmetric star. They flanked the big screen where Nova Prime appeared soon after they had taken their stands.
The woman appearing on the screen surrounded by her own assembly was very impressive. She smiled warmly at them all.
“Thank you for answering my request for communication.” She started with a calm and friendly voice. “I am Nova Prime, the elected leader of the Nova Corps and the elected speaker for the Nova Empire.” A slight murmur runs through the assembly, it hadn’t gone unnoticed that she hadn’t given her name.
“As far as I know it is customary to introduce oneself with their private names within your culture, so you might know that I was formerly known as Irani Rael, but my private life had to be left behind when I took on my duties, and so has my name. I dedicated myself to the goal of uniting my people, protecting them and give everything I have to bring peace upon all of us. This is what I’ve been elected for and so far, this has been my only duty.”
These words caused a slight uneasiness among the assembled people.
“This time though, the threat is bigger than anything the galaxy has ever faced before. We all are concerned and no one can avoid being affected if Thanos reaches his goal, it will destroy all of us.”
She looked stern now. Stern and worried. This woman was a master of presentation. “The mad Titan, last and mightiest of a race with unmeasurable power, had made it his goal to obliterate half of the population of the universe in what he believes is the only way to save the rest. What he doesn’t see is how much every single one of us can be of value, what he doesn’t realize is, with killing all those beings without consideration he might as well destroy any hope we might have to become worthy of living and ever grow above the reasons that led him to believe we have to be thinned out. Any being he destroys might be the one we need to mature ourselves, any single one might be the saviour we need to finally secure peace and equilibrium.”
She looked around and it was as if she addressed everyone personally. “The way we have seen our next of kin, the way we’ve seen strangers or aliens, this all might be what had limited us. We need each other, not for what we have in common, but for our differences. Only our uniqueness, only our ability to amend each other can bring rescue in this situation of dire menace to universal peace.”
Her eyes swept the room again. “It is my hope that we can find a way to come together. It is my hope we can bundle our resources, pool our uniqueness and become one in our goal to protect not just our own people, but the hope for unity and freedom for everybody.”
With this, she closed. It was dead silent in the room. The Secretary-General had to admit, this was a master politician he had to face.
While nations and planets were meeting and further actions were decided upon the Avengers initiative had their very own issues to deal with.
The new Accords had brought back the former fugitive Avengers. Now they had to be taken in again. Tony didn’t look forward to his first meeting with Rogers that’s for sure. He had barely found the time to think about what happened.
He had honestly tried to be fair, had tried to think about it in different ways but the final truth was, had Steve told him the whole truth from the beginning, had trusted him, the worst could have been prevented. There would have been other ways. He didn’t think Rogers was the root of all evil, heavens no, there was plenty of blame to go around. Tony was also more than willing to take responsibility for his role to let the Avengers fall apart but it wasn’t his fault alone. He could admit the Captain was right on the topic of the Account but the way he had dealt with their private situation was a completely different thing.
While mulling over it in the few moments to spare he found his rage against the Winter Soldier diminishing, his rage against his assumed friend grew stronger and stronger. Hating the Winter Soldier was like hating a gun instead of a killer. But what Steve had done was… he had thought they were friends, had poured much into that friendship and to learn that Steven had not trusted him, had not deemed him worthy of being able to deal with the truth hurt. The man had denied him the chance to come to terms with the information that the Winter Soldier killed his parents. This way he was responsible for Tony to discover the truth in the most hurtful and cruel way possible just because Mr. Star Spangled didn’t have confidence in Stark to be able to come to terms with everything.
Steve had decided Tony was petty and would not be able to overcome his rightful rage. He had denied Tony the chance to recognize those truly responsible and simply decided to keep his friend safe was too important to give Tony even a shred of a chance to do the right thing.
Stark could understand why Steve had shielded his friend, had protected him. He would have done the same had the situation been reversed. He could not understand that Steve had not given him the benefit of the doubt and didn’t even try to tell him everything and defend his friend before it was too late.
The mixed feelings had sorted themselves out. He hated Captain America.
So, when it was time to greet the old Avengers, welcome them back and prepare them for the upcoming battle he rather fled.
Better hide in Kamar-Taj and submerge himself in the task of helping Peter understand modern socio-economics than dealing with that.
It was peaceful in Kathmandu. The cool air and the early morning mists soothed his troubled soul more than he was willing to admit.
The first thing he saw when entering the premises after a troubling journey by portal was an even more troubling picture. Loki was training with the novices.
At least he hoped it was training since the masters were standing in a loose circle without interfering while the novices stormed the trickster from all sides trying to overpower him while he fought back furiously. The air drifting over from the training grounds was icy cold, Loki had transformed into his true self again and it looked as if he was exploring different abilities. Great, as if they needed an even stronger possible opponent on their hands. Stark wasn’t exactly sure if he really trusted the Jothun.
He silently stepped past the training grounds and went into the depth of the facility.
He knew his way deep down into the ancient room of runes now. It was a bit unsettling that he even knew and accepted something like a room of runes.
There he found Strange and Quill facing each other in an exercise of meditation. He let himself sag into a corner of the silent room and enjoyed the quiet, simply staring at the two figures in front of him.
After a while he saw a soft glow emanate from Quill, his body flickered and almost dissolved, just to become more solid again. Not simple meditation then he concluded.
After a while, Stephen started to speak. “Concentrate Peter. It is important you realize this body is no longer your real body, just an emanation of your mind. You need to be able to create an astral projection in order to ensure your independence from the earth. Then you also need to be able to control and materialize matter.”
He opened his eyes and looked at the other who had stopped his efforts looking downtrodden.
Stephen bowed forwards and patted the other's shoulder. “You know what the problem is right?” Peter sighed and nodded.
“I cling to my former existence too much to embrace the new.” He replied.
Stephen smiled. “Well, acceptance is the first step to development. We could see that with Loki already and if he could do it, you can do as well.” They both chuckled at that. “Let’s call it a day.” The Sorcerer went on, “I see we have a visitor for you.” Both of them turned to Tony and smiled.
“Time for another lesson then?” Quill asked, “Oh man I am ready you betcha!”
Tony allowed himself a little bit of doubt but got ready anyway.
After a while, it became clear that Quill was not ready though. He simply seemed unable to concentrate. Strange suggested another meditation to him and announced he had some things to discuss with Tony.
They left Quill behind and moved through the now silent premises.
“I don’t think he’ll be a good asset if Thanos would come tomorrow,” Stephen stated. “He struggles to accommodate his new form. If he had to fight, his lack of self-coordination could easily result in the complete destruction of the earth.”
Tony looked at the man. After they had a little bickering about who was responsible for Quill becoming Earth in the first place, the easy back and forth they had established right after their first official meeting had come back again. He was very worried about himself that the Sorcerer had been his most important confidant for a while now.
“What can we do?” He asked. Stephen just snorted. “Maybe not much. The training in the Mystic Arts seems to help. Whatever it is Loki does help too even if I must admit I don’t feel that good to let him.” Tony felt very relieved at that statement. “I must admit though that Loki’s presence feels a lot different on earth than it had the last time I met him. Besides, we have no choice but to trust him. Still, I would feel much better if he wasn't the only source of stability for our now sentient planet. Maybe that woman, Mantis, could help too if we could get her here, Peter told me she lived with his father for a long time. Maybe she can give some insight into a Celestial we cannot provide.”
Tony nodded slowly.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
With everybody fully immersed into either the first contact with the Nova Corps or the reintegration of former Avengers, it wasn’t that hard to sneak away Mantis. Well, he had to take the other Guardians too but they weren’t that busy at the facilities anyway. Maybe the help of his friends would do Quill good after all.
The reuniting was promising. They were rough with each other, almost to the brink of disdain but Tony recognized their banter for what it truly was. A token display of deep friendship. He felt a slight ache when he remembered how his team had been before everything fell apart.
Peter leaned into Mantis touch soon and the first thing she did was putting him to sleep for the moment.
What are you doing there?” Stephen almost panicked but nothing happened besides Peter falling into slumber right onto the lap of a very flushed looking Gamora.
“He needs rest if he is to stay stable,” Mantis stated matter of fact. “Even a Celestial needs sleep. He’s not really aware of it yet, but soon he will realize he can feel everything that happens on him, then he will realize he can feel most of what happens in the space around him, then he will be able to stretch out and sense almost everything. Celestials are more than just planets. They are an integral part of the universe as a whole. If he is not rested, he will become like Ego. His father became better a bit when we met and I hoped I could soothe him but it was too late. The constant sensations without escape into sleep had driven him insane. If you want me to help Peter, the first thing he has to learn is to distance himself from these sensations and be able to sleep. Without that he’ll…”
Mantis looked at them all one by one before lowering her head in embarrassment. She was not used to be in the middle of attention and call the shots.
Stephen looked thoughtful and nodded after a while. “Sounds sensible.” He uttered. “Looking at what people tend to do on and to this planet without regarding the consequences I definitely can see the risk of Quill becoming agitated as soon as he realizes it.”
They disbanded soon after that, trying not to interrupt Peter’s rest. Rocked asked to be ported back to base now that he had seen his friend and Drax agreed to come with him. He hoped he could catch somebody willing to spar in the training rooms. Groot could not be pried from the gardens, it looked as if he was rooting there somehow. Gamora stayed with Quill and Tony decided a walk in the gardens would do him good.
He wandered around aimlessly when he heard Loki’s voice. Curious he inched closer. He had to know what the other was up to.
“… harm you I promise! I just want to know what exactly you did to my mind!” the trickster ended his sentence. He was standing with Mantis half-hidden behind a column. The woman looked uncomfortable but Loki had his arms spread and kept an acceptable distance.
“I just…” she looked away, her face blushed and she seemed to be ashamed.
“Don’t worry, I’m not angry. I can sense the difference between what I was and what I’ve become. I still feel in the back of my head how I would feel had you not touched me, but I can also see how much I profit from the changes. I’m stronger now and much more in control than I have ever been. I just want to know what you did to make that happen. I want to know if I…” He stopped and looked utterly lost now. “I just want to know how much I’m still me.”
She looked up in shock. “I didn’t brainwash you!” She exclaimed. Of course, you are still you. I just…” She looked away again but Loki simply waited. “I strengthened your self-esteem, that’s all.”
“My self…” the other stopped midsentence. He kept still for a while. “Yes, I can see how that might have this effect. I feel content. I no longer feel the urge to prove myself and I lost the fear of losing in any form.” He slowly stepped closer to Mantis.
“I can reverse that!” She exclaimed. “If you really want me to, I can make you the way you were but it has to be now. As soon as the changes incorporate into your personality, it will stay and no one will be able to simply reverse it again.”
Loki mulled over the offer for a while. “No.” He finally stated. “Let it stay this way. I guess I can get used to feeling good for once.” He smiled brightly at her and she hesitantly smiled back. After a while, they turned and moved into the facilities. Tony was left to his own thoughts.
He realized he felt a bit better now. Finally, it seemed as if for once they were as much on track to become prepared as they could ever get. Hopefully, they would have enough time to get ready.
He prayed for them to be, this time there was everything on the line.