Time Trap

[Hoots Rowlet]

"We cannot explain fully, suffice to say it is a matter of worldly importance." Vision states. "If we do not accomplish our mission, it will not matter if you can defeat the Fantastic Four, our world, and likely yours by extension will be doomed."

[andyman]

"I am here to claim this world in the name of the Skrull empire after defeating the only four beings on this planet to ever thwart a skrull invasion team. Though I do agree, it would be more to my honor to take a world that was not abandoned by the Kree eons ago, like some discarded rubbish."

Meanwhile, Captain Marvel takes in the view of the cityscape from this 20 story high rooftop. Monica can see that the city block to her northeast has two water towers. One atop a seven story office building and a second on the roof of a three story Five & Dime.

The Super Skrull now approaches the Vision. "I do not recognize your race. What is your mission, not that I believe it of any consequence to the mighty Skrull Empire. But I find this dialog oddly pleasurable."


Captain America Health: 140
Captain America Karma: 90
Conditions: None.

Captain Marvel Health: 40/60
Captain Marvel Karma: 56
Conditions: Light form.

Scarlet Witch Health: 46
Scarlet Witch Karma: 54
Conditions: Has the headset. Probability field alteration used three times. (-3 CS)

Starfox Health: 5/110
Starfox Karma: 77
Conditions: None.

Vision Health: 68/140
Vision Karma: 81
Conditions: None.

[roxolid]

"Indeed. The Kree cast offs seem like a task for lower caste Skrull, not someone as powerful and honourable as you." agrees Starfox.

"It's almost as if someone on the homeworld wanted you out of the way in order to secure some status change or coup, even. Are there Skrull like that on the homeworld that would see the Empire torn asunder for their own ends? Someone that would benefit from the mighty Super Skrull being absent for a long period of time so they can sew the seeds of Rebellion in your absence? Who else but you could ensure all factions remain loyal to the Empire? Why... even at this very moment you may find upheaval and strife. Calling back home would reveal only what they want you to hear to stall you. Do they really think the Super Skrull is that gullible that he cannot see through this..." Starfox waved a hand around "Ruse? A backwater planet abandoned by the Kree? What value is here?"

"Perhaps the greatest value - to enemies of the Empire - is to see the Super Skrull sent on some wild Exnia* chase into the back of beyond whilst at home events are set in motion to usurp the Empires' rule and destroy all you work for. It may even be part of a Kree plot."

He looked about in the sky "I wonder if they watch us from afar, even now, laughing at you. Fools! You should show them. Your mere presence on the homeworld will quash any thoughts of rebellion!"

ACTIONS

Laying it on thick but hopefully it will sew the seed that SS should return home, pronto.

*Exnia. Or some other word for a goose on the Skrull homeworld that's pointless to chase

[Hoots Rowlet]

"I am of no natural born race. I am an artificial automaton created of synthetic tissues. An Android as some people on this world would crudely put it." He explained. "As for my mission. It involves temporal mechanics that would take too long to explain." Vision says trying to keep the Skrull distracted from fighting for now.

[andyman]

"What you say rings true stranger. Once I have finished the four who's powers mine were fashioned after, I will use this planet's resources to crush my enemies among the skrull hierarchy, who would dare laugh at me! I would have you join me and explain the temporal mechanics of your automaton servant at length." The Super Skrull says to Starfox.


Captain America Health: 140
Captain America Karma: 90
Conditions: None.

Captain Marvel Health: 40/60
Captain Marvel Karma: 56
Conditions: Light form.

Scarlet Witch Health: 46
Scarlet Witch Karma: 54
Conditions: Has the headset. Probability field alteration used three times. (-3 CS)

Starfox Health: 5/110
Starfox Karma: 77
Conditions: None.

Vision Health: 68/140
Vision Karma: 81
Conditions: None.

[roxolid]

OOC Duh. Had forgotten about the headset, this has dragged on so long! Thanks for the 'do this so we can keep things moving' kick up the ass Andy

"Wait! There are forces at play here my limited mind cannot understand. We have a headset that was supposed to reveal the nature of our true enemy. You have been duped Super Skrull, and I can prove it!" says Starfox theatrically.

He turns to the Scarlet Witch. "Please, if you will my dear, hand over the headset. We inferior beings cannot utilise the device properly as we do not have the mental capacity to access it. However, the Super Skrull IS such a being that can access it's true power and potential and reveal to all us lesser beings that we have been played for fools!"

OOC assuming Scarlet Witch hands it over... he smiles in thanks and turns to Super Skrull

"Please place this on your head. I hope that where we have failed and been unable to access the power of the device, YOU will prevail and show us the way forward oh mighty Skrull!" he says, gushing and with great reverence. "My friend, thank goodness you are here!" he adds.

ACTIONS

Laying it on thick again. Give the SS the headset to put on.

[Hoots Rowlet]

Vision turns to Wanda, and simply nods giving her the go ahead to Starfox's plan.

[mcr]

Wanda offers up the headset.

[andyman]

The Super Skrull elongates his arm to take the headset from the Scarlet Witch. "It would be my pleasure to access the power of this device, though I presume this whole planet to be but a trap set by the Kree to waste our time." The Super Skrull's head now turns orange and rocky. "I can't fully trust strangers though, as charming as you may be. If this is some trap, my rocky hide will protect me from harm."

The Super Skrull then places the device on his head and says while triggering the controls. "And now the Super Skrull will know the truth!"

CLICK

As soon as the headset is activated, the Avengers' sight blurs and grows dim. Mists swirl around them. When the world clears the heroes see Immortus once again, standing regally in the Avengers' inner sanctum.

There is a clank as the headset falls to the ground beside them.

The Avengers earn 160 Karma points for seeing through the Skulls's disguises and defeating them. That is 32 Karma each!

Captain America Health: 140
Captain America Karma: 122
Conditions: +32 Karma.

Captain Marvel Health: 60
Captain Marvel Karma: 88
Conditions: Fully healed! +32 Karma.

Scarlet Witch Health: 46
Scarlet Witch Karma: 86
Conditions: Probability field alteration uses reset to zero! +32 Karma.

Starfox Health: 110
Starfox Karma: 109
Conditions: Fully Healed! +32 Karma.

Vision Health: 140
Vision Karma: 113
Conditions: Fully repaired! +32 Karma.

[roxolid]

Starfox frowns. "I feel like a puppet, dancing on the end of someones' strings. Fight this foe, stop this from happening, prevent this great catastrophe! Pah!" he says. "Is there something you are not telling us, Time Master?"

[crisiscomics]

Monica pulls the schematics out of her waistband and sighs. It was a good idea at least, she thinks... but as she looks at the printout of notes about his encounters with the Avengers, a horrifying thought occurs to her.

"Wait a minute, Starfox. Didn't you say the Super Skrull had a critical part to play in history? Wouldn't losing his memory on Earth... change that somehow?"

[andyman]

Immortus says, "We are all marionettes, dancing to the strings of our timelines. The headset erased the Super Skrull's memory of his encounter with you, but not of Earth. So his crucial part in fate's puppet play has not been altered. However, the alien's battle with the Fantastic Four was delayed long enough to prevent the tragedy in the laboratory."

"The next critical time node is the most delicate." The ruler of Limbo then looks at Captain America, Vision and the Scarlet Witch. "To deal with this crisis, you must return into your own past!" With a wave of his hand, Immortus opens the now familiar time window...

A meteor streaks through the depths of outer space. A small speck in the distance grows into a blue-green world. As it gets closer, the world is recognizable as Earth. The meteor flashes through the atmosphere. Just before hitting the ocean, the meteor swerves! It heads inland, finally plunging into a shallow bay, steaming and hissing. From the apparently solid meteor arises a creature of stone! On its back is a large machine that looks something like a rocket propulsion unit. This creature was the meteor! It advances boldly into Manhattan, destroying everything in its path and leaving a wake of rubble.

Finally, it is confronted by the Avengers and Daredevil! In a fierce battle, the stony creature is destroyed. As Iron Man and Daredevil investigate the rubble, a stone figure leaps up and touches both of them, turning them to
stone--the Grey Gargoyle! The fight begins again and, without Iron Man and Daredevil, the remaining Avengers are easily caught and turned to stone.

Then the Grey Gargoyle moves further into the city, toppling power lines and smashing through buildings. The Gargoyle smashes through one wall into a research library. A large plastic container in his path is toppled and
shatters on the floor, releasing a stone about 8 inches across. Enraged, the Grey Gargoyle snatches up the stone and hurls it at the helpless lab technician, knocking the man across a table.

Seeing nothing else worth wrecking, the Grey Gargoyle walks through the opposite wall and continues his rampage. The time window closes.

Immortus turns toward the Avengers. “The stone that the Grey Gargoyle threw at the laboratory assistant was an experimental isotope. It turned to stone when the Grey Gargoyle touched it, and its nuclear make-up was subtly altered. In fact, it became a highly efficient fuel for nuclear reactors, with one side-effect; any other radioactive material that came in contact with it slowly took on all of its properties."

“By the 1980s, this isotope is being used in most nuclear reactors in the world and all of those in the United States. Radiation from the solar flare made this strange isotope heat up too fast. None of your reactors had cooling mechanisms capable of dealing with this sudden temperature flare. Within an hour, every reactor core on Earth melted down, transforming the planet into a radioactive wasteland.”

All of the Avengers except Captain Marvel and Starfox fought against the Grey Gargoyle in the battle seen through the time portal. [It took place in Avengers issues 190 & 191.]

Captain America Health: 140
Captain America Karma: 122
Conditions: None

Captain Marvel Health: 60
Captain Marvel Karma: 88
Conditions: None

Scarlet Witch Health: 46
Scarlet Witch Karma: 86
Conditions: None

Starfox Health: 110
Starfox Karma: 109
Conditions: None

Vision Health: 140
Vision Karma: 113
Conditions: None

[roxolid]

With a shrug Starfox mutters "I suppose having gone this far we need to see it through. It still feels like we are interfering with the natural order of things, going back through time and changing history." Then he grins and declares "Ah, but it is adventure and excitement, the things I crave! With such august and may I say, beautiful company, who could wish for a grander time?"

ACTIONS

Debating whether to try the mental tickle on Immortus but I suspect it will hit a brick wall, so I'll hold off for now.

[Hoots Rowlet]

"I understand your concern Eros." Vision says. "This pleases me neither, however in the off chance Immortus is telling us the truth, we cannot risk a disaster until we have all the facts we need to know for sure." Vision says trying to use his android intellect to see if there is some way all of this does not add up, and if we are being used somehow.

Reason FEAT DJ0OT9yQ1-1001-100

[valiant]

Steve sighs audibly, “I agree with you all. The only way foreword is through. I’m not thrilled, but seems we’re in it until this mission is completed.”