War of the Worlds
Special:
The Avengers
Avengers Bunker, New York, the quarters of Rick and Marlo
Jones, October 16th 2004.
Rick watched the digital display on his bedside alarm clock countdown from 05.58am to 05.59. He reached over and switched the alarm control off on the clock before it activated at 6am. He was always up before his alarm these days, been in the middle of a world war can do that to a guy. Rick got out of bed as carefully and quietly as he could so as not to disturb his sleeping wife beside him. Rick then proceeded to gather some clothes from his wardrobe and exit into the bathroom. He quickly got washed and dressed then tip toed back out. Rick paused by the cot of his young son Matt who thankfully was still fast asleep. “What have you been born into Matty?” Rick thought to himself as he left his quarters and set off for his shift on monitor duty.
“Morning Norm” Rick said as he passed the automated Iron Man armour stationed at the end of his corridor.
“Good morning Master Jones, However my designation is IM 12” the electronic voice of the droid responded.
“Whatever you say Norm” Rick smirked and carried on towards the monitor room.
The metal double doors slide open with that satisfying swoosh noise “captain to the bridge” Rick announced as he entered the coms room.
“Oh I see you are still obsessed with the doors sounding like the Enterprise” Dianne Newell said from the main coms room console.
“Well they do” Rick protested “Anyway I’m here now so you can go get some sleep and see Walter and that son of yours”
“Walter has been in the pool all night testing the new aquatic weapons” Dianne answered “perhaps I’ll go remind him he is still my husband and not just an Avenger named Stingray, even if we are at war”.
“Good luck I’ll catch you later” Rick waved as he replaced Dianne in the comms chair.
“Status report Viz” Rick announced into the air. The holographic form of the Vision materialised beside him.
“Good morning Rick” the Avenger responded. “ The search for Doctor Samson and the others continues but with the Martian gladiatorial arena constantly moving it is proving very difficult. There has been further conflict on the Wakandan and Atlantean borders and the Martians have gained a further foothold in Canada. The Martians also continue their investigations into the barrier around Europe”.
“Busy night then huh” Rick mumbled as he poured himself a coffee from the pot Dianne had left for him.
“Indeed Rick” was all the Vision responded.
“How are your repairs going by the way?” Rick enquired to his holographic team-mate.
“Steadily thank you Rick, I am awaiting vital parts before I can complete the repairs to my shattered physical form”.
“Good to hear Viz, now let’s see what we shall see” Rick said as he leaned forward placing his hands on the comms control systems.
“Good morning Forge” Rick stated as he set the comms to contact their allies in Genosha.
“Hello Rick “ the former X-Man answered “How are things on the Avengers side of the fence? “
“Not good I’m afraid, we still have people missing and the Martians are gaining the upper hand we have already lost a large portion of Canada, how about the Acolytes?”
“With our star fighters and mutant powerbase we are just about managing to hold our own on the Genosha border but we can’t spare any one to help T’challa on the Wakandan front, We got a report in today he has suffered heavy loses” Forge sighed. “We have lost Sunder too, he was captured by a Skorpsman patrol last night we believe he was taken to the games”.
“We think Samson is there too” Rick answered. “Has Quasar left yet?”
“Yes he left with Deathbird and Bishop Last night. I highly doubt they’re going to have any more luck this time in drumming up support for the other galactic powers”.
“I know what you mean but we have to keep trying if we stand a chance of driving these bastards away”
“You said it Rick, let’s just hope Quasar can convince Epoch to back us at the Galactic Council”.
“I’ll keep it all crossed, see you later. Rick out”
The Star Trek doors behind Rick Whooshed open as Jarvis entered the comms room. Jarvis carried a tray with a glass of orange juice and an apple Danish placed on it, Rick’s current breakfast of choice. Rick noticed how tied the Avenger’s butler looked.
“Good morn..” Jarvis began to say before a fit of coughing racked his body. The tray and its contents crashed to the floor. Rick sprang from his chair to catch his stumbling friend.
“That’s it Jarv, I don’t care what you say this is far more than a cold. Your going to see Doctor Foster today even if I have to drag you there myself. You can’t keep this up you barely sleep and seem to try to look after everyone adults and kids” Rick said helping Jarvis to regain his composure.
“It is my job Master Rick, but perhaps to time has come to see the good doctor” Jarvis acknowledge.
“Promise”
“I give you my word”
“Good enough for me” Rick smiled as Norm arrived responding to a signal from Rick’s communicator.
“Please help Jarvis to his Quarters and send Doctor Foster” Rick instructed the robot.
“That will not be ness…”
“Please Jarvis for me” Rick whispered.
“Very well Master Rick for you”
Jarvis and Norm left as Rick cleared away his ruined breakfast. “I worry about him” Rick answered the Vision’s look.
“We all do Rick. Jarvis is an old man and his health is deteriorating but Doctor Foster is very skilled and sure she will do all she can to help him” the Vision answered.
“Let’s hope so, Right lets see what else is on the agenda this morning” Rick scanned the list out duties that had appeared on the screen before him. “Right check the security cameras in the crèche first up” Rick announced more to himself than anyone. He switched his monitor to the security cameras overlooking the crèche. “ Breeze has the early morning shift today” Rick smirked. “She’s going to need all her speed to keep up with that lot Viz” Rick stated to his holographic friend.
“Indeed the Bunker has become home to rather a lot of children as of late”
“Yeah and its no wonder their sleep patterns are so messed up with all the stress around here,” Rick said as he concentrated on the image in front of him. Breeze was tearing around the crèche picking up toys, wiping noses and generally trying to stay on top of a dozen boisterous infants, all except Franklin Richards who was sat far away from the others a sober look on his face.
“Frankie’s taking all this hard” Rick pondered.
“He misses his parents I would estimate” Vision responded.
Rick continued to watch Franklin sulk for a few minutes, and briefly saw him crack a smile as his younger sister Valeria with his cousin Angelica crawled over to him each vying for his attention.
Rick satisfied with Franklin’s much needed smile turned his attention back to his tasks.
“Anyone else we should add to the missing list?” Rick enquired of the Vision.
“Cable and Domino have been out of contact for three weeks now with us and the Acolytes. This is however not entirely out of character for either of them but enough time has now elapsed to categorise them as missing. Also Frank Castle is two days over his contact agreement while investigating the Martian arenas” the Vision responded.
“That’s just great I could really get to dislike this job” Rick sighed as he added the names to the list.
“Ok that’s done what new arrivals have we got for today?”
“Miss Haladane has returned with Hawkeye and Polaris who have volunteered to accompany Mrs Banner in her attempt to gain access into Europe”
“Wish I could go with them and see how Bruce is doing but I can’t leave Marlo and Matt, God knows we could use the big guys strength about now”
“I’m sure Mrs Banner understands your commitments to your family and I believe she would not let you had you volunteered”
“Thanks Viz, I still can’t get over how Dark Angel brought her back. Guess I should be used to that sort of thing by now huh!”
(See issues of Barry’s excellent Hulk series for details of Betty’s resurrection and adventures)
“Indeed Rick, it does seem in the super hero community death is often not the end of the road”
“Yeah I know what you mean just wish there was some kind of guarantee. Anyone else due today?” Rick said moving on.
“Thor is due to arrive with representatives from Asgard today in order to discuss the possible evacuation plan he has come up with along with James Rhodes and Crystal”
“Good the happier I’ll be when I know Marlo and Matt are safely away from those Martian scumbags. Can’t help feeling a little guilty though that we are getting preferential treatment over the rest of the world, what do you think Viz you’re a pretty logical guy?”
“In my opinion the planned evacuation of the heroes families is a sound battle strategy, it will free the combatants of the worry for their loved ones safety which will only improve their effectiveness. On a side note I believe the super human community of Earth has earnt a little preferential treatment”
“How human of you Viz”
“I am trying Rick I am trying” the Vision’s holographic face smiled.
“Anyone else?”
“Sister Samson and the Mother Superior have arrived from the Order of the Holy Marvels to offer their orders aid in defending the refugees from the Martian attacks” the Vision answered.
“The order of the what?” Rick spat nearly choking on a gulp of coffee.
“ The Order of the Holy Marvels are a recent offshoot of the Catholic Church. They believe super human abilities are gifts from God and should be used for the benefit of mankind. The majority of the order have superhuman abilities and Nightcrawler has vouched for them” the Vision explained.
“Well the more the merrier I suppose. Have they been fully checked out?”
“Completely”
“Ok I say stick them in the crèche for the morning with Breeze, if they handle super powered infants they should be able to handle the Martian Tripods” Rich smirked.
The rest of Rick’s morning was taken up with system checks and defensive drills of the Bunkers systems but with the likes of Tony Stark and Reed Richards involved in its construction there was very little that need attention.
Later Rick checked in on Jarvis who Doctor Foster had confined to bed while she ran some tests, much to his chagrin.
Reports came in from the Canadian front. The Martians had made further progress towards the American forces and the resulting battle had cost the life of both Major Mapleleaf and Diamond Lil. Spurred on by the loss Rick almost fanatically checked in with every operative he could making sure they were still with them and checking on the status of the Martians activities. All this information the Vision processed in the Avengers computers and forwarded to the other resistance bases across the planet.
By the end of his shift when he was relived by Howard Rick was completely spent. He left the Humanoid duck expelling the virtues of a good cigar to the Vision and returned to his quarters. Marlo had prepared a meal and Matt was already asleep. It was precisely as Rick took the first bite of his food that the alarms sounded. Rick leapt to his feet and ran across the complex to man his position on the defence grid.
“One day I might get to finish a meal” Rick muttered to himself as he took aim at the Martian flyers buzzing the surface of the Avenger’s Bunker.
Author’s
Notes
Well thought I’d have a little stab at an insight into what’s going on outside the barrier. I have also laced this story with possible connections to my War of the Worlds: Legacy series. Legacy is only a possible future but that doesn’t mean some things won’t go the same way now does it. What happens next? Well that could be up to you, as I for one would love to see a few more out of barrier tales. If you have any comment you can reach me on daveevans78@hotmail.com or via the Pendragons mailing list.
Cheers
Dave