justwriteryan - Tumblr blog

[justwriteryan]

Thank you to everyone who got me to 100 likes!

[justwriteryan]

I watched Madam Web.

Sydney Sweeney was right there.

People like her, she seems like the new Scarlett Johansson.

How hard could it have been to make a Black Cat movie instead?

Her dad, the original Black Cat, gets killed or if you want to avoid that trope, just gets kidnapped by some Mafia types. As payback, Felicia takes up the mantle and systematically robs their homes and businesses to ruin them.

If you want to make it in the MCU, the villain can be Kingpin. If not, let's say Tombstone. He's an interesting character who could fill that slot.

The end scene or the post-credits can show Black Cat breaking into a swanky apartment, she's about to cartwheel in when suddenly you hear "THWIP!" A string of web fluid pulls her forearm back. She turns around and gives a flirtatious smirk to someone just out of shot.

There, Sony. How hard was that???

[justwriteryan]

Check out my podcast, Please exBlane, on Spotify for Podcasters: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/grainne-murphy-blaney

[justwriteryan]

I did it. I started a podcast!

[justwriteryan]

COSMIC PROPORTIONS

Exterior shot. Space. An endless black ocean amongst a myriad of stars. The view pans down and the glowing blue surface of the Earth comes into focus. The Northern Hemisphere rotates on its axis. The most majestic sight in all creation. Suddenly the stars twinkle out. A black hole bursts open besides the planet’s orbit. But that’s not the worrying part. A colossal figure appears from the vortex, towering over the Earth. So big it’s almost imperceptible. The figure is humanoid, clad entirely in dense red armour and a helmet adorned with six glowing eyes. It reaches its great hand towards the Earth. Three tiny specks fly up from the planet and hover before it in the blink of an eye. Three people. They hover before it, completely at the giant’s mercy. A moment later, the black hole reopens. The red giant and it’s three captives disappear into it. The singularity blinks out of view. The heavens return to normal.

The view moves back from the spot where the black hole collapsed in on itself. Light beams onto a long white space station, shaped to a point like a needle. The station hangs adrift in Earth’s orbit, just out of range of where the vortex was. The station’s name is SABRE. We see people staring open mouthed behind thick glass windows. Among them is their director, NICK FURY. Only he can find words to say.

FURY: What in the Hell…?

                                                            TWELVE HOURS LATER.

Nick Fury is once again gazing out a window, looking at the Earth. This time from his office. He has a glass of whiskey in one hand and rubs his face with the other. It has clearly been a long day.

FURY: These are the facts. 

Fury turns away from the window.

FURY: Twelve hours ago a black hole manifested itself just beyond Earth’s orbit, completely          undetected and without warning. Miraculously, it did not pull the planet into itself and we’re all pretty glad about that. What it did instead was allow an inconceivably huge robot from the depths of space to pop out, float for a minute and kidnap three people! The atmosphere could barely handle the intrusion, weather systems, tidal patterns, geomagnetism all went haywire. Emergency services the world over dealing with disasters that came and went in less than a day. All governments are denying any involvement, but that’s to be expected, even if it’s true. Terror cells across the world are making noise pretending it was them, but nobody’s buying that. The public are in a panic, of course. Giant inhuman head in the sky causes global disruption. Hard to get folks to calm down and be reasonable after something like that. What they need, what every world leader needs, what I need… are some damn answers.

A number of holograms are being projected into Fury’s office, each one lined up in a semi-circle before his desk. Every hologram is in the image of a different person. Fury has called a meeting of some very important people.

BRUCE BANNER, THE HULK. Still in his “Smart Hulk” form, nine feet tall and bespectacled.

WONG. Master of the Mystic Arts, ruler of Kamar-Taj and Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme.

CAROL DANVERS, CAPTAIN MARVEL. Spacefaring superhero.

SHURI, THE BLACK PANTHER. Queen and Protector of the Kingdom of Wakanda.

VALKYRIE. Warrior Goddess and ruler of the alien citizens of New Asgard.

NEBULA. Former daughter of Thanos. Current member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

SAM WILSON, CAPTAIN AMERICA. Heir to the shield and mantle of Steve Rogers.

and SCOTT LANG, ANT-MAN. Former burglar, sometime Avenger.

SCOTT: Well, don’t look at me!

FURY: Lang, all I need from you is whether or not that thing came from this Quantum Realm of yours.

SCOTT: Oh, well in that case: no.

FURY: Beautiful. Anyone else?

CAROL: I’ve been all over the universe, never seen anything like that.

WONG: It may not be from this universe at all.

HULK: Nothing man-made has that kind of power. A machine that can manipulate singularities and disrupt a planet’s atmosphere from beyond orbit? Not even Tony Stark with a million years to spare could invent a weapon that potent.

SHURI: Master Wong, did it seem magical to you?

WONG: Not exactly, Your Highness. The power coming off it was unlike any sorcery or witchcraft I have ever come in contact with. It felt…bigger. Older. Primordial.

SAM: It worries me that you don’t have the answer, Wong.

FURY: Don’t your spell books say anything about God?

WONG: God?

SCOTT: A lot of people think it was God. And that the people it scooped up were part of some…rehearsal Rapture. Evangelists are having a field day in SF.

NEBULA: Well, they’re partly right.

All heads turn to the cyborg.

NEBULA: It was one of the Celestials. A god.

Valkyrie scoffs.

VAL: “God” is relative, speaking as one.

NEBULA: But you’ve seen them, right?

Valkyrie says nothing.

WONG: Celestials…our resources on them are limited, but we dismissed them as little more than myth. Elder Gods older than the universe itself. You’ve encountered them before?

NEBULA: I’m standing in the skull of a dead one.

The room is stunned.

FURY: So they can be killed.

NEBULA: Yes. I also helped kill one with the Guardians some years ago. Its name was Ego.

CAROL: I thought Ego was a planet?

NEBULA: It was both.

HULK: Oh, man.

SAM: How did you kill it? 

NEBULA: Blew up its brain from the inside.

SCOTT: Oh, easy.

SAM: What can you tell us about the three people it abducted?

Fury types a command onto the keyboard at his desk. Three faces appear on a holographic screen above him. Two men and a woman. Their names and last known addresses listed below.

SCOTT: Holy shit, that’s Kingo!

HULK: The Bollywood guy?

SCOTT: Bollywood icon, yes. Hope’s mom is a fan. 

FURY: Yep, that’s him. Indian government practically threatened to send the whole ISRO up to find him if they don’t think I can.

SHURI: The other two. Do they have families?

FURY: Phil has a husband and kid in Chicago. They called the Chicago PD, along with half the city. Worried out of their minds. The woman in London, Sylvia. She was seen walking in the park with her partner, a Mister Dane Whitman. He’s in the wind.

CAROL: Abducted?

FURY: We don’t think so. But right after this happened, he went underground.

CAROL: Maybe he knows something we don’t. 

FURY: We’ll keep looking. If he knows anything about Big Red’s whereabouts-

VOICE: Arishem.

The whole room looks around. A new voice is coming from somewhere. A second later, a new holographic figure joins the meeting. It’s a teenage girl. Caucasian, with short-cropped hair. This is SPRITE of the ETERNALS, recently turned human. As her transparent image strengthens, she looks around at the others.

SPRITE: Whoa, there’s a lot of superheroes in this room!

FURY: Young lady, how did you get into this meeting?

SPRITE: I’ve been around a while, picked up some things.

SCOTT: You’re younger than my daughter!

SPRITE: No, I’m older than all of you. But not as old as him. Arishem the Judge. He’s the Celestial you met today. And the people he abducted- Kingo, Phastos and Sersi. They’re my family.

The gathered heroes exchanged puzzled looks. Fury is watching Sprite intently.

SPRITE: If you plan on rescuing them, I want in.

  END.

I could have named this one "What If....Marvel cared about the Eternals at all?"

[justwriteryan]

THE CONQUEROR COMETH.

Exterior shot. An unfamiliar location; a grey featureless landscape, shrouded in an ethereal fog. No distinguishing landmarks or buildings. A silhouette takes shape through the haze, approaching slowly. A tall and thin figure, almost human if not for their oversized bald head and glowing eyes. It is UATU THE WATCHER.

UATU: Time grows short. Assemble.

Around the Watcher, the mist begins to shift and blur, twisting and twirling until six pillars of cloud materialize before him. The mist recedes, the clouds dissipate. Six people appear in the space before the Watcher, looking around the scene wildly.

SCOTT LANG, the ANT-MAN.

WONG, Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme.

CAROL DANVERS, known throughout the universe as CAPTAIN MARVEL.

GAMORA, former Daughter of Thanos, current member of the Ravagers.

SLYVIE, a variant of LOKI from an alternate timeline.

And SAM WILSON, the new CAPTAIN AMERICA.

SCOTT: Oh man, where the hell is this? Sam! Is that you?

SAM: Tic Tac? Is this one of your Quantum things?

SCOTT: I don’t think so. Congrats on the promotion, by the way.

SAM: Thanks.

CAROL: Guys. I think this might be because of him.

The gathered heroes notice the Watcher hovering before them.

UATU: Greetings. I am the Watcher.

GAMORA: The what?

WONG: An inter-dimensional archivist of major events across the multiverse.

UATU: That is correct, Master Wong.

Uatu bows to the Sorcerer Supreme. Wong nods back, awkwardly.

WONG: His presence here does not bode well.

SYLVIE: HIS PRESENCE? Where is this place?

SCOTT: Wait a sec. Who are you?

The Asgardian straightens up and glares back at him.

SYLVIE: Sylvie.

SCOTT: Anyone else get the feeling that was a lie?

UATU: You are all standing in a nexus point between dimensions. I have called you here because your universe is in tremendous jeopardy. Each of you have touched the multiverse in some way, so you understand how fragile the fabric of reality can be. And it’s only getting worse.

CAROL: How?

UATU: A myriad of disasters, each one chipping away at the walls between worlds. The emergence of the Scarlet Witch and her dream-walking crusade. A magic spell gone wrong at the behest of one Peter Parker. The Ultron Intelligence mastering the Infinity Stones and declaring war on reality itself. The activation of the Ten Rings against the Dweller in Darkness. Gorr the God Butcher acts of deicide, murdering the ancient gods of the cosmos. The Kree’s abuse of the Quantum bands, creating volatile jump points across time and space. And of course, the recent uprising in the Quantum Realm. All of which has enabled a terrible threat to reignite its voracious attack on creation.

SCOTT: Oh no…

UATU: An army, comprised of many armies spanning all of space and time. Led by many versions of the same man. An uncompromising tyrant from the far future with only one mission in the life: to conquer.

Uatu raises an arm. A holographic image appears above their heads. Hundreds of people. Thousands of people. Person. Thousands upon thousands of variants of the same man. Different builds, body types, races. All clad in the same purple and green armour.

UATU: Behold, the Council of-

SCOTT: Kang…

SYLVIE: This is impossible.

UATU: For a time it was. There was an…element in place to keep them separate. Keep them apart and out of your universe. But it was removed.

SAM: Why?

The Watcher looked at Sylvie. She looks away.

UATU: It doesn’t matter. Something else was put in place to keep the timelines in order. However, the damage to the fabric of reality is already too great. I fear he won’t prove a match for the Kang’s onslaught.

GAMORA: “He?” There’s a person in charge of all time and space?

SYLVIE: Not a person. A god.

UATU: Yes. But even a god can fall. So go. Prepare. The war for the multiverse is nigh.

The heroes fade away into the gloom. All but one. Sam Wilson takes a step forward.

SAM: I haven’t “touched the multiverse”. Matter of fact, I barely understood anything you said. Why am I here?

The Watcher looks down at him.

UATU: Sam, if there is one constant truth across the multiverse. Every fighting force needs the right Captain.

Sam smiles.

SAM: Copy that.

Captain America disappears. The Watcher turns back to the holograms of the Kang variants arrayed around him and scowls. He waves a hand dismissively and they fade away. The Watcher bows his head and stalks off into the mist.

Interior shot. A compact kitchen area where a large man and a small girl are drawing pictures on scrolls at the kitchen table. The man is THOR. The girl is the daughter he adopted at the end of THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER. Gorr’s daughter, who became known as LOVE.

THOR: Who’s that red guy?

LOVE: It’s a Frost Giant.

THOR: Are you sure? Every Frost Giant I’ve ever met was blue.

LOVE: This is a red one.

THOR: Very well. Red Frost Giant. Looking good.

A noise causes the pair to look up from their drawing. Thor holds out an arm and Mjolnir flies from the corner of the room and into his grasp. Love’s eyes glow menacingly. A portal opens and closes in the small kitchen. Out of the portal steps Sylvie.

THOR: Who the Hel are you?

SYLVIE: I am Syl-

She sighs.

SYLVIE: I am Loki. And I am burdened with glorious purpose. Brother.

THE END.

Posting this while Kang is still a character the MCU is considering and before any announcements comes out. My idea for a prologue for Kang Dynasty. I tried to tie in as many multiversal story points that were scattered across the past two phases.

[justwriteryan]

I'm watching the new episodes of Bluey and one story is presented mostly through imaginative drawings between the parents and kids. It culminates in a scene where the mum has to say goodbye to the horse she drew and for most people it would be emotional as the horse symbolises the character's own mum who died when she was young.

But I teared up because it reminded me of something else...

[justwriteryan]

Home Alone Reboot idea

Kevin McAllister is co-founder of a security firm with his brother Buzz. Together they've created the most advanced home security system on the market. However a disgruntled employee knows that the inner workings and overrides for the program are kept on Buzz's work laptop, which was absent mindedly left at home over the Christmas.

The only thing protecting the family business is GAVIN MCALLISTER, Kevin's brilliant nephew who inherited his uncles resourcefulness and ingenuity.

[justwriteryan]

I was today years old when I realized why in Muppet's Christmas Carol the extra Marley ghost is named ROBERT MARLEY.

[justwriteryan]

Last Christmas, my son thought the baubles on the tree were apples. This Christmas, following a year of learning about Spider-Man, he now believes they are pumpkin bombs and won't stop throwing them at people.

[justwriteryan]

MARVEL X GEARS OF WAR.

CHAPTER FIVE

On the other side of town, a squad of soldiers are returning fire on their advancing enemies. One man lobs a grenade into the Locust ranks. It detonates with a FOOM! Some Locust bodies hit the floor, others scatter. A sergeant surveys the bottom of the street.

SERGEANT: Okay, we’ve slowed ‘em down for now! Get moving

Groups of civilians rush out from inside buildings and under debris. Like a herd of frightened animals, they all head towards a set of stairs leading to an underground subway platform.

SERGEANT: Everyone get underground! Get to the subway!

SOLDIER: Incoming!

All eyes swing skyward. A small object hurtles through the air toward them. Lightning sears the sky behind it, a bolt strikes it. It collides with the side of a nearby building, ricochets off it, bounces off another, and crashes into the road a few feet from where the soldiers hold the line.

SERGEANT: What the hell…?

Grumbling, dirty, bruised and burnt, Wolverine rises from the smashed concrete. The soldiers watch, amazed.

WOLVERINE: What’re you lookin’ at?

He shakes his thick, black hair, letting glass rubble and soot fall to the ground. He spots the civilians fleeing down the steps.

WOLVERINE: What’s all this?

SERGEANT: That’s classified.

Wolverine walks over to the sergeant. Though the military man towers over the mutant, the smaller man looks him square in the eyes.

WOLVERINE: Listen, bub. I don’t know where you got your orders from, but     mine come from Steve Rogers. I answer to him, so you answer to me. Now, spill!

The sergeant remains tight lipped. A man behind pipes up.

CURRAN: We’re on evacuation detail, sir.

SERGEANT: Curran!

CURRAN: C’mon, Sarge, he’s an Avenger! We’re here to defend civilians, sir. Guide them outta the city, search and rescue that sorta thing.

WOLVERINE: Ask me, those people would feel a lot safer if you were down those tunnels with them, instead of watchin’ their backs up here.

SERGEANT: Well even if your opinion mattered, short round, who the hells gonna watch out backs up here?

SNIKT! Logan pops his claws. At that moment, the cries of the Locust horde begin anew. They regroup and prepare to advance at the bottom of the street.

WOLVERINE: Get outta here!

Some of the men run to the tunnels. Others are unsure.

SERGEANT: Are you crazy? You’re just one man!!!

CURRAN: Sarge, relax! Haven’t you heard? He’s the best there is at what he does!

Reluctantly, the other soldiers follow their comrades down to the subway. Wolverine stands alone, in the middle of a deserted street. As the Locust rush nearer, the last thing we hear is his growling, as his face twists into a feral grin.

High above the skirmish, the aerial battle rages on. The Reavers are everywhere. Thor and Iron Man lead the assault, embracing the ferocity of the fight. Falcon, Miss Marvel, Jessica Jones and Spider-Woman engage any of the creatures that stray from the main battle, keeping them back from civilians and any rescue effort aircraft. A small squad of Locust reach a rooftop and set up a vantage point. They immediately open fire on both the civilians on the streets below and the superheroes in the sky above.

VOICE: Oh, I bet you guys thought you were sooooo clever!

Spider-man drops out of the sky amidst the shrieking Locust. He lands smoothly onto the roof and kicks one in the face, sending him hurtling over the edge. The others begin shooting erratically.

SPIDER-MAN: Hey, now! Didn’t your Locust drill sergeant ever teach you guys to keep your cool when confronted with a man in lycra??

He spins on his heel and uppercuts a Locust grunt as it tries to pull out a sidearm. Shoots a blast of web-fluid into the face of another, then roundhouse kicks it in the chest. Spins around again and elbows another in the face, then throws him to the floor. The last Locust grunt rushes towards him and runs right into a vicious head-butt from the wall-crawler.

SPIDER-MAN: Okay, so, for future reference: basic knowledge of firearms, but virtually no experience with close quarter’s unarmed combat. Seriously, if you guys really want to invade Earth, then you need to…

He stops. His spider-sense goes berserk. He scans the rooftop, but can’t see any foes. On another rooftop a few buildings away, a Locust sniper brings his weapon to bear, just as Spider-Woman flies unwittingly into its path.

SPIDER-MAN: LOOK OUT!!!

Too late. The Locust fires a round. It misses her skull but explodes through her shoulder and collarbone. She screams.

SPIDER-MAN: JESSICA!!!

He leaps into the air and swings over to her, just as the injured Avenger begins to fall from the sky. He catches her in mid-air. As they head back to the Tower, he picks up the sound of the sniper reloading his weapon. A string of web fluid drags him over the edge, and flings him down into the violence of the streets below.

SPIDER-MAN: Hey, Logan! Make this guy feel at home will ya?

He swings away and lands on a rooftop to examine his wounded passenger. Blood is gushing down her torso in streams, and her right arm is all but hanging off her.

SPIDER-WOMAN: GAAAARRRGH!!! 

SPIDER-MAN: Hold still, Jess, I can help you here.

He holds her right arm steady and with his free hand spins a makeshift sling/bandage out of his webbing. The bleeding slightly recedes, but it does nothing to dull the pain of almost having your arm shot off.

SPIDER-MAN: How’s that? How does that feel?

SPIDER-WOMAN: Grrrrnnnhhh…thank you….

SPIDER-MAN: I’ll get you to the Tower. Hold on.

He picks her up gently and holds her in both his arms. He shoots web fluid to the side of a building and swings away. They pass over countless signs of battle and destruction across the city; smouldering buildings, street fires, looting, and innumerable gunfights.

A stray Reaver rears up in front of them, screeching wildly and knocks them out of the sky. Its Locust rider opens fire on them, as they scramble to stay in the air.

Spider-man grabs hold of the side of a building as the Reaver dives at them, bullets raining down on them.

SPIDER-MAN:I have an idea. It’s kinda crazy, but it’ll get you back home quicker!

SPIDER-WOMAN: DO IT!!!

With Spider-woman in tow, he rushes head-on to meet the enormous tentacle monster.

The scene switches back to Avengers Tower. Steve Rogers is surveying the sky battle through high powered binoculars. Behind him, Maria Hill and a small army of technicians are trying to keep visuals and communications running. On one screen, the face of Nick Fury appears, unbidden.

FURY: Rogers.

Steve spins around at the sound of the old Colonel’s voice.

ROGERS: Fury?

FURY: Put me on your private channel. This is for your ears only.

Steve clicks a button on the comm device on his wrist. Fury’s face and voice disappear from the screen, and his voice comes through Steve’s earpiece.

ROGERS: Where are you, Nick? Where are you in all of this?

FURY: At a safe place. Out of the city. I’m sending the co-ordinates to you now.

ROGERS: And why would you do that?

FURY: Because, right now, the President and his heads of staff are discussing levelling the city in order to end your “Locust” threat. And we both know that before long, it won’t be a discussion anymore.

ROGERS: He wouldn’t…

FURY: He will, and you know it. Your army of Avengers can’t fight forever. Even Thor and the Red Hulk will run outta steam. Look at the battlefield, soldier; all you’re doing is stalling them.

ROGERS: If the least we can do is get the civilians to safety…

FURY: That won’t be enough for the powers that be. My place is big enough and has enough quarters for all of your people, a new base for you to fight from. So when he calls you, and tells you to give up the fight, make the right call. Fury out.

ROGERS: Fury? Fury!

HILL: Sir, Red Hulk just radioed in. Luke Cage and his people have arrived downstairs.

Steve stands motionless, his mind reeling from Fury’s words.

HILL: Sir?

Still grappling with the troubling news, he slowly turns to face his second-in-command. Before he can utter a word, the building trembles and a rumble comes from upstairs. The two of them reach for their guns and race to the cause of the disturbance.

On the roof of the Tower, the carcass of a Reaver has crash landed. Steve and Maria slowly approach it, weapons drawn. As they get closer, they notice around the beast’s mouth, layers of webbing are wrapped like a set of reins. Slowly, two figures slide off its back.

HILL: Oh my God…

Spider-man slowly walks over, supporting Spider-woman, almost delirious with pain.

SPIDER-MAN: Cap, take her. She needs a medic right now.

Steve races over to them and picks up the wounded hero with both arms, holding her like a child. 

ROGERS: I’ve got her. Are you hurt?

SPIDER-MAN: Ah, you know, usual alien battle bumps and bruises

He turns around and heads to the edge of the rooftop.

ROGERS: Peter, wait! Where are you going?

Spider-man turns back to face him. His mask obscures his face, but he’s bewildered at the absurdity of the question.

SPIDER-MAN: Back into the fight. You, of all people should know that.

He dives off the ledge, momentarily disappears from view, then Steve spots him swinging back into the chaos. He watches him for a second, thoughtfully. Then a groan from Spider-Woman brings him back to senses, and they return inside.

Far below, and seven blocks away, Captain America moves cautiously amidst the ruin in the street. Head down, he races behind a destroyed car. He spots commotion in an alleyway across the street. Adjusting the shield on his back, cocks his rifle, takes a deep breath then charges onto the now-abandoned road. As he moves through the open space, bullets ricochet off his shield. 

The single Locust rises from its hiding place behind a ruined bus. Bucky levels his machine gun and, in one swift reflex, let’s loose a volley into his assailant’s chest, then lowers his weapon and runs on.

As he reaches the entrance to the alley, he hears the howls and screeches of a pack of Wretches huddled in the far corner. One of them sniffs the air and turns on the intruder. Bucky opens fire again and kills them all, one by one as they pounce at him. When the last of them falls to the ground, riddled with bullet holes, the walls of the alley are splashed with blood and gore. 

He surveys the scene, and finds something in the corner where the Locust were gathered. 

BUCKY: Oh, no…

Its Squirrel Girl.

Her body has been ripped to pieces. There are cuts and bites all over her arms, her throat, her torso. Some of her organs are showing, and so is one of her eyes.

Bucky slowly, reverently, approaches. He can’t take his eyes from the Avenger’s devastated body. 

BUCKY: I’m sorry…I should’ve found you sooner. I’m so…

A noise from behind distracts him. He snaps back to life, gun poised.

Behind a dumpster, covered in a small blanket and making sobbing sounds, is Danielle Cage.

Amazed, the new Captain America drops his weapon and runs to pick up the baby. He turns back to the desecrated body of Squirrel Girl. He understands how she died now.

BUCKY: You were being chased, so you hid the baby while you had the chance and let them corner you. You tried to fight them, they overwhelmed you, but you fought on. You fought to make sure they didn’t notice the girl.

With his free hand, he raises his arm in a stiff salute.

BUCKY: Rest in peace, Avenger.

He lowers his arm, lifts his rifle from the ground and holds it with one arm. He heads back out of the alley and towards home.

[justwriteryan]

MARVEL X GEARS OF WAR.

CHAPTER FOUR

Brooklyn Bridge. As the morning wears away, the fighting intensifies. On the bridge, a mass of people are fleeing to apparent safety on the far side of the river. Armed SHIELD and military personnel struggle to keep the oncoming Locust hordes at bay. There’s a flash of light in the centre of the bridge. Seven figures appear amid the terrified civilians. Luke Cage’s Thunderbolts.

Mach V- the technological maestro of the team, clad in a winged suit of armour that rivals Tony Stark’s

Songbird-long-time member of the team, capable of turning sound waves into energy. Field leader in Cage’s absence.

Moonstone-female wildcard. Capable of intangibility and flight.

Ghost-elderly man in a robotic suit. Capable of cracking any security code and phasing through any defence system.

Crossbones-deadly weapons master. Former right hand man of the Red Skull. One time shooter of Captain America.

Juggernaut-super-strong human bulldozer. The team’s muscle.

Man-Thing-supernatural swamp monster with teleportation powers. The team’s transport.

SONGBIRD: Moonstone, Juggernaut…lead the charge!

JUGGERNAUT: You got it!

Juggernaut sprints across the bridge and smashes into the ranks of the Locust. Some get crushed underfoot. Moonstone follows swiftly in the air behind. She blasts the Locust away with lasers; their bullets shoot through as she turns her body intangible.

 SONGBIRD: Mach V, get airborne and cover us.

He soars into the air and begins raining down ammunition on the enemy.

SONGBIRD: Crossbones and Ghost, open fire. But don’t try any funny stuff, or I’ll have your heads!

CROSSBONES:  Yeah, yeah…

The masked gunman leaps onto the roof of an abandoned car, pulls his machine gun out from behind his back and gleefully opens fire on the Locust. Ghost flies ahead of him, static electricity exploding from his fingertips. Song bird turns to Man-Thing.

SONGBIRD: And you…just stay back here, in case we need a quick evac. And try not to touch anyone.

The beast nods. Songbird flies off. As she ascends into the air, Locust bullets fly up to greet her. She squeals at her attackers, causing purple sound waves to blast them away. Mach V hovers alongside her.

MACH V: Nice job. Listen, if we’re here does that mean Cage trusts this team to protect civilians now?

SONGBIRD: No. it means Cage had no other choice.

Across town, back at Avengers Tower, the defences are barely holding. While the other Avengers do battle outside, Bucky holds his ground at the gaping open window. Scores of small, four legged Locust are scaling the walls. Bucky rushes over to a turret gun and opens fire on the wretches as they crawl through the smashed window pane.

Behind Bucky and the impromptu defences, Steve Rogers is trying to monitor the situation on the streets.

ROGERS: Rogers to all points: how’s the evacuation going?

The moustachioed face of SHIELD agent Dum Dum Dugan appears on a screen.

DUGAN: We’re talking about the evacuation of the most densely populated city in the world, here, Steve. How do you think its going?

ROGERS: Just give me an estimation, Dugan.

DUGAN: Its slow work, Steve. Because of those damn flyin’ squids we can’t perform any air evacs. Luckily, nobody’s trying to be a hero so things are going…

ROGERS: …smoothly?

DUGAN: Wouldn’t call it that exactly, but they’re going. Haven’t had a chance for a head-count yet, but we must’ve gotten a thousand outta the city already.

ROGERS: Good. Keep going. Rogers, out.

Dugan’s face blinks from the screen.

The noise of Bucky’s mini-gun winds down. He turns back to Steve, specks of blood dripping from his face.

BUCKY: I know that look. Dugan said it was going well, Steve. What’s wrong?

ROGERS: We need to work faster. We need to get people out of this…warzone, faster.

BUCKY: Steve…

ROGERS: Maria, show me the situation on the Brooklyn Bridge.

MARIA: The feeds down at the moment, sir.

ROGERS: Then patch me through to Luke in Central Park.

MARIA: Yes, sir.

BUCKY: Steve, listen to me! Everybody is doing everything they can out there! We can’t speed things up! It’s…its impossible!

ROGERS: Back to your post, Captain,

For a moment, neither man moves. Neither breaks the other’s gaze.

MARIA: Sir, you’re through to Luke Cage.

ROGERS: Luke.

CAGE: Steve?

ROGERS: Luke, how’s the fight going on your front? Have you deployed the Thunderbolts, yet?

CAGE: Yeah, yeah, I told them to protect the bridge. Steve, is Squirrel Girl with you? With my daughter?

Steve looks around the room, perplexed. Bucky and Maria trade concerned glances.

ROGERS: No, she…she isn’t here, yet, Luke. What’s going on?

Cage’s voice is coming through in gulps and pants. He sounds like he’s running.

CAGE: Oh, man. Oh, man! She took Danielle and she ran outta the mansion…the mansions gone, Steve, they blew it up…with Victoria still inside. And…oh, hell, Steve, Bobbi’s dead too…

ROGERS: Oh, God.

CAGE: She got hit by some explosive arrow, and…Clint’s in shock, we had to carry him away from the spot. Wolverine got blasted into the sky somewhere, we haven’t seen him. It’s been a running battle ever since. They swarmed over us, so we started movin’ to the Tower. I sent Jess and Carol into the air to join your guys, so it’s just me, Danny, Thing and Hawkeye left…

ROGERS: Where’s Doctor Strange?

CAGE: He hung back a few streets away. Said he would hold ‘em off. Steve, please…find my daughter!!!

ROGERS: You have my word, Luke. I’m putting my best man on it. I’ll find her. Fight your way here. Rogers, out.

Steve pauses for a moment. Then he turns to Captain America.

ROGERS: Okay, Bucky, you’re up. I had hoped to keep out of the fight for a while yet, but…

BUCKY: There’s a kid out there, Steve. Luke Cage’s kid. I’ll find her

ROGERS: I can send an armed guard out with you…

Bucky picks up a machine gun and a few clips of ammunition.

BUCKY: You keep those men on the front lines, Steve. I’ve done search and rescue ops before. I can handle this.

He picks up some grenades, and a side-arm and straps them to his belt, lastly, he picks up his shield.

BUCKY: I’ll be back, Steve. Count on it.

ROGERS: Well, then. God-speed, soldier.

Bucky runs out of the room.

MARIA: Sir, I understand rescuing your friend’s daughter takes priority at this point, but wasn’t Bucky supposed to man the perimeter? Whose gonna do that now?

A deep, growling voice answers from the window.

VOICE: I can help you there.

Standing in the hole of the side of the building is an eight foot tall man with bristling black hair, muscular arms and red skin. His name is Thaddeus Ross, the Red Hulk.

ROGERS: Red, good. I was hoping you’d come.

RED: I’m here sir. Point me where you need me.

ROGERS: I need you in the fight, Red. This tower is the center of our defence. Get on the ground and protect it.

RED: Yes, commander…

He grins maliciously.

RED: With pleasure.

He dives out of the window and lands on the ground with a THUD! He’s greeted by a rain of bullets on all sides by Locust assailants. He claps his massive hands together. The shockwaves blast the Locust off their feet. All but one. One of the Boomer’s fires a shell at him, and it takes him square in the chest. Red gets knocked to the ground. His upper body is smoking and blackened.

RED: That’s…ugh…that’s the last time you get to do that.

Red Hulk leaps over and tears the Boomers head thick head off. Another one tries to fire his weapon, Red fires a devastating right hook first. He knocks the creature onto the ground, and stomps on his face. He picks up the massive Boomshot and wields it like a pistol. He lifts the other gun and holds in his other hand.

RED: Okay, you bastards. Show me what you’re made of.

Back in Avengers Tower, Steve surveys the battlefield. Hundreds of feet below, Red Hulk and the tower’s security are locked in a fire-fight. Across the city, as far as the eye can see, smoke rises, flames engulf buildings and the sound of gunfire and explosions echo over all. The sky is dark and vicious with the storm clouds summoned by Thor. He, Iron Man and several other superheroes are wheeling around in the air, battling the long-legged monsters and their riders. Suddenly, one of them gets past the aerial skirmish and darts toward the tower.

ROGERS: We’ve got incoming!

 A giant hand snatches the creature out of the sky, and flings it out to sea. It belongs to Doctor Henry Pym, Giant Man, and a founding member of the Avengers.

ROGERS: Hank!

PYM: Good to see you too, Steve. I’ve got my team with me, so hopefully we can turn this thing around.

ROGERS: Thank you, Hank. We need every Avenger and more.

With a smile, the eighty-foot frame of Giant Man walks off to find a fight.

MARIA: With Pym’s team and the Red Hulk joining the fight, I think we’ve got the advantage you were looking for, commander. This’ll be an enormous help to the rescue effort.

ROGERS: Don’t be so sure.

MARIA: Sir?

He takes a lingering look at the city in ruins, and turns around

MARIA: It won’t make a difference, Maria.  We’re losing this fight.

End.

[justwriteryan]

MARVEL X GEARS OF WAR

CHAPTER THREE.

                                     CHAPTER THREE

Tracking shot-as if from a shaky helicopter, over the trees of Central Park. Some of them are aflame. The woods are crawling with Locust all racing towards a large bronze colours mansion on the edge of the park. Steve Roger’s voice is heard, as if through a telephone.

ROGERS: Luke its Steve. Hostiles are in the park and they’re rushing to the mansion. I’ve got my team battling the horde right across Mid-town, but I need your guys. I need your Avengers.

The double doors of the Avengers Mansion burst open.

CAGE: …because this must be-Christmas! That’s a lotta them!

Luke Cage, leader of the  New Avengers charges out to meet the onslaught. The Locust’s bullets bounce off his unbreakable skin as the rest of his team come racing out behind: Hawkeye, champion archer with bow in hand and his wife Mockingbird at his side…Cage’s wife, Jessica Jones flies above him…Ben Grimm, the Thing, brings up the rear…the mystical ninja Iron Fist leaps into the air, fists ablaze with energy…Miss Marvel takes to the skies and shoots binary blasts at the Locust attackers, while Wolverine comes bounding out, claws unsheathed and ready to kill.

CAGE: Okay, guys, you know the routine…

THING: We have a routine? What’s that?

Cage smashes his fist into the nearest Locust, sending him flying into the air.

CAGE: The only routine for evil alien assholes.

THING: Oh, ya mean the “beat them ‘til there’s nothin’ left” routine!

WOLVERINE: Exactly!

He slashes upwards and slices off his opponent’s head. As the New Avengers join the fray, Steve Roger’s voice buzzes in Luke’s earpiece yet again.

ROGERS: Try not to get ahead of yourself, Luke. We have no idea how many there are. Send word to the Raft to get the Thunderbolts in the field.

Cage punches another Locust. A squelching noise coming from where it’s face was.

CAGE: You got it, flag-man.

He taps a keypad on one of his wrist gauntlets. As he speaks, his voice echoes across the Raft, an island prison complex for super-human offenders.

CAGE: Attention, Raft personnel this is Director Cage. Thunderbolts team…

A brief shot of Juggernaut, Crossbones and Songbird stirring in their cells.

CAGE:…report to the flight deck at once and await further instruction. Security personnel, this facility is now under lockdown. Man the entrances and security towers. Nobody gets in or out without orders from myself or Commander Rogers. Cage out.

HAWKEYE: Thunderbolts, huh? Must be nice to have a gang of convicted super-villains doing whatever you say.

CAGE: Oh, yeah, sometimes I can’t get over how blessed I am. Aint like my life wasn’t complicated enough bein’ an Avenger, a daddy and a husb-WHOA!!!

A locust soldier lunges up out of the earth and opens fire. As the bullets ricochet off Luke’s hardened skin, Hawkeye notches an arrow to his bow, aims, and looses. It takes the Locust between the eyeballs. He falls without another sound.

CAGE: Nice. Think you can do that a few more thousand times?

WOLVERINE: Cage! We need you up here!!!

As Cage’s team of Avengers hold their own on the battlefield, Wolverine spots a new breed of Locust making its way through the ranks. Hulking, eight feet tall brutes armed with enormous bazookas. As they shoulder their weapons, they chant a single word.

BOOMERS: Boom.

Noise smoke and blood burst into the air as the new Locust units fire as one. One missile hits Wolverine and catapults him into the air, far from the fight. Others slam into the earth, or smash the surrounding buildings, sending glass showering down from above. 

Inside Avengers Mansion, two women are arguing and running through the house frantically. One is Victoria Hand, Luke Cage’s lieutenant and personal assistant. The other is Squirrel Girl, superhuman nanny to Luke and Jessica’s daughter, Danielle. In her arms, baby Danielle is crying.

HAND: I’m telling you, the panic room wasn’t build to handle an assault of 

             this magnitude! You’ve…

SQUIRREL: And I’m telling you, lady, that I’m not going anywhere with this kid until her mom or dad say so!

A missile hits the roof of the mansion. The building shakes and debris falls from the ceiling.

HAND: Does the building have to be levelled for you to believe me? Take the baby and go to Avengers Tower! Don’t stop for anything! Go!

SQUIRREL: What about you?

HAND: GO! I’ll cover you!

Squirrel Girl clutches the child close to her chest, then races out of the house. Victoria runs to her room, reaches under her bed, and pulls out a sniper rifle. Just then, Luke’s voice screams over the comm.-link.

CAGE: Hand! Tell me you got my baby outta there!

HAND: Already taken care of, sir. Now try not to let them do that to the building again, huh?

Outside, the defence is now being led by Cage and Thing. The two powerhouses are giving everything they’ve got to prevent the Boomers from firing. Cage breaks the gun of one, while Thing disarms one with a lethal head butt.

Inside, Victoria takes up a position at a window on the front of the house. She takes a breath, then starts taking out the enemy with expert precision. One dies with a hole in it’s throat as it tries to flank Ms. Marvel. Another’s head bursts like a water balloon as it tries to mow down Iron Fist.

   Four Boomers position themselves for a shot at the Mansion.

BOOMERS: BOOM!

The missiles take flight. Too quick for the binary rays of Ms. Marvel to stop them, or for Cage and to smash out of the air. Victoria Hand sees them coming out of the corner of her eye.

HAND: Oh.

They smash into the front of the Mansion as one. Flames and smoke soar up, concrete crumbles, windows shatter and Avengers Mansion collapses into ruin.

CAGE: Victoria…?

With renewed morale, the Locust advance more fiercely than before. Gunfire rips through the air. The Avengers are demoralised and desperate now. All of a sudden, it feels like they’re in a fight they can’t win.

CAGE: Avengers Assemble! Let’s show these motherfuckers who they’re dealing with!

As the Locust swarm around them, Hawkeye and Mockingbird get separated in the fray. Hawkeye lets fly three arrows simultaneously. Each of them finds its mark. A few feet away, Mockingbird disarms a Locust grunt, then kills him with his own weapon. Just then, an arrow with a flashing light pierces her thigh. She screams.

HAWKEYE: Bobbi?

MOCKINGBIRD: Clint, what the hell?

HAWKYEYE: That wasn’t me!

A Locust unit clad in red and grey robes appears. He screeches at them. In one of its hands is a massive, wicked looking longbow.

MOCKINGBIRD: Oh, you guys have bows too.

Suddenly the flashing on the arrowhead quickens, a beeping sound is heard. It detonates.

And Mockingbird is gone.

Amid all the war and chaos, Hawkeye drops his bow, and falls to his knees.

HAWKEYE: My wife…

[justwriteryan]

CHAPTER TWO

A New York highway. An army blockade is preventing traffic from entering the city. There’s an abundance of armed military units and barbed wire, but not everybody is getting the message. A disgruntled truck driver steps out of his vehicle and marches right up to the blockade, where a crowd of scared and confused people have already gathered.

DRIVER: Hey, Rambo! What’s the big idea?

SOLDIER: Sir, you need to return to your vehicle and go back                                             the way you came. The city is off-limits.

DRIVER: What’s the big emergency?

SOLDIER: Some sort of invasion. The whole city’s under attack, and New York may not be the only target.

DRIVER:  So then, what are you goons  doin’ out here, disruptin’ my deliveries, when there’s a freakin’ war being fought on Main Street?

SOLDIER: Orders from Commander Rogers himself: nobody gets in, and everybody gets out. Now, you…and all you folks here…need to turn around and go home! This is a military operation, and its not safe for you people to-

BOOM! Something explodes a few miles behind the blockade. No sooner does panic set in than three flying tentacled beasts come screeching across the skies. Riding on their backs are the grey-skinned creatures glimpsed in the city. They wheel overhead and open fire on all below, civilian and soldier alike. An army sergeant barks his orders.

SERGEANT: Hostiles in the sky! Weapons free! Light ‘em up!

The soldiers return fire as the civilians run for cover. Its chaos. Suddenly, a yellow laser beam pops the head off one of the riders. Another shoots one of the beasts in the eye, sending it crashing onto the freeway. As the surviving assailant swings his mount to hunt this new foe, a red and yellow blur bursts through the skull of the beast he’s riding, and a red gauntlet smashes into his face. As the last of the aliens go down, all eyes turn to the sky once again. There, gleaming in a floating suit of red and gold armour is Tony Stark, the invincible Iron Man.

STARK: Do what the man says folks. Go home and stay there. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a really important call to get to,

And with a whoosh, he’s gone, flying like a fighter jet off into the city.

A tracking shot of Iron Man as he swoops around skyscrapers and fires repulsor beams at the aliens. Eventually, he lands in the conference room of Avengers Tower, coming through a window that was smashed in the fighting.

STARK: Morning, Avengers.

ROGERS: Tony, good, we’re ready to begin.

The large table where the Avengers usually meet has been upturned to face the shattered windows to act as a makeshift barrier. At the back of the room is another huge TV screen, displaying multiple satellite views, infra-red shots and news reports. Around the room are the few Avengers that were present in the tower at the time of attack; the current Captain America, Bucky Barnes…the Protector, the alien warrior Noh-Varr…Spider-man and Spider-woman, Jessica Drew…winged hero the Falcon, and Maria Hill.

STARK; Uh, where’s Thor?

MARIA: He lives in Asgard, and they don’t have phones there.

ROGERS: He’s en route. I made the call.

MARIA: What? Just like that?

ROGERS: I said the words, he’ll be here. Now, down to business. At approximately 0600 hours, New York and perhaps the world was invaded by an army of previously unknown alien life-forms…

SPIDER-MAN: “previously unknown”?

ROGERS: Yes. Using intel collected from the databanks of Reed Richards, S.H.I.E.L.D, S.W.O.R.D., and Noh-Varr here, we’ve deduced that this species isn’t Kree, Skrull, Shi-‘ar, Titan, Martian, Sakarrian, Brood or any other we’ve got catalogues on.

STARK: Could it be something…supernatural, instead?

ROGERS: We had our mystics check into that as well. I didn’t like that they were able to gain entry into our atmosphere without any real spacecraft, so I got everybody I could think of investigating teleportation spells large enough to transport armies. Unfortunately, there were no “mystical disturbances” in this dimension. At this early stage, we have to conclude that this is an invasion from another universe.

BUCKY: My God…

ROGERS: All attempts to contact them have failed. They aren’t interested in talking. Whether they’re doing this for resources, or territory, or some warped religious dogma, we can’t tell. Nor can we tell how they got here, how many of them there are, or…

He breaks off for a minute. The group watches him patiently as he composes himself.

ROGERS: the good news is, they’ve pushed us to the point where we can make it real simple for them. The   U.N.’s stance on unwarranted extra-terrestrial attacks is surprisingly straightforward. Give them no quarter. Those bastards have come here to kill and destroy. Your job is to stop that from happening. Help any civilians you find that are hurt or in trouble, but right now holding back the attack is the priority. You’re the front line, Avengers. Move out.

The Avengers begin to file out the window. Falcon and Protector fly out first. Spider-man pauses for a second.

SPIDER-MAN: Another day, another alien invasion.

He leaps out the window. Tony turns to Steve.

STARK: Where are the Fantastic Four?

ROGERS: Reed, Sue, Johnny and the kids are on vacation in the 1600s, but Ben Grimms staying with Cage’s team at the Mansion, who are already in the field.

STARK:  Damn it. The world’s leading expert on multi-dimensional travel is in another time the day we got attacked by…what are we calling them, anyway?

ROGERS: Due to their frenzied attacking style and possible hive mind mentality, we’ve coined the name “Locust”

BUCKY: A swarm of Locusts. Great.

ROGERS: Bucky, wait. I’m keeping you in reserve for the time being.

BUCKY: You’re what?

ROGERS: This room is our nerve centre. I need you on site to defend it while I co-ordinate the fight.

BUCKY:  Fine. But I’m gonna need more than your old shield and my M-9.

Steve walks over to a space in the wall. He holds his palm against it. A whirring sound comes from behind it and a portion of the wall slides away to reveal a fully-stocked gun cabinet with fire-arms of various makes and sizes.

ROGERS: This should help.

KRA-BOOM.. thunder rolls and bangs across the sky. For a moment, all noise outside the tower stops. Then, hurtling out of the dark, stormy sky like a falling star comes Thor, God of Thunder. With a force that shakes Avengers Tower right to the roof, he strikes his hammer to the earth and sends lightning shooting out to scorch all Locust within fifty feet.

ROGERS: See? Told you he’d be here.

END.

[justwriteryan]

Thank you to everyone who got me to 50 likes!

[justwriteryan]

Sunrise on a Manhattan Wednesday morning. All across the city, alarm clocks go off, people stir in their sleep. In the liveliest city in the world, every home, every workplace is bracing itself for day. And Avengers Tower is no exception.

Within the enormous skyscraper, Edwin Jarvis, the elderly butler quietly walks down to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for his employers. He stops. There’s a figure at the windows in the upper lobby. His six foot frame is silhouetted in the rising sunlight.

JARVIS: Good morning, Master Steven.

Steve Rogers, the former Captain America, turns to face his loyal butler.

ROGERS: God morning, Jarvis.

JARVIS: Up early again, sir?

ROGERS: I make a point of watching the sunrise as often as I can. I’ve been in hundreds of fights over the years, Jarvis. Odds are, I’ll die in one some day. I like to take a second to enjoy the beginning of a new day before we launch head-first into all the madness.

JARVIS: Very good, sir. I’ll prepare your morning espresso, shall I?

ROGERS: Thank you, Jarvis. That’d be great. And wake up Maria please.

MARIA: No need, commander.

Maria Hill, Steve’s second-in-command, enters the room. She’s already dressed in her uniform with an electronic tablet in her hand and a pistol strapped to her waist.

ROGERS: Good morning, agent. Run me through the morning’s reports.

MARIA: Yes, sir. Sharon got in touch during the night to say she’s proceeding with the final phase on that mission in Egypt, and that the team will be out of touch for twenty four hours..

ROGERS: Okay…

MARIA: Intel picked up a cell of H.A.M.M.E.R loyalists in Montana. They’ve stockpiled some of Osborn’s nastier tech, and I don’t think they’re planning on building a fort with them.

ROGERS: Put a call into Victoria Hand over at the mansion, have Luke’s team investigate.

MARIA: You got it. Oh, and Sue, Reed, Johnny and the kids are on vacation in another dimension, but Ben’s decided to stay. Guess he enjoys being an Avenger better, huh?

Steve turns and smiles.

ROGERS: Whats not to love?

Maria returns the smile. For a few seconds, neither of them speak.

ROGERS: So, who do we…

BOOM!

ROGERS: What the…?

The building shakes. Across town, a column of smoke is rising.

ROGERS: Maria! Intel, now!

At that moment, several fireballs appear in the morning sky. One by one, they crash, hitting various points of the city. Explosions are heard. The city shakes again.

ROGERS: Missiles?

MARIA: No sir. They seem to coming from space. Meteors I think!

ROGERS: A meteor shower? Of this magnitude, hitting this city, with no advance word from NASA or the Baxter Building’s satellites? I’m not buying it!

The building trembles again, with more ferocity than before.

ROGERS: Another meteor?

MARIA: No, sir. That one shook the whole city! More like an earthquake! Although the seismic readings I’m seeing here…

A new sound. Gunfire. Lots of it. Mingled with explosions and for the first time, screams.

ROGERS: Computer: on!

The dining room table in the middle of the room separates in the middle. Out of the space large flat computer screen rises.

ROGERS: Show me what the situation is in Midtown!

The screen flashes on. We see various security feeds a bustling city street, thrown into panic. Marching through the streets are these horrible, grey-skinned, humanoid creatures with yellow eyes. Each one is six foot in height with a strange kind of machine gun and are mowing down anything that moves.

Steve Rogers watched the screen intently, his temper rising. Maria Hill is too shocked and scared to speak. In spite of the maelstrom on the streets and on the screen, the room is deathly quiet.

ROGERS: Computer: initiate Stark Emergency Frequency Sigma Seventy-Two.

COMPUTER: Emergency Frequency Sigma Seventy-Two activated, Commander.

ROGERS: Maria, get me S.H.I.E.L.D, S.W.O.R.D, the military, the navy, the fire department, the ambulance services and the police on the line the second I finish here. And the President too, if he isn’t trying to reach me already.

MARIA: Yes, sir.

ROGERS: People of New York, this is Commander Steven Rogers.

All at once, the former Captain America’s face appears on every television, computer screen and phone across the city. It appears at Grand Central Station and Time Square and in the homes of families huddling together for support.

ROGERS: In the last few minutes, the city has come under attack by an as-yet unknown alien invasion party. Before we tackle this threat, our first task is to prevent any more casualties. I ask you to stay indoors and only leave your home or place of work if your life depends on it. Rescue teams are coming.

Throughout the city commuters in the subway, men and women in office buildings, customers in grocery stores and families of all races, colours and nationalities watch with fear in their hearts as Steve delivers his message.

ROGERS: If you are already outside, find somewhere safe and stay there. If you’re on our way into the city at this time, use whatever means you have and evacuate the vicinity. Once again, this is Commander Steve Rogers asking you to stay put and stay safe. God bless.

The computer screen goes blank, then lights up again as the President’s face appears on it.

PRESIDENT: Good speech, Commander. I hope you have a plan to back it up.

ROGERS: Of course, Mr. President. I want as many available armed and emergency services committed to the immediate evacuation and rescue of civilians, sir.

PRESIDENT: You got it. But what are you planning on fighting these bastards with?

ROGERS: With your leave, sir, I’d like to deploy the super heroes. If this is in fact an alien invasion, then they would be the natural front line.

PRESIDENT: Very good, Steve. And this is definitely an invasion. I’m hearing that whatever these things are, wherever they came from, they’re attacking every major city in the country, maybe even the world.

ROGERS: Yes sir. Rogers out.

Steve turns back to Maria as the screen goes black.

ROGERS: Maria, patch me through to the All-Call Frequency.

MARIA: Yes, sir.

She types something onto the tablet in her hands.

MARIA: Good to go sir.

ROGERS: Attention! This is Commander Steve Rogers issuing a code red All-Call! This is a priority alert! All metahumans respond immediately! In other words…AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!

An old idea I had for a crossover where the Marvel 616 universe gets invaded by the Locust horde from Gears of War. Stay tuned!

[justwriteryan]

CAPTAIN MARVEL WALKS INTO A BAR

Exterior shot. Night. A starry sky wheels over a rocky desert landscape. The only signs of life are the lights and sounds coming from a squat building decked out with neon lights. There’s a sign on the roof displaying words in an unintelligible language. Different types of spacecraft sit parked outside. It’s pretty obvious what we’re looking at.

A biker bar.

In space.

Another spaceship gently comes into land beside the others. A shuttle door opens and the pilot emerges. It’s a blonde woman in a uniform of red and blue with a golden star emblazoned across their chest. She is CAROL DANVERS aka CAPTAIN MARVEL. She enters the building and walks straight to the bar. A large surly alien is cleaning glasses. It turns to the newcomer and growls.

CAROL: Gimme something strong.

She slides some coins across the counter. The barkeep produces a green bottle and pours the contents into a small glass. Carol sniffs it suspiciously, then takes a swig. Her face curdles.

CAROL: Tastes like Brood spit. 

The barkeep laughs. Carol turns away from him. She catches snippets of conversation from a table behind her. Two aliens are talking amongst themselves, but they aren’t being discreet about it.

ALIEN: Where do you wanna hit next?

ALIEN #2: Chitauri-Space will have a few abandoned outposts after the Terra invasion.

Carol freezes. She sets her glass down and marches across the room to their table.

CAROL: Tell me everything you know about this Terra invasion.

ALIEN: Frakk off, blondie!

Carol slams her fist on the loudmouth’s hand, crushing it into the table. Her fist begins to glow and the alien starts to whimper in pain. His companion jumps to its feet. Carol raises her free arm at them and they freeze. She shoots them a warning look. Her eyes are glowing like hot coals.

ALIEN #2: It’s you! You’re that Kree renegade!

Carol turns her attention back to the alien squirming under her grip/

CAROL: Talk.

ALIEN: Two cycles ago… a Chitauri fleet invaded Terra.

CAROL: Impossible!

ALIEN: Its true!

CAROL: There’s no way an alien armada gets near Earth without the Nova Corp or freaking Asgard noticing first. No way.

ALIEN: They used some…weapon…or artefact. Used a portal to move from Chitauri-Space to Terran orbit. I swear!

Carol goes quiet as her captive writhes beneath her. They aren’t lying. Carol whispers a question to herself.

CAROL: Why didn’t he call?

Carol intensifies the light and heat emanating from her clenched fist. The alien shrieks in pain.

CAROL: What happened?

ALIEN: I don’t know the details! The Chitauri were beaten back, their mothership destroyed! Nobody knows how the Terrans did it! All we know is some word!

CAROL: What word?

ALIEN: Avengers!

Carol’s face breaks into a smile. Then a grin. The other alien uses this moment to pull out a blaster. Carol jerks back her raised arm and fires a photon blast, knocking her would-be shooter onto the floor. She turns back to the alien she’s been interrogating.

CAROL: One last thing.

ALIEN: I’ll tell you anything! Please!

CAROL: Who gave the order?

ALIEN: Some Asgardian outcast was with them-

CAROL: I don’t care who led the charge! Chitauri are spineless pirates, they aren’t smart enough to pull off an attack from one end of the universe to the other! I’m asking you: who ordered the invasion of Earth?

The alien stops squirming and looks Carol directly in the eye. She looks back at him. Suddenly she understands.

CAROL: Oh. Him.

Carol lifts her arm off the table. The alien clutches it’s hand and collapses in a heap on the floor. Carol turns and marches out the door.

CAROL: You’ll get your turn one day, you son of a bitch. One day.

                                                    END.

Like all of us, I wondered what Captain Marvel was doing during the Chitauri Invasion. While I don't quite answer that here, I thought it would be cool to show her learning about it and tying things back to her own story as well.