Apollo and Thor walked around in circles for almost an hour trying to think of something to help their teammate and fellow Avenger, Callisto. She was being held against her will by some sentient black tower thanks to Count Abyss. The guy really knew how to stick it to you. Even in defeat. Then Apollo stopped his pacing and smiled.

"I believe I know of a way to appease this monstrosity. I must simply commune with it to do so," Apollo said putting his hands to his temples as he united his mind with that of the tower. Thor watched Apollo for two minutes and not once did the god flinch. Olympians though never as grand and powerful as the Asgardians did possess determination if nothing else.

Suddenly the vines through and around Callisto began to retract until the Morlock woman fell to the ground. Apollo then broke his link with the tower and scooped up Callisto in his arms.

"How didst thee do it?" Thor asked amazed at the ease that Apollo freed Callisto with.

"The tower was simply lonely. Millions of years with no one to talk to can make a person desperate. So I promised him more company than just one woman and about a mile from here there are a thousand fire golems waiting to spend all the time in the world with him," Apollo explained with a smile. If it had been up to Thor they probably would have just busted the tower up till it caved in around them.

"Tis all done then. Shalt we return home?" Thor suggested with a smile full of excitement.

"Let us get home quickly for I have my precious back and it's time to show her who she truly is," Apollo exclaimed.

Avengers Mansion

"I don't know why you're here, but I suggest that you say and what you have to say. And make it quick. My patience has been known to run thin as of late," Crystal said to her unexpected visitor at the moment. She was hoping that whatever he was here for he would make it quick. He obviously wasn't out to harm anybody since he didn't bulldoze his way to her.

"Whether you believe me or not I've come to apologize for all the harm I may have caused you," Exodus said extending out a hand of friendship to Crystal. He wasn't sure if this attempt was any good, but he had to try. He was determined to heal all the wounds he's created over the time of his existence.

Crystal took Exodus's hand firmly and said, "Maybe this sounds crazy, but I believe you Exodus. I can see the honesty in your eyes. I haven't seen honesty in some time. Kinda sad I'd see it in someone I use to consider a foe and not in the one I loved most."

Bennet frowned and said, "I assume you're talking about Pietro. I'm sorry to hear about his adulterous habits. A woman like you shouldn't be left alone. So how's Luna?"

"She's fine. I still can't believe we're actually having a civil conversation. Pietro and me can't even do that these days. Honestly though I've moved on. He's the past," Crystal sighed looking away from Exodus.

"Perhaps, but don't be so quick to forget the past because it's not so quick to forget about you. Will you be seeking custody for Luna?" Exodus asked.

Crystal's face twisted at this question, "Yes, I'm seeking full custody for her. I don't want her near Pietro. He's far too violent and he barely shows up anyway. I'm not going to have her disappointed again and again like my marriage to him was."

"I once had a wife and child. It's not common knowledge really. I haven't even told my Exiles. I was about 18 years old and my wife's name was Natalie. It was about four months into our marriage when she got pregnant. He was a boy and his name was Armand. Two months after his first birthday they both died from some type of bacterial infection. I was devastated."

"How long afterward did you go to the Crusades?" Crystal asked beginning to see what made Exodus tick.

"Almost immediately afterward. When Apocalypse approached me I did want power. Some small hope in my mind made me wish the power I would receive would bring Natalie and Armand back. At the same time though I felt there wasn't anything left to my life anyway so why not join Apocalypse? And so I did. That was the worst mistake I could have ever made," Exodus said hanging his head low.

Realization beamed across Crystal's face, "You joined Apocalypse out of grief! It all makes sense now. I thought you were just a man seeking out power. All this time…"

"Grief can drive people to do crazy things. Don't let it make you do anything rash Crystal. I thank you for hearing me out and for your forgiveness. It means more to me than you know. Now I'm off to Hong Kong, but perhaps I'll stop by again," Exodus bowed as yellow light overtook him taking him back to the Exiles Base.

"Did you just have a conversation with who I think you did?" Sersi asked coming around the corner.

"I just did. And you think you know a guy…"

"Well, all I know is that he was quite the handsome fellow. Possibly a replacement for Pietro," Sersi said nudging Crystal in the shoulder.

"Ha! I doubt that," Crystal said weakly. Maybe there was more to what Sersi had just said. The world could throw some crazy twists at you.

Two Hours Later

Crystal stirred in her bed wildly as her mind was deep in sleep. After about a minute of stirring she woke up from her dream screaming. Sersi came bursting into her room, since her room was next to Crystal's, with a concerned look on her face.

"What's wrong Crystal? I heard a scream come from your room," Sersi said looking around for something wrong in the room.

"I miss him so much and I don't know what to do."

"What are you talking about Crystal?" Sersi asked.

"I should be over him you know. I should know better, but with love that's not the case."

"Oh Crystal," Sersi said as she sat down next to Crystal in her bed and gave her friend a hug. Despite her tough exterior Crystal was still reeling from what Pietro had done to her.

Just then Jarvis walked into the room and said in an excited tone, "Come quickly Crystal and Sersi. Thor and Apollo have returned with Callisto!"

Crystal wiped away her tears and awoke from her bed with a green t-shirt and her black underwear on. Sersi had a red nightgown on so she couldn't move as fast as Crystal. They followed Jarvis down the hall to the main living room of the mansion. Standing there was Thor and Apollo with Apollo holding Callisto in his arms.

"Looks like we stumbled in at a bad time," Apollo smiled.

"Of course not, Master…"

"You damn straight you did! I mean I'm in my underwear for crying out loud here," Crystal exclaimed.

Space

"I never had any idea you were black Binary," Scarlet Witch said looking over at her teammate whose energy form had faded away to reveal her human form.

"I didn't want to bring any bad publicity to the team. My face isn't exactly the one to be seen with a team like the Avengers," Binary explained.

Gilgamesh chimed in, "Honestly I don't think it matters now. We've been sold to some alien slavers as meat. So you might as well tell us."

"No need to be pushy about it. I kinda killed someone a while ago."

"What?!" Gilgamesh said shocked.

Scarlet Witch gave him an intense stare and said, "Don't even go there Gilgamesh! It's no worse than some of the rest of the Avengers past deeds. I use to be a terrorist along with my brother. US Agent has killed more than one person and Black Widow use to work for communist Russia. By comparison Binary is a lightweight."

"An insult or compliment? I'm still trying to figure that out," Binary said to everyone with the intention of really speaking to herself as she tugged at the large metal shackles that were wrapped around her hands.

"Don't hurt your brain trying to figure it out!" Gilgamesh exclaimed.

"Must you always be an ass? If you had ran a little faster perhaps we wouldn't be on a ship off to some slave planet," Satana accused.

"Why don't you pull some hocus pocus demon queen? I'm sure these chains they have on us can't be blocking your powers as well," Gilgamesh said.

"They're blocking your powers as well so why would you think my powers work? Last time I checked your powers are just as mystically based as mine. Not too smart are you?" Satana mocked.

Avengers Mansion (The Next Day)

"Tell me everything Apollo. Don't leave a single detail out," Callisto said.

"Of course, but first I want to say I'm sorry."

"Don't give me apologies. Just give me the truth," Callisto said sternly.

Chapter 7

The hall was covered with transparent glass so Thor and Ssi-Ra could see clear through into the beauty of space. Thor knew that somewhere out there vie of his fellow Avengers were trapped and as leader he was obligated to rescue them at any coast necessary and he did mean any cost.

"Are you sure that no one can offer you assistance?" Ssi-Ra asked the Thunder God as politely as he possibly could.

"Nay. Ye Shi'ar tis thee only assistance I cost thinketh of," Thor replied. The Asgardian knew the Shi'ar were in hard times, but he was desperate for help. He would ask his fellow Asgardians for assistance, but they were deeply involved in their own affairs. Besides his pride prevented him from asking them for help.

"Thor I'm truly sorry, but the Shi'ar can't give the help you has asked for just yet. Our military has been severely weakened from the rebellion caused by Riovanes. Chancellor Dooku is pretty much keeping the military at a standstill. I suggest you be patient unless you think you can save your teammates alone," Ssi-Ra said wanting to smack himself in his head for the last comment he made. He could almost see the hammer flying at his head.

"Dost thou doubt thee power of Thor?" the Thunder God asked as he stared intensely at Ssi-Ra. Feeling his blood beginning to boil Thor flung his cape and stomped off. He would save his teammates no matter what it took for him to do it. Even if he had to do it alone.

Meanwhile in a far off part of the building Lilandra watched the display. She hung her head low in shame. Her empire was beginning to fall apart at the seams and all on account of some upstart Chancellor. Life was becoming harder and crazier for Lilandra to handle every day. The Empress wondered if she really was cut to be Empress of this race that had prospered and flourished for so long. Was she the weak link that would be the end of her race?

Avengers Mansion

"So how did you meet my grandmother?" Callisto anxiously asked. She was finally going to get some answers to questions that she never knew existed until a few hours ago. She was the descendent of someone from something she always believed to be a bunch of garbage.

"I met your mother in Chicago in the year 1939. I was growing bored with Olympus so I ventured to Earth and there she was like a brilliant star. I stayed on Earth with her for 5 years in which time your mother was born," Apollo explained.

Callisto jumped out of her seat as she exclaimed, "You left my grandmother and mother alone? Could you really be that foul?"

"No child. I visited them for great periods of time until your mother turned 18. I then offered to unlock her godly powers and bring her to Olympus. Your mother turned me down," Apollo sighed as if he was reliving some painful moment over and over again.

"Okay. So then what?" Callisto inquired leaning back in her wooden brown chair.

"Your mother lived out life as a mortal. When she was 25 she met your father. I strongly disapproved of him, but even gods can't stop love. So they were married and you were born my dear. The rest I think you already know," Apollo said smiling as if a world of regret had lifted off his shoulders.

Callisto shook her head, as she asked, "Then how come you never visited me as a child? I mean Mom always told me you were a missionary in Africa."

Apollo's face sunk again as he responded, "Your mother demanded that I have nothing to do with you. She was afraid I would unlock the power within your blood. Guess she was right."

"What do you mean?" Callisto said her heart beating a little faster.

"When you were freed from the tower you were gravely injured. The only way to save you was to unlock the godly powers within you. By tomorrow you should be fully transformed into your 'god form'. Though since you're a grandchild of Olympus you shouldn't be altered too much," Apollo informed to a shocked Callisto.

Another Planet

"Intruder alert!" one of the short purple aliens yelled out as he saw the man above him with the enormous, but crude weapon.

"RELEASE THEM!" Thor bellowed as he made massive lighting bolts fall from the sky knocking out about a dozen of the alien's defensive towers. Suddenly hundreds of aliens, all of different varieties, came out of the Thunder God's hand ten tornadoes erupted from the sky enveloping all his would be attackers.

"Release them foul ones!" Thor yelled again as he launched his enchanted hammer into the ground. The impact made a large crater that took out four tiny communications buildings. The Asgardian was about to commence to throw his hammer again when a 200-foot tall robot ripped through the crater that Mjolnir had created. The robot was a reddish brown color and was reminiscent of a fly.

"What do you want?" the robot asked in a monotone voice. If Thor didn't know better he could have sworn that the robot sounded desperate. This made a smile come across his face.

"Thou hast six of my friends held in bondage. I wish them returned to me," Thor said floating down from the green sky so he was face to face with the robotic creature.

"You mean the Earthlings? Take them and leave. They are in a tower a mile from this base," the robot told Thor. The Asgardian nodded as he flew over the tower to where his kidnapped teammates were. He would shot Ssi-Ra proof of the power of Thor. The Thunder God didn't need the help of anyone to save those where important to him and never again would he be so foolish to think that he needed help. Especially from a race as treacherous as the Shi'ar. After all they had done for the Shi'ar for them to act the way they were acting was wrong, and also disgusting to Thor's sense of honor and duty. Helping a friend in need was something that Thor held to the utmost.

Space

"The drug is circulating across the planet Earth so we'll have our army within a matter of days. Soon enough the Shi'ar will be ours as will the Avengers. Too bad Captain America isn't amongst their ranks. I desire revenge from our last encounter," Nebulon said stepping into the door and behind his master. The same master that Menace X and Chancellor Dooku had.

"In time Nebulon. First, we must overcome the big hurdles. Then the rest shall fall into place easily. Now I go to get Sersi. She will be crucial in bringing the Avengers to me especially they find out it's me."

"Of course. I couldn't see why they wouldn't hunt you down to the ends of the Earth! After all you were one of their greatest threats," Nebulon said as his master stopped looking out into the blackness of space and stared directly at him.

"Obviously Nebulon. They will tremble once they realize they are facing the awesome power of Proctor!"