Yesterday, the world had stood still. A disease that had turned out to be a worldwide microscopic civilization had incapacitated the entire population. Today that civilization had died out, having aged along an accelerated timeline. But while investigating the threat, Earth’s mightiest heroes the Avengers had discovered who was responsible for it.

Now, the Avengers were assembled to avenge.

The team had piled into the specialized Quinjet, designed specifically for spaceflight missions. “Do we have our course?” Captain America asked the pilot, the experienced Warbird.

She pushed buttons and an image of Earth’s solar orbit appeared on the monitor. On the other side of the orbit was a blank spot, an area roughly Earth’s size where nothing registered. “We’ve identified what has to be a new Counter-Earth,” Warbird stated. “I’m assuming we don’t want a week-long trip?”

“You assume correctly.”

“That plots our course through the sun.”

Espirita muttered a prayer in Spanish. Everybody else appeared nervous, but said nothing.

“Liftoff,” Captain America ordered.

Warbird pressed the launch button. The Quinjet shuddered as it blasted up from the Avengers Mansion rooftop and through the Earth’s atmosphere. In minutes it was arcing around Earth towards the sun, building speed as it did so. “Binary, you’re up.”

With hesitation, Binary moved to the rear of the Quinjet. The vehicle was powered by fuel cells, but the supply was finite and Captain America did not want to waste energy unless necessary. Binary opened the access door to the engines, her own power shielding the team from the deadly exhaust bursts. Cosmic energy flowed from Binary into the engines, and the Quinjet shot off through space at nearly the speed of light.

“The distance between Earth and the Sun is about one hundred fifty thousand kilometers,” Warbird informed the team. “The speed of light is over a billion kilometers and hour. At our present speed, the sun will come up in ten minutes.” She yelled toward the back of the Quinjet. “That’s enough, Binary. Our momentum and the sun’s gravity will carry us the rest of the way. Stand by to shield the Quinjet.”

“How many times have you run this simulation?” Stingray asked.

“Three times with Binary,” Warbird answered. “I’ve personally run this simulation over a hundred times, though I admit few involved this sun.” When she’d been Binary, Warbird has spent time with space pirates known as the Starjammers. “But I’ve been up close and personal with our sun. I know the timing inside and out.”

The temperature in the Quinjet’s cabin was beginning to rise. “Do nothing Binary. Espirita, draw in everything I’m not absorbing.” Right not that wasn’t much, but Warbird knew as they got closer she would absorb more and more ambient radiation. Idly she wondered, and perhaps hoped, that it would be enough to trigger a transformation into her old Binary form.

Three minutes passed before Warbird whipped her closely shaved head around and yelled out. “Now Binary! Just like I taught you!”

Energy rippled out of Binary, an aura of power that passed harmlessly through the cabin to blanket the entire Quinjet. It was an extension of Binary’s own sheath that protected her from the vacuum of space and the radiation of celestial bodies. And as this sheath surrounded the Quinjet, Binary’s skin lightened to its own dark natural hue.

“We’ll only be in the sun for less than a minute,” Warbird told her teammates. “But be prepared for some extreme discomfort.”

That turned out to be an understatement as the Avengers Quinjet plunged into the flaring sun. Nuclear reactions burst all around the vehicle, taxing Binary’s sheath as well as the Quinjet’s own shielding. Between holding back the radiation and preventing extreme gravity from crushing the Quinjet into an atom, sweat was pouring down Binary’s face.

Warbird and Espirita were similarly perspiring, as were the other Avengers before long. Stingray feared he might actually drown in his armor. Quicksilver was starting to breathe hyper-rapidly, and Karnak shot him a warning look. There was a limited supply of air in the Quinjet and Quicksilver was using up more than his share.

Almost before the heat, radiation and gravity threatened to be overwhelming, it passed as the Quinjet rocketed through the other side of the sun. Binary appeared to be relaxing, but Warbird shouted, “Not yet! Keep us shielded, and boost the engines to fight the gravity.”

“I…I can’t.” Binary’s knees started to buckle, but Firestar grabbed her arm to support her. Steam was rising from the skin of both female Avengers. “I have the sheath up still, but there’s nothing left for…” Binary’s mouth went dry and she couldn’t speak another word.

“Dammit!” Warbird undid her seat restraints. “Captain America, take the controls.” She was moving toward the rear of the Quinjet, where the engines were.

“Warbird, the fuel cells can-”

“And burn out in the process,” she finished. “The engines may even be overtaxed to the point of breaking down. They need enough juice and right now I’m the only one that can provide it!”

Warbird rushed past Binary and Espirita, wrenched open the engine containment and plunged her hand into it. Her power rushed into the engines, enabling it to fight against gravity and win. “Aaahhh!”

Captain America studied the readouts on the control board, and when it was safe he gave the word. “Binary, it’s safe to contract your sheath. And get Warbird out of there!”

Quicksilver reached Warbird first, pulling her from the engine and closing the containment. The hand Warbird had plunged in was heavily blistered, useless for the moment. Quicksilver moved her to a seat next to the semi-conscious Binary, and fetched the med-kit to treat her hand.

“What’s our ETA, Captain?” Stingray inquired.

“Now that we’re running on the fuel cells and moving against gravity, I estimate about thirty minutes,” Captain America replied. “Which should be almost enough time for us to recover from the trip. Against a foe like the High Evolutionary, we’ll need it.”

---

The far distant image of an Avengers Quinjet was reflected in the green gem on Warlock’s brow. He could see both with his eyes and in his mind the approaching enemy. He turned, hair and cape still in the airless atmosphere of the moon, and addressed his master the High Evolutionary.

“They’re coming.”

The High Evolutionary gave the slightest of nods. “As you warned me.”

“Theirs is a culture that cannot let things go unanswered,” Warlock stated. “If slighted in the most minute way, they feel the need to lash out and teach lessons. It is unlikely they have the faintest idea of what to do should they succeed.”

“It is telling you do not include me in human generalizations,” the High Evolutionary observed. “However shortsighted, their goal is to end my experiments. Do you sympathize?”

Adam Warlock shook his head. “None were killed in your latest attempt to glimpse the cycle of evolution. The benefits of these studies far outweigh any risks, as I will attempt to convince the Avengers.”

“And if your attempt should fail?”

Adam Warlock turned away from his master to gaze into the abyss of the unknown. “Then I shall dissuade them by force. They will learn their folly, either by words or action.”

A circuit in his pink and purple armor was activated. The High Evolutionary’s form shimmered as he teleported from Adam Warlock’s side. “I leave this matter in your hands, my Adam.”

The Quinjet had grown larger in Warlock’s gem, as tens of thousands of miles had rapidly become thousands of miles. Warlock’s own image appeared in the gem, superimposed over the Quinjet. A connection of souls was in progress, and with no effort contact was made.

Warlock felt them, the souls of his sometime allies the Avengers. They were weary from their journey, but angry and eager for battle. They felt wronged by the High Evolutionary, desired to make him pay for the perceived attack on Earth. It would make as much sense to attack every laboratory on their planet, Warlock thought to himself. More sense.

Communication between souls was not as precise as between minds. Warlock could only transmit feelings, give the Avengers a sense of his position. None were sympathetic. Warlock could sense how strongly they felt, that they had all experienced recent pain associated with the present conflict. Broken hearts, a tragic guilt, abject horror and the deepest of violation. This conflict was about much more than a simple experiment. The Avengers had been changed, and they blamed the High Evolutionary.

Having accepted that he could not dissuade the Avengers remotely, Adam Warlock withdrew into the Blue Area of the Counter Earth’s Moon. He would wait until they arrived safely, and attempt to settle this with words.

---

Inside their Quinjet, the Avengers got their first look at Counter Earth. At the same time the planet came into view, the moon did as well. Espirita made the sign of the cross.

"This blasphemer believes himself to be a god."

"Worse, actually," Quicksilver remarked. "The High Evolutionary believes that he's improving on God's design. So better than god, actually."

"And nearly as powerful," Captain America stated. "The High Evolutionary has even battled Galactus at one point, back when the first Counter-Earth was destroyed."

"So he can't beat Galactus. I'll take that as encouraging." Warbird was looking at the readouts on the control console. "There is a huge energy spike on the moon. The output of energy is enormous, more than anything I've seen before."

"It makes sense to keep a power source isolated," Captain America observed. "The moon is as isolated as it gets. If we can knock out whatever's there, it will strike a blow to the High Evolutionary."

Warbird guided the Quinjet toward the moon. As they got closer, Karnak wondered aloud, "There's a shade of blue there. Could it be...?"

“A Blue Area.” Captain America nodded. “Take us there Warbird.”

The Quinjet angled in, approaching the Counter Earth’s Moon and it’s Blue Area specifically. As it came within a mile of the Blue Area, a small figure appeared in the Quinjet’s path. Man-sized, it was the color of gold, with a red cape trailing behind. There was a staff in its hand, held sideways as though barring the way.

“That’s Adam Warlock,” Captain America breathed. “What is he doing here?”

“It looks like he’s getting in our way,” Binary said. “Do you want me to go out and deal with him?”

“Until we enter the Blue Area, the cabin will depressurize if opened,” Stingray told her. “We need to get past him and land quickly. In flight we’re sitting ducks.”

“Get past Adam Warlock,” Warbird muttered. “Right.” She did try, shifting the Quinjet to dip below the hovering Warlock. The staff in his hand moved, a blast from its head roiling across the Quinjet’s bow. “That was a warning. I say we risk opening the hatch. Binary.”

The younger and more powerful Avengers started towards the hatch, but Captain America indicated that she stop. “No, that wasn’t a warning. He’s herding us. Look down below.”

Warbird and the rest of the Avengers could see it, a giant “X” marked into the lunar ground just inside the Blue Area. “Take us down there,” Captain America told her. “Adam Warlock has always been reasonable. Whatever his reasons are for joining with the High Evolutionary, we may be able to convince him otherwise.”

At Captain America’s direction, Warbird set the Quinjet down at the indicated spot. The Avengers disembarked and arrayed themselves to face Adam Warlock, who had landed a short distance away. The golden cosmic defenders rippled in the Blue Area’s atmosphere, and his staff was now planted into the ground. Far behind him a large citadel was in view, at the center what appeared to be a mammoth statue towering toward the sky.

“I advise you to abandon this crusade and return home,” Warlock bellowed to the Avengers. “There is no reason for you to be here, and less for you to achieve. Return home and do something of actual meaning to your lives.”

“Combating a threat to Earth is meaning enough,” Captain America countered. “Not too long ago you assisted us against a worldwide threat. What the High Evolutionary did put our planet at risk, Warlock, and we’re here to make him answer for it.”

Warlock shook his head with conviction. “There was no risk, as you all well know. Zero lasting casualties, a statistic that none of your researchers on Earth can match.”

“Casualties?!” Espirita’s eyes burned with unusual flame. “You heretic! Casualties!” She flew at Warlock, her body engulfed in flames that blew white hot. The Blue Area dimmed in response to all the oxygen burning.

The green gem on Adam Warlock’s forehead was an object of near infinite power known as the Soul Gem, and when it glimmered the soul of Espirita was laid bare. Warlock tilted his staff foreward and a burst of power washed over Espirita, extinguishing the flames around her body. She fell to the ground as Warlock looked down at her and the Avengers with deep sorrow.

“Your experiences were painful. But it was your choice to enter the petrie dish.” Moon dust rustled as Warlock rose into the air. “Time in the universe is so short for most individuals. Instead of wasting such precious time on conflict that will not achieve anything, you could...”

Quicksilver had rushed at Warlock as he’d begun to rise. His arm was outstretched for the staff, hoping to take what was apparently a weapon as Warlock was distracted in speech. He did manage to touch it, and the backlash of energy threw Quicksilver away, past his fellow Avengers and out of the moon’s Blue Area.

“Save a friend’s life,” Warlock finished.

“Binary!” Captain America shouted. She didn’t have to be told anything else, as Binary flew after Quicksilver to collect him before the moon’s weak atmosphere proved fatal. “Avengers go!” That last word was accompanied by Captain America’s shield hurled at Adam Warlock.

Warlock ducked to the side and knocked the shield away with his staff. Warbird was in the air moving toward him, energy blasting from both hands. One blast narrowly missed Warlock, while the other he deflected with the palm of a hand. Green energy shot from Warlock’s gem and struck Warbird. She screamed as though her soul were being ripped apart, and her body briefly became two, superimposed on top of one another.

While Warbird was being dispatched, Espirita was recovering. Flames danced across her skin and the Avenger released a blast at Warlock. The golden man was engulfed, but the heat of fire was next to nothing compared to the supernovas Warlock observed up close. So it was not the heat that caused Warlock’s gem to pulsate and bring him crashing to the ground. The staff flew from Warlock’s fingers, clattering against the hard moon rock.

Captain America’s shield returned to his hand as he rushed at Adam Warlock. Though disoriented by Espirita’s mysterious attack, Warlock raised his hand. “The staff is only a focus.” Brilliant pink energy erupted from Warlock’s palm. It exploded against Captain America’s shield, but its unique composition was indestructible against even near-cosmic power. He kept coming, and the sole of an army issue boot met Adam Warlock’s golden face.

“This has no point!” Adam Warlock screamed. Power pulsed from his body and the Soul Gem. Captain America was forced back, and Espirita’s flames were held at bay. “What do you really hope to achieve? The High Evolutionary is no base criminal to be overwhelmed and taken to prison. His crime in your eyes was experimenting on creatures he considers to be lower life-forms, something committed on your planet thousands of times a day!”

Air was violently pushed aside from Binary’s path when she rocketed back into the Blue Area. She smashed through Warlock’s aura of power and into his back with the force of an atomic device. “I am so sick of being called a lower life-form!”

Warlock rolled with the blow, and delivered an elbow to the side of Binary’s head. “Not quite. The source of your anger stems from experimentation that improved you as a result. The High Evolutionary simply wanted to observe a complete evolutionary cycle in a controlled environment.” Recovered from the blow, Binary tried to throw a punch but Warlock blocked it. “Everything is finite, including your power. Even stars die.”

Warbird grabbed Warlock from behind, locking her arms around his neck. “Stars may die every instant. They’re also born. Don’t you dare say this doesn’t matter, that our time fighting a potential danger didn’t matter. Every moment for every individual matters!”

"Yes, but only to the individual." The slightest flex released Warlock from Warbird's grip. He twisted and elbowed her in the face. His palm was presented to Binary and a swirling green blast of power propelled her away. "Once, I had been connected to The Everything. I felt all minds and souls. Even that near-infinite consciousness is but a drop in the vast ocean of The Everything. Less than ten percent of All is matter, and less than one percent of that living."

"The smallest thread in the tapestry has meaning," Espirita preached. She had flown above Adam Warlock, and her fire was falling upon him. "Insects have purpose, spreading life in plants. We have purpose, and it is not to feed a false-god's mad schemes!"

Warlock raised a hand and the flames were deflected from him. "But the purpose of animals on Earth are to feed the mad schemes of human scientists? Were the apes and mice to rise up in revolt, you would fight them as readily as I battle you now!"

"No." Captain America's shield bounced on Warlock's back. The golden man barely noticed. "We would help them, and try to change things without violence. The High Evolutionary is free to experiment as he pleases, without putting others at risk!"

"To which I reiterate, none were at risk!"

Rays of green erupt from Warlock's gem, striking each of the four Avengers against him and even the semi-conscious Quicksilver lying near the Quinjet. Their souls were too agitated to be easily calmed, so Warlock had to push, and the forceful strike on their souls drove the Avengers unconscious. Floating above his defeated former allies, Warlock considered that only five were present.

"This was more than a conflict and debate," Warlock mused. "It was a distraction." His gaze lifted to the near distant power station, with the Living Monolith rising from the center.

Inside the power station, Stingray and Karnak were unaware of what existed at its center. They were concerned with weaknesses, however. The means to best disable the High Evolutionary's power source.

"There is a strange pounding that emanates from that statue," Stingray informed his Inhuman teammage. "Other sounds are in sync with it. That may be important."

"That's no statue," Karnak explained. "Its some kind of collection station. Notice how it extends beyond the Blue Area? Raw solar power, unfiltered by an atmosphere, is being collected here."

"Unless you can find a way to shatter it with one blow, this area's too big for us to destroy."

"No." Karnak was feeling along the way, taking in the pulse of energy rushing through the conduits. "But even something so big can't take this much power for long. By removing the safeguards, cutting off the bleed of energy from the collector, it will overload. There!" Karnak strode to a collection of thick cables past Stingray. "Once I split the insulation, you can fry the circuitry."

"Just be careful you don't get yourself fried," Stingray stated in reply.

"Haaiii!" Karnak struck, smashing folded knuckles against a spot just below the cables. There was an immediate display of sparks, but the Inhuman had thrust his hand back in time to avoid them. One of the cables had split almost completely down the middle. "Now!"

Electricity shot out of Stingray and against the cables. Behind him and Karnak, the roof collapsed with Warlock's arrival. He had appeared in time to be struck by an arc of energy and fell to the ground behind the Avengers. Power began to go out through the entire complex, in an outlying pattern that was moving toward the central statue.

"Fools!" Warlock gasped. "You don't know what you've done!"

"Weakened your master's power," Karnak answered. He stepped up to Warlock, a fist poised to strike that gem on his forehead. "Now to put you down like the dog you a-"

The complex lurched with tremendous force. Power conduits had ceased working, and energy was no longer being siphoned from the unmoving statue that was the Living Monolith. With a great jolt, the gargantuan being that had once been a man awakened. It took only the slightest movement for Living Monolith's restraints to go crashing down. His arms spread wide, the Living Monolith let out a triumphant and angry bellow that cascaded across the Blue Area and shook the unconscious Avengers awake.

"My god, it was a heartbeat!" Stingray exclaimed. His head swiveled to Warlock's direction. "What did you do?"

"Restrained a villain while making him productive," Warlock replied. His eyes saw the immense power building up around Living Monolith seconds before this would be physically apparent. "Now quiet he is about to lash out. I must," his arm and outstretched hand extended. "Focus!"

Nearly a hundred yards away, Warlock's staff answered the mental summons and flew to the waiting hand. Warlock caught the staff and aimed the head at Living Monolith's direction. A torrent of energy extended from the giant, vaporizing everything in its path. Only the shield hastily erected by Adam Warlock withstood the assault, protecting himself, the two nearby Avengers, and the five distant Avengers along with their Quinjet.

"Not a conscious assault," Warlock breathed with a silent thanks. "He merely stretched his muscles, checking his conditon post-confinement. Gather your teammates and flee, Avengers, before the Living Monolith takes notice of you."

Dust rose into the moon's thin air. Instead of turning his attention downward, the Living Monolith looked up. Directly overhead was Counter-Earth. As impossible as many would think, the Living Monolith nevertheless jumped, his powerful legs the size of skyscrapers taking him out of the Moon's atmosphere. Adam Warlock, Stingray and Karnak watched as a man larger than mountains literally jumped from the moon to Counter-Earth.

"How is that possible?" Stingray exclaimed.

"Grow five thousand feet and acquire limitless power," Adam Warlock answered. "My advice still applies. Leave, Avengers, with your short-minded task accomplished." He lifted off the ground and rocketed out of the Blue Area. "Leave the defense of Counter-Earth to me."

---

Larger than any asteroid, the Living Monolith tore through Counter-Earth's atmosphere and crashed on the continent equivalent to Africa. The heat of his landing ignited a blaze across all the jungles, and swept deserts to glass. Before the glass could properly form it shattered, as fissures extended from the point of impact to as far away as the Australian equivalent.

Millions died with no awareness. Only the High Evolutionary, safe in his man-made Mount Wundagore base, knew the extent and circumstances of this threat. He took little notice of the tremors which shook his mountain, confident that his artificial Counter-Earth could withstand the stress. The High Evolutionary was equally confident that his numals could triumph against the Living Monolith, and thus would do nothing himself.

Minutes after the Living Monolith's crash, two species of numals made ready to assault the threat. Even for a creature so powerful, falling through space and crashing to Counter-Earth had a stunning effect, so there was brief time for his readiness. From beneath the ocean, technology developed without fire rose to the surface. Across Counter-Earth, tiny ships rocketed into the air and flew by the thousands toward the devastated continent.

"Teams break into scouting formation until we knew what this is," the flight admiral ordered. His flagship was the largest, about the size of a coffee table. All the crew, and the thousands of pilots in all the planes, were small anthromorphic mice, or nudents. Partly due to their small size, the nudents were also among the most intelligent of the Counter-Earth numals, able to design such planes that could safely rocket around the world in minutes.

The first such planes arrived over the devastated landscape, where so many millions of their brethren had died with no chance. As a consequence, these nudents on the first glimpse of Living Monolith. Though reduced by the energy expended in his crash, he was easily larger than Mount Kilaminjaro, its equivelant now dust. Swiftly, the tiny planes bankes, keeping a half-mile berth from the enemy.

"Threat is confirmed." The flight admiral gave the command. "Deploy proto-neutron missiles."

By the score, nudantity's most devastating weapons were launched. Though each was as small as a standard eraser, the proto-neutron missiles detonated with the force of atomic weapons. But to Living Monolith these were only stings against his skin. He turned, gazing across the landscape, but could not spot the miniscule enemy with his enormous eyes. The large mass coming at him from the west however, Living Monolith saw just fine.

"The nudents have made their assault," observed the nuphin naval commander. Like all nuphin, her voice had a high-pitch, and she pressed a fin to the controls in order to issue the commands. "Prepare the weapon." Where aerial bombardment failed, a water based strike could succeed.

At the command, several dozen nuphin swam around the control chamber, working to activate the cold fusion particle cannon. Just above the surface, three interconnected circles spun rapidly around an isolated sphere of water. Immediately the water began to boil and glow a bluish white. It took only seconds for the complete conversion of matter to energy, that was directed straight at the chest of Living Monolith.

The impact of energy to flesh was thunderous, enough to actually stagger the Living Monolith. It only did that, however. Roaring with a near-mindless rage, the Living Monolith fixed his eyes on the nuphin weapon. Energy burst out of his eyes, destroying dozens of nudent planes on their deadly path to the ocean.

Adam Warlock dropped from the sky and directly in the path of Living Monolith's attack. His staff was raised sideways, and the two beams of crimson energy were suddenly redirected to either side.

"You have fought bravely, numals." Adam Warlock's voiced sounded across the communications equipment of each vehicle. "Please allow me to deal with this menace. There may yet be survivors you can recover."

As Warlock flew toward the Living Monolith, he spied a small shape streaking down from the heavens. It was the Avenger Binary, and she was hurling cosmic power down at the Living Monolith. "Stop, child!" Warlock cried. Instead of harming Living Monolith, the power cosmic seemed to reinvigorate him. A gigantic hand reached out and engulfed Binary.

"Hey!"

For all her strength and power, Binary was still a speck next to the awesome size and might of Living Monolith. Binary could not break free from his grasp. It took a beam of jade energy from his Soul Gem for Adam Warlock to affect the Living Monolith. The power of souls collided with his risk, and pained the Living Monolith opened his fist. Binary fell, and was caught by solid energy from Warlock's staff.

"Flee Avenger!" Warlock commanded. "Your power is of the stars. The power this monolith thrives on!"

"YOU!” Though recollections of his time on the outreaches of space were fogged, the Living Monolith had a sense that his golden man had been the reason for his imprisonment. “IT IS DEATH TO TRAP A GOD!”

The great bellows alone were enough to devastate regions as though a hurricane struck. Warlock fought the mighty winds as he flew higher, above even the Living Monolith’s head.

“I have done more than kill gods in my time,” Warlock declared, his words carrying to those massive ears. “You are like many of them, a simple man with more power than most. Like all men you also have a soul!”

Atop Warlock’s forehead, the Soul Gem flared with malevolent power. Tendrils of green energy reached out to the Living Monolith, into him. However large his body was, the Living Monolith’s soul was a tiny thing, easily snatched and dragged. The man with delusions of godhood screamed as he disappeared into the Soul Gem.

---

“But even the dimension of my Soul Gem could not contain him.”

Adam Warlock stood on the summit of Counter-Earth’s Mount Wundagore. At one side was the towering High Evolutionary, exuding a power and regal majesty that dwarfed Warlock. On the other side were the assembled Avengers, the Quinjet at rest behind them. It was clear Warlock had placed himself between the two for a reason, his staff held as a clear obstacle to the Avengers. Most of the them, with the exception of Quicksilver and a stoic Captain America, seemed prepared to risk Warlock.

“So where did the Living Monolith go?” Quicksilver inquired. He then circled Mount Wundagore and inspected the lush surrounding forests before remarking a second later, “Clearly he isn’t here.”

“Expulsion from the Soul Gem dimension was random,” Warlock explained. “The Living Monolith is most likely floating back in the void of space that dominates the universe.” Warlock addressed his next words to the High Evolutionary. “Recovery and rebuilding efforts are now well underway. Once the continent has been fully repaired, the repopulation cloning will commence.”

“Cloning!” Espirita stepped forward, and though Captain America placed a cautioning hand on her arm she continued to speak. “It isn’t enough that you force change onto God’s creatures, manipulating His plan for your own mad and blasphemous ends!”

“I have no interest in debate nor ignorant accusations,” the High Evolutionary declared. He raised his hand toward the Avengers. “You’ve done enough, Avengers. Away, and consider how easily I could have killed you instead!”

Energy flowed from the High Evolutionary. Before any of them could react, the Avengers were struck by the energy and vanished, Quinjet and all. Warlock turned, and addressed the High Evolutionary directly.

“Death may have been just for them, considering the lives lost by their actions.”

“Have you been so hardened Adam that you care naught even for past allies?” The High Evolutionary inquired. “The mutant served me faithfully for a time, and all those Avengers have the potential for further use. As to their actions, they were affected more than I.”

Warlock’s eyes dropped and found the rocky ground. “And I most of all. Every life taken, I felt through the Soul Gem. Their hopes, fears, every piece of happiness and despair ever experienced. Each made differences in the lives of others, and while those actions did nothing for matter to the Everything, it reminded me…”

“Yes,” urged on the High Evolutionary.

“I was brought about by the actions of insignificant, power-hungry men. It took a blind woman to first awaken compassion in my heart. You gave me a purpose beyond base lust. Even the Man-Beast served a purpose long ago, teaching me humility and the value of defeat. Individuals are capable to affecting The Everything, myself included.”

The High Evolutionary nodded, pleased with Adam Warlock’s assessment. “You came to me seeking a purpose, Warlock. While you have excelled at defending my experiments, we both know this purpose is too low for such as you.”

“Yes, this is true.” Warlock began to rise, his cape rippling in the soft breeze. “In the universe are countless lives, any one of which could affect The Everything in profound ways. By aiding these lives, I aid The Everything, protecting All and Nothing. Farewell, High Evolutionary.”

“Farewell, Adam Warlock.” With these parting words, the High Evolutionary turned back toward his citadel and laboratories. There was, as always, much work to be done.

---

They sat around the room, seven Avengers who had been humbled. No words were said between them, as all were thinking the same thing. The High Evolutionary had transported them back to Earth with little effort, and could have just as easily kill them instead. Worse, their actions had proven more destructive than intended.

It was Warbird who broke the silence first. “What did we actually achieve?”

Quicksilver was fast to answer. “We responded to the High Evolutionary’s act of aggression. At the least, he now sees us as annoyances, and he’ll leave Earth alone if only to keep from being annoyed.”

Karnak nodded. “That could fit. The man I saw was the height of arrogance. Or close enough.”

Quicksilver’s response was to glower. Across the room, Captain America’s head was hung low. Eyes to the ground, the Avengers chairperson said, “We avenged. Sometimes, that’s the best we can hope for.”

---

Next Issue: Innocents are put in harms way. Can the Avengers prevent the deaths of hundreds? Later, can they bring to justice those responsible? Difficult questions and hard answers to come, guest-starring the New Warriors!

---

Author’s Note

So, last issue the Avengers were against a threat they couldn’t fight. The only way it was defeated was by doing nothing, waiting it out. This issue, the Avengers tried to respond and, really, didn’t achieve anything at all. Wow, I’ve been writing some downers. Hopefully next issue will see some real conflict with black/white sides and true goals reached. We’ll see.

Until then, here’s a letter on last issue from the spectacular writer of Doc Samson, Anthony Crute!

Ok some feedback for your title then.

This issue of the Avengers was great. It is a a high concept idea but I thought it fit well. It would have indeed been a great F4 story but I don't think it was out of place in this title.

The same could possibly be said of this story, which fits as it’s a continuation of last issue. Good sci-fi fun all around. Glad that you didn’t find it out of place Anthony. Still, at least this issue had some big action with the high-concept to whet the adrenaline appetite.

I was slightly conflicted/or am now over how it all played out. I would have loved to seen the little war going on in the miniverse but I fully understand the greatness of just looking at the fallout of the adventure...which I hope will continue since it seems they've been through a lot. See conflicted but perfectly happy with how it panned out.

Hopefully you caught the hints this issue of what some of the Avengers went through. Just what was Espirita saying? Look for more in the coming issues.

I've always loved the High Evolutionary, i've never seen too much about him as I never really read Thor where I belive he was most prominant (X-Men and Avengers though have let me see him) and I'm really happy to see him going to be featured in the next issue.

Sadly, I focused more on Adam Warlock this issue. High Evolutionary is one of those characters I consider out of everybody’s class, so he’s best used in the background or as a catalyst in the conflicts. Still, he’s a character I love as well, so be on the lookout for more conflicts he’s embroiled in.

If I could find one quibble over the issue it's the lack of feature for Ant-Man. Sure he's not on your team and so you'd want to focus on him less than the others but I always find it odd when a hero turns up and then suddenly opts out of a fight where they could help especially when it's an important one...they always seem a bit of a flake.

You have to admit Anthony, there’s no much Ant-Man could have done to help against Adam Warlock or Living Monolith this issue. He worked well in his area of speciality last issue I thought, and eventually you’ll see just how big a role he played in that conflict. By the by, Ant-Man may be a big part of an upcoming title in the future, so keep on the lookout!

Still great issue.

Thank, Anthony. Your remarks are appreciated.

~Steve Crosby