Epilogue
The room was very dark and still, the only light source were the dying embers coming from the bowl of a pipe. They glowed brighter as a dark figure inhaled. A waft of smoke flowed over and around the dimming embers. There was footfall coming from the left hand side of the room. The methodical click and clack of boots. The boots that belonged to the figure's subordinate. From the dark stepped a pair of large glowing red eyes. They were too big to belong to any sentient creature. Upon closer inspection they appeared to be more of a set of eye pieces on a helmet. This new figure with the glowing eyes presented themselves in front of the other figure, who took another long drag from it's pipe.
“Computer, lights up thirty-three percent.” The figure called as azure smoke passed through their lips.
Several rows of light on the high ceiling turned on drenching everything in a dim yellow light. Even though the figure wore a helmet it was easy to tell that it was a male. The large man sat in computer operated chair. His body impossibly bulbous and heavy. It looked as if he'd been in the chair for years just growing larger, and fatter. In truth the chair had been made just for him. It was now a part of him. Feeding tubes were fed directly into his skin. Tubes that took care of his refuse were connect to him. Even an oxygen tube was fed into him. None of the tubes were visible thanks to the black leather armor that covered his entire body, it seemed to be part of the chair itself.
The large man reached up and pulled his helmet free, setting it upon his belly as if it were a table. The once golden fur around his face had faded to an almost pale yellow thanks to aging. His eyes were turning a milky green from living in the dark. It didn't matter though. He didn't need his eyes to see. The computer told him everything he needed to know. Even now he was looking down at the armored figure before him with lifeless eyes.
“Ah Agent 19, do you have a report for me? What of our, mutual friend?” The Ar'Leirian male put his pipe into his muzzle again and inhaled the sweet tobacco flavor of his home planet.
“Our target, or mutual friend as you call him, has been a very busy boy. Despite our best efforts to follow him, he's almost caught us more times then I care report. We will not be able to keep up this game of cat and mouse for much longer.” Agent 19 spoke, her voice sounding robotic through the helmet comm.
“What of my son Artemis Jr?” The large Ar'Leirian male spoke slowly as if he knew the answer already.
“Artemis Jr. was terminated. Our mutual friend did as he promised. He returned to that farm house and shot your son several times. I've copied the video file to the library for your further analysis.” The armored figure droned on, her position hadn't changed one bit.
“My sister? What of her?” Artemis asked tapping his pipe against the side of his chair clearing it of ashes.
“She's well, the farm has been successfully passed to her. Agents 4 and 5 have been asking for leave of absence, so that they may return home and visit your sister, their mother.” Agent 19 still stood stoic and statuesque with her hands tucked behind her back.
“Granted, they are to return to me before the next cycle begins. That is when we must push harder to get our operations in full swing. And lastly what of my daughter?” There was a pause in his words as he shifted slowly closer to Agent 19. “You've not rested a day since your untimely death?” Artemis spoke softly his eyes trying to find her, but he just had to rely on those of the computer.
Agent 19 pulled her helmet off and tucked it under her arm. Alicia's once golden fur gleamed with a green glowing light. Her irises were glowing as well, a fierce green color, still as piercing as always had been.
Hearing her father speak of her death brought all the memories back. Memories of when she died and was resurrected. When the core of the U.S.F. Tesla exploded she had been standing right next to it. The gamma radiation shock wave hit first, and then the explosion. Alicia was obliterated into dust, but her newly mutated molecules still managed to find one another among the wreckage of the ship. Half of the ship was blows up, the other half crash landed on a nearby moon.
That moon would be her shrine of resurrection. She'd stayed on that moon for nearly two years learning how to control her new abilities. One day a strange silver man came to her and blessed her with a library of knowledge. Later she learned that the silver man, was known as the Silver Surfer a legendary traveler of the stars.
The knowledge that he'd instilled in her, told her that the time would come when she would rise to power. That she would seek out the Collector, who was in possession of her father Artemis, and her two cousins. That together they would be the first of many to join this secret society. Artemis would lead them in a galactic size war that would change several galaxies and the future.
The last words the Silver Surfer told her, was to be careful who she and her father chose. Not all heroes were such and not all good will stay good. Soon after that, the Collector came to her and helped her establish, The Deadlights Society. On the battlefield she would lead them while her father's words would guide her. Even she doesn't know what's coming. She can only hope that they'll be ready when it arrives.
“Alicia, where are you my child?” Artemis's voice calls out to her, leading her back from her memories, much the same as a shepherd leads their sheep.
“I'm sorry father, my mind has been scattered lately. If the opportunity is being offered. I would like to seek out our mutual friend. I think it's time for he and I to mend the past and come together for the future.” Alicia spoke softly and earnestly to her father.
Artemis said nothing, just smiled a weak smile and nodded. With a wave of his hand, Agent 19 put her helmet back on and walked out the way she'd come in. Artemis was left alone in the room with his thoughts. He lifted his helmet and slipped it back on. The computers feeding into his mind.
“Computer, turn the lights off so that I may rest.” Artemis spoke softly and closed his eyes.
Just as they'd come one, one after another the lights went down, casting Artemis into darkness once again.
Bonus Chapter:
Meanwhile
Rocket leaned back in his chair looking over at Peter Quill. “So man how was the party, let me know the skinny. Gimme the 411. Did it get freaky?”
“Oh my god did it ever, but first of all. The ceremony blew so badly. Just a bunch of stuffed shirt delegates patting each other on the back for a job well done. Then of course they handed out the medals, people made some speeches. But after that was when the real action started.” Peter Quill was up out of his seat making grand gestures.
“Don't hold back baby, I need this. I need it all!” Rocket shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Dude, it was such an epic party man. We had a good old time. There was singing and dancing. Champagne and top shelf booze flowed like water man. Everyone you could imagine was there too.” Peter Quill got up close grabbing Rocket's shoulders.
“Jean Grey?” Rocket asked.
“Of course.” Peter motioned for him to keep guessing.
“Sue Storm?” Rocket was standing up on his chair now.
“Yep!” Peter Quill shifted around backward as if he were doing a victory dance.
“That one chick, Black Cat?”
“Yeah, come on keep guessing buddy!” Peter Quill was making quite the spectacle with his dancing
“Gods what was her name She-Hulk, oh Jennifer Walters” Rocket snapped his fingers jumping up and down in his seat.
“Man not only was she there, but she got so messed up that she hulked out and bam there went her top. Bra and all man.” Peter Quill got close, his voice was almost a girly squeal with glee.
“Oh my gods, you got to see the hulk twins...Green titties are still titties in my book.” Just then Rocket looked over and coughed slightly, his cheeks flushing red under his fur. “Dude...DUDE, stop it!”
“You said it buddy, there is nothing better than some green titties.” Peter Quill jumped up and down. “What do you want?”
Rocket turned his head to look back at Gamora who was standing in the doorway of the bridge. Peter Quill straightened up and cleared his throat, his newly red cheeks clashing with his blond hair. It was clear from the look on Gamora's face that she'd been standing there a while.
“Oh hey Gamora...we were just talking about you...” He said as if he couldn't control his diarrhea of the mouth, but all the same there it was.
“What the fuck is wrong with you? Can't you be just a little bit cool.” Rocket glared at him amazed that words had even come out of his friend's mouth.
“I don't know man, just shoot me now.” Peter Quill whined and sat back down in his seat, resting his face in his hands.
Gamora ignored the childish antics of Peter Quill, she was very use to them by now. “If you hadn't guess already Raccoon, none of that happened. What really happened was a travesty. We weren't even invited to the ceremony. The council had forgotten to take us off the invite list. So when we got there, we were turned away.”
Gamora moved around the room grabbing a stack of papers. “It didn't matter to us though. Groot made the suggestion to just go down the street to the bar and celebrate with ourselves. Which we did, and we had a good time playing...dart and pools. In fact Peter picked up a girl, good for him. Drax managed to not start a bar fight, which we were happy for. Groot taught a waitress how to care for the bar's only ficus, which made him happy. And I drank heavily and made a new friend.” Gamora nodded and walked over to her seat before sitting down. “All in all, it was an enjoyable party.”
“Doesn't sound as cool as Pete's party, but I would have rather been at bar with you guy then where I was.” Rocket tucked his pipe in his mouth and Sparked it. “Wait a minute, you said you met a guy Gamora?”
“Yes, a very nice guy. Loves sword and is very athletic. Why do you ask?” She said pining over the papers she'd grabbed.
“Who was it?” Rocket cocked his head to look at her, a slow roll of smoke leaving his lips.
“I can't really remember. You have to understand, but this time, I had a lot to drink. I think it was Wilson. Yes that was his name. Wade Wilson.” Gamora did her best to remember.
“HA I told you Pete. I told you there was going to be a cameo from from one of three guys, and Deadpool was the winner.” Rocket cackled hard and started to choke on his pipe.
“Yep, you sure told me. Laugh it up fuzzball. Gamora set a course for anywhere. Lets get the hell out of here.” Peter Quill leaned back in his seat tucking his hands behind his head.
