WebNovelParagon59.72%

42

Gia let me know Michael found Maximus guilty and removed his ability as punishment. Apparently, quite a few of the upper caste were shocked to hear how much he had manipulated others, and when it came out it was his plan to make Black Bolt kill his parents, well it was a good thing Black Bolt never had his power at that time.

They have left back to their moon base even without the lower caste, apparently, they did ask if they were welcome back and Gia confirmed they were. Athena has been training the angels in space combat since they all can survive in space and travel faster than most ships when using solar power.

Currently, I am working on the plant portals I can create, adjusting its vibrational response frequency, I have had some luck but it is a slow process. Once I have an idea of the gap in frequency between universes it will be easier. I am hoping I can find Hope Universe as nothing we do for her seems to be helping, I could force her awake, but that could be its own problem. Lilly has let me know she has managed to create a gene lock serum, so that was given to everyone on the island from the top down.

We have created a targeted gene virus, now we just need to find any trace of Mister Sinister, since Essex is the company causing all the issues, and his original name is Nathaniel Essex I am inclined to believe he is about, it is just that Apocalypse awoke to late to be able to meet him. So is he just a normal man? Based on the experiments we saw he is nowhere near as proficient as I would expect.

Days passed, with the harmony of my pantheon resonating within the island and its inhabitants. The sun rose and fell in a delightful spectacle, painting the sky hues of amber and lavender. In this peace, the echoes of battles fought seemed distant memories.

One day, however, a ripple in this tranquility announced a novel encounter. Lilly alerted me to an unusual energy signature approaching Earth's orbit. Her holographic figure flickered to life beside me, her ethereal glow illuminating the room. "Joel," she said, her voice holding an edge of concern, "I detect an unknown spaceship entering our solar system. The energy signature... it's not from here."

I quickly gathered my senses and focused my attention on the ship. I am still fascinated by how I seem to be able to see anything I focus my mind on, I saw it. A large spacecraft adorned with intricate designs that seemed to shimmer like a mirage against the infinite blackness of space, the Eclector.

A sense of anticipation welled up within me as I recognized the ship's captain, Yondu Udonta, the leader of intergalactic space pirates who were kicked out of the Ravager for kidnapping innocent children and selling them to Ego. I knew his reputation well, he had come to kidnap Peter Quill for his father Ego. How many innocent children had died due to this man kidnapping them and handing them to Ego?

Without wasting any time, I reached out to Athena using my mind. Her presence was immediate, a testament to her mastery over wisdom and war. "Yondu Udonta is here for Peter Quill," I said matter-factly, "Lilly, let the earth security pick it up.". "Angel team leaders to the war room in 2 hours." 

Later that day, Felicia Hardy and Natalia Romanoff, my new Goddess of Trickery, Assassination, and Espionage joined us in our war room where we strategized our response. We all agreed not to send an entire Angel army as it would panic the Earth governments.

The small group of 5 angels had Athena with them, but invisible just in case the ship had something we did not expect. Personally, knowing the way the crew was inclined from watching them I did not see this going well.

While the Earth governments were debating how to address the ship detected at the edge of their range a group pf angels appeared before the ship.

"Pirates, known child kidnappers, you are not welcome within our system, leave now." This message was announced within the ship's speakers.

 

The ship stopped advancing, but it had nothing to do with the pirates, the angels easily placed an invisible shield between themselves and the ship.

Within the ship, a debate, or more of an argument was happening. Without getting the child, there was no pay. As some pointed out though, Angels have not been seen in millennia, the Collector would pay well for one, and the other 4 could be kept.

If they got the angels, they could get the kid after that and have a big payday.

The angels sighed amongst themselves and nodded. Then the first crew member to suggest capturing the angels busted into flame and died in a pile of ash, this was not the only one, each and everyone who had agreed died in the same manner.

"Let me be clear, you disgust us, we need very little reason to cleanse this universe from your contamination, we are fully aware you are here on a commission for Ego to once again kidnap a child, Peter Quill. You currently have one-third of your crew still alive, try anything else and that can change."

Within the crew, whispers were heard as they discussed the options of using the weapons before the angels could react.

To be honest I was curious, I had let the angels know all about the pirate's history and their mission. I wanted to see how they would judge them. Without knowing the future it would be very difficult to have any sympathy for Yondu Udonta.

The angels nodded and instantly the rest of the crew vanished, within the angel's head Athena spoke, 'Well done, make the ship invisible and send it to Lady Ion."

Within moments Peggy sent updates to the governments concerning the encounter, that they were pirates who came to plunder a few resources and kidnap a few children as slaves, under threat of Lord Paragon they warped out. The governments decided to keep this quiet as they currently had no effective space defense program.

While the humans resumed their lives oblivious of the terror that had just been averted, a rather different scene transpired in the celestial sphere. The abandoned ship flew noiselessly through the endless cosmos, invisible to all earthly sensors. It was a massive fortress of sleek metallic alloy, adorned with strange alien glyphs and emblems, a testament to its formidable strength and technological prowess. It was now under the complete control of Athena and her squadron of angels. 

Inside the colossal structure, corridors that once echoed with pirates' barbaric laughter were now eerily silent; only the low hum of the ship's engines served as a reminder that it was still functional. Complex control panels blinked in an array of alien symbols, incomprehensible to any earthly being but trivial for these divine warriors. The deserted ship seemed to breathe out a sigh of relief, freed from its nefarious occupants.

Athena surveyed the pirate ship meticulously. Her ethereal form glided over the shadowy corners, scanning each crevice and compartment, ensuring no residual villainy lurked in their midst. The ship's once vibrant colors looked faded now, and its interior revealed gruesome artifacts of cruelty and greed, disused weaponry, stolen art, and trophies from previous conquests. But amidst these abhorrent remnants of piracy, there was an unexpected discovery.

In one corner of the cargo hold lay a child's toy, a small wooden figurine of an extraterrestrial creature, evidence of the innocent lives these marauders had devoured in their quest for power and wealth. Athena's eyes reflected profound sadness as she carefully picked up this symbol of lost childhood.

The other angels watched Athena silently from behind, not even realizing some of them had tears rolling down their cheeks.