Spatial Equivalency Zone
Earth-12041
June 3  13:45 EDT

After exiting the stratosphere, the helicopter's occupant gives the pilots a special order.

“Put us in orbit,” he says calmly, “and rendezvous with Galactus.”

The pilot complies, despite the ridiculous nature of the request.

Well...It  would be for anyone that was unfamiliar with this helicopter's capabilities.

At the flip of a switch, the helicopter's blades seize, and the main blade folds up and presses itself into a slot cut in the roof of the small craft. The rear rotor presses itself into the end of the tail. During the momentary free-fall, the co-pilot pulls a lever in the ceiling. In response, the turbine engines to invert themselves--coverting into ramjets--and project thrust downward and back. This causes a slight lurch to be felt by the passengers and crew, as the small craft, no bigger than a Black Hawk, is propelled through the mesosphere--exiting it only a few seconds later.

They breeze through the Spatial Equivalency Zone, and head for the outer reaches of orbit.

Here, they rendezvous with a large spaceship. Its appearance is the of a C-130 gunship. That is if a gunship was over fifty stories tall, and could bullseye a one foot by one foot section of Pluto while stationed at the complete opposite end of the solar system. This is the G.S.S. Galactus, the pride of the Global Galactic Expeditionary Force.

“Galactus-One-Two-Zero-Four-One, Galactus-One-Two-Zero-Four-One. This is Surfer-One-Four, requesting docking and landing clearance, over,” the helicopter pilot asks calmy.

“Surfer-one-four, this is Galactus-One-Two-Zero-Four-One, we read you. Please reduce speed to 1100 knots, and maintain distance of three kilometers from the starboard side, over,” says a flight control officer on the bridge of the Galactus.

“Rodger, that Galactus-One-Two-Zero-Four-One.”

The controller consults his screen and sees that there is an opening in Landing Bay 27. After ordering for the personnel to clear out of the hangar bay, the outer airlock is opened.

“Surf-one-four. This is Galactus. Please proceed to LB-Two-Seven, on the port side, and stand by for further instruction. Over.”

“Rodger that, Galactus. Coming over the top and proceeding to LB-Two-Seven.”

The pilot maneuvers the helicopter elegantly, and arrives outside the entrance to the hangar bay. While inside the hangar Bay's control room, a technical officer mans the controls for the tractor beam. Inside the helicopter, the pilot addresses his passengers in a slightly joking manner.

“Attention passengers. This is your captain speaking. We are about to start our final approach onto the G.S.S. Galactus. Please fasten your seat belts and put all trays in the secured, upright position.”

“Just land the chopper, Paul," Mr. Graves scolds, not feeling amused.

“Aye, sir," the pilot replies, defeated.

“This is LB-Two-Seven Tractor Control calling Surfer-One-Four.  Tractor Control to Surfer-One-Four. Come in One-Four, over.”

“I read you, Tractor Control, over.”

“Surfer-One-Four, pull alongside and decrease speed to 900 knots. Maintain distance of zero point two five kilometers.”

“Acknowledged, Tractor Control. We are in position.”

“Surfer-One-Four. Prepare to disengage engines on my mark.”

“Rodger, that.” The copilot reaches up and grips a level just above his head. “We are ready to disengage engines on your mark, over.”

A technician in the Control room grips a different lever, while another mans the guidance station.

“Surfer-One-Four. Disengage engines in three... two... one... Mark!”

Both levers are pulled simultaneously. One deactivates the chopper's engines, while the other activates a tractor beam. A pale bluish haze engulfs the exterior of helicopter, as it is pulling into the hangar bay.

Once everything is settled, Mr. Graves exits the helicopter. He is guided to the ship's bridge by one of the deck officers. From there, he is escorted to a large meeting room. His guards leave him—for what is about to occur is way above their paygrade.

He strides over to the far end of the table, where there is a control panel. He presses a few buttons, and a hologram appears at the other end of the table. It begins to speak.

“Greeting fellow alternates and members of the Board of Infinite Directors,” the light show declares. “I am Joseph Graves of Earth-16. This is a prerecorded message that is to play in the event of an interdimensional breach or IDB. The message is as follows...A Team of highly talented and...gifted...youths not only discovered an IDB, but managed to get ensnared by its pull and fell through it. My teams were unable to pursue them, for the breach sealed itself. If you encounter them at all, please contact me immediately, for along with this transmission is a copy of files that describe the appearance and abilities of these individuals.

"Although you may consider them to be a threat, I can assure that they are not. They are just scared and trying to find a way home. If possible, please assist them in that regard through any means necessary. Sixteen out.”

The transmission ceases as the hologram fades. In it's place are screens that display the files that were specified. A series of images and descriptions are displayed. The stats on some of these individuals are amazing.

The Team's roster is as follows:

A hydrokinetic Atlantian.

A Mage.

Two species of Alien.

A girl using Alien Tech.

An expert Acrobat.

A Speedster.

An Olympic-class Archer.

And--surprisingly--his alternate's Son.

Before he can think on the ramifications of that last individual, he is reminded of the rant he gave Fury about the...

“W.I.L.S.O.N.? Bring up the surveillance footage from the dock explosion that occurred this afternoon.”

Another holoscreen appears and a group of eight teenaged individuals and one adult male in costumes fleeing the scene. Each one of them is a picture perfect match for the missing individuals.

“W.I.L.S.O.N.? Are you able to track down their current locations?”

“One moment, Sir,” the computer replies.

After a tense moment of anticipation and silence, a final holoscreen appears and shows the current locations of the individuals. He only focuses on two of them. For two of them are getting really close to...

“W.I.L.S.O.N.! Contact the head of security at the Hell's Kitchen facility, immediately. Send them a copy of these files stamped URGENT, and inform him that a security breach is imminent in the Interdimensional Research Laboratory."

“Right away, sir.”

_______________________________________

Hell's Kitchen Advanced Research
  Facility
June 3   14:00 EDT

Agent Joseph Domingo was enjoying his “Summer Off" as the new head of security at H.K.A.R.F. There's no missions. Little to no stress. The job mostly consisted of making rounds, introducing yourself to new staff, and sitting in a very spacious office on the top floor. This job was great.

That was until W.I.L.S.O.N. sent him an email marked URGENT.

It read:

Dear Agent Domingo,

It has come to my attention that a security breach may be eminent at your facillity's Interdimensional Research Laboratory. Attached are a list of potential suspects and their descriptions.

Signed,

W.I.L.S.O.N.

Agent Domingo just sighs and clicks on the attached files. He scrolls through them rather quickly, for their abilities intrigue him.

But when he opens the last file...

“What the H*LL?” he mumbles to himself.

For the last file contains the description of a man that sounds a lot like him. There is a picture of a man with a face that looks EXACTLY like his.

“Well... Isn't this interesting...?”

_______________________________________

A/N: Once again, I apologize to the tardiness of this update. I wanted to have it posted before I started my new job, and then afterwards I found out that said new job is much more labor intensive than the last one, so I had less energy and time to devote to writing this. I hope the length of it makes up for that.

Anyway, a new part is in the works. It might be a week or two before I have it done, so all I ask that you all hang in there. You all have been so patient and kind with me this whole time. I appreciate all of your support that you have given me. Thank you.

As usual, if you want this story to continue, please vote, follow, and comment your thoughts.

--tjgrov157