Home is Where The Heart is

[Moon Knight]

The rumble of the Quinjet’s engine was like music to Moon Knight’s ears. Had a month seriously passed since the events of the prison in Impel Down? Perhaps time here in the Omniverse was different from back home on Earth. Or maybe that cramped cell really was a time capsule. It didn’t really matter though. They were finally free, out at last from that wretched hell hole the Empire called prison. 

Adjusting his seat, Marc leaned forward, took off his mask and placed it on the inbuilt table beside him. His face still unshaven from the passing of time at the prison, he kept a stern face as his mind raced with thoughts. 

Out of prison, yes, done. A base? No, burned down- Damn Hydra. Maybe Jarvis fixed the problem. This Quinjet looks fancier than normal, maybe he did. Hydra, they’re still out there but where? At this rate, we could be attacked again. Perhaps it’s time we looked for more members, maybe I should try that Dataverse thing I heard about? 

Thinking are we? Khonshu intruded.

Yes. Marc replied back, hoping the Moon God would go back to whatever part of his mind it came from.

Your last thought, it is a splendid idea. The more members we have the better odds there are to defend ourselves and make ease of our enemies. Oh, Marc, I’m starting to like this idea of team-ups. Why haven’t we done this more often? 

Because we didn’t work well with others. 

Nonsense! We play well with everyone!... The brutal and violent way. 

“Where are we headed?” He said, turning towards Jarvis. 

Jarvis shot his head toward Spector, giving him his full attention. 

“While everyone was incarcerated I took the liberty to arrange several things, one of them being the construction of a new base: the Avengers mansion if you will. The other thing is that, in your absence, a branch of Shield has been kickstarted.” 

“Nick Fury is here?” 

“No. Like I said, I took the liberty to arrange things.” 

“Well, congratulations… Director.” 

Marc took a second to look at the other teammates. How did Tony and Rogers do this? Leading a small team was something but branching out into a larger group was different. It was going to take everything he had to make sure everything involving the team went smoothly. 

Something like a civil war could end the peace-keeping force at their current state.     

“Could there possibly be a Dataverse machine anywhere beside the tower?” 

“I’m sure there’s one on the streets beside it, yes. May I ask why though?” Jarvis said.

“Let’s just say we’re going to hold some auditions. The teams looking a bit… light.”     

“Ah. Of course. Might I suggest a formal meeting? It’s been a while and could go a long way in helping deal with Hydra and other Avengers duties. Of course, before we do something like that, the others should get situated in their new home.” 

“Right on all accounts,” Marc said slipping his mask back on as the jet made touchdown with the Mansion’s helipad.    

-

Marc brought the razor down along his face, shaving off a bit of the rough beard he grew in the prison. His brown eyes locked onto the face in the mirror. 

Marc couldn’t help but remember how long it had been since his face had been in a state such as that. It was all those years ago when he was a broken and defeated man. To think back then things were actually easier. Back then he had a chance with a girl and his best friend wasn’t in any real danger. Damn It, he could kill to have Marlene in his arms, just to be with her one more time. Why? Why did he bring Frenchie into all this? The man had a husband and a restaurant, he didn’t deserve this madness and confusion. 

This Omniverse, it’s a weird and mysterious place. A place in need of hope. Perhaps the Avengers could be that hope? A torch in the dark pointing the way to the light, to a better place. 

Wrapped up with the shaving, Spector grabbed a hot towel and rubbed his face with it before looking in the mirror one more time. The face in the mirror now, the face of a new man. A reborn state of his current self. 

-

"You know, back home we usually had snacks before discussing how badly things turned out. Your debriefings are sorta... boring." Centurion mussed putting his hands behind his head. 


"What do you expect son? Not everything is action and glory." Dick said leaning forward in his chair.

Cade's confidence wavered and he looked down at the table, thoughts wandering back to the testing chamber. "I know. Just trying to lighten the mood."

Angel slumped in her chair. "Why are me and Cade even here? We're not part of whatever costumed group you guys are in."
     
"Hey, I slaved hours over this outfit. Do you know how hard it is to get your hands on alien nano-fibers where I'm from?" Cade smirked putting a hand on Angel's shoulder gently. "And hey, you're a good person, you'll fit right in."

“Focus people!” Marcus shouted butting in. 

Jarvis replayed the footage of the previous fight with Centurion. “All this right here proves it, the team needs training or at least time to get in shape and work together in the field.” 

“I can agree with that but I don’t see how training is a good idea right now. What we need is more members and take the fight to Hydra.” Moon Knight said placing both hands on the table. 

“And what I’m saying is if we go out there unprepared the situation could turn out far worse than the last one, like serious injury or… Death. What do all of you think?”  Jarvis turned to the others. 

Dick nodded in agreement. “I completely agree.” 

“As do I.” Ratione chimed in. 


 "Taking the fight to the bad guys sounds good to me..." Cade paused, seemingly waiting for something. "Huh... usually someone butts in and spouts some basic human logic and keeps me from diving headfirst into danger. Not sure how I feel about this..."


“What about you Marcus?” Dick asked turning to the terminator. 

Marcus placed a hand to his head “Hydra’s quickly becoming a pain in our ass, but a plan is better than spending time in an imperial prison.”   Marcus was already annoyed at the idea of going back to a prison cell. “I agree as well.”

Jarvis pointed to everyone. “There we have it, most of us agree. Sometime this week we should have a training session. I mean look at it from this standpoint it’s only training we’re only going to get better.” 

“Is you say so, meeting dismissed. Everyone continue as if you were at home.”