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    THANOS"DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES"

    Prelude: COLLECTIONThe smell of decayed flesh threatened to overwhelm him. It was not the pungent smell onewould have expected. It was sweet almost palatable. The six-foot figure with a roughly mediumbuild and flowing white hair was in such horror. Never had he seen so many dead. Everywherethe eye could see the dead were piled one upon the other, so great were the piles that therewas an entire necroscape of mountains, hills, and valleys, all composed of corpses withoutnumber. He fell to the ground in abject horror, his mind unable to cope with the mass genocidethat lay before him. One of his hands went completely through the surface of the necroscape. Itwas most unsettling as he pulled his hand from a putrefied and rotting skull. He screamed untilhis voice broke. He was nearly mad as the sensory overload worked its shadows into his heart,his mind his very soul.Only the crying of a small child was enough to bring him from his comatose state. It was a smallyellow boy, probably one of the indigenous to the planet he had landed on. The language wasindiscernible, but the child was afraid and crying as he waded though appendages and otherlimbs, which were locked in the eternal dance of petrifaction. But from one of the valleys of thenecro landscape, he ascended, like a black phoenix rising from its long imprisonment from theincinerator. Large and terrible to behold, his massive frame covered with thick dense muscle.More then seven feet tall and his eyes were like razors cutting away the facade of life."Did you do this"? Came the traveler, the child clinging to his side in terror, sobbinguncontrollably. His only reply was a deadly smile and black vapors that were cold.

    As ice came forth. "Why? For Death," he said; his voice was like the grave as it boomed across

    the necroscape."You are mad!" came the traveler"No," he said, "I am Thanos!"

    When the traveler awoke he was still in a fever, such a vision was terrible but he knew that itwas a revelation that would one day be reality. This Thanos would arise and destroy all life. Hehad to prepare, he had to begin collecting for the next universe. It would be his all consumingpassion he would be the Collector.

    MOON DRAGON

    Her name was Sui-san and she was an Eternal, a race of extremely long-lived human like

    beings that were infused with the energy of stars. She was very beautiful, her skin smooth andwithout flaw. It lacked pores and looked almost like a statue. Her hands were slender andgentle, yet there was a sense of strength that great force could be generated if necessary. Hereyes could be any color as she used her limited control over her molecular structure to changethem as her mood changed. Lately they had been dark.Before her and Mentor came to Titan, there was a great civil war amongst their kind and theprice on her spirit made her sick. No medicine seemed to help and things only got worse withtime. But during her search through the world computer, I.S.S.A.C., she came across a passage

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    from an arcane tome. It spoke of the dragon of the moon and how his followers were blessedwith peace of mind, and an inner strength of staggering proportions.She set up a parabola, as the file she downloaded told her. It instructed her to draw in ashesand a light candle at each axis point. She also found and ingested the strange herbs that itspoke of as the biotechnology of Titan could conceive of nearly anything. Sui-san began to

    chant the tongue on the manuscript over and over until it seemed to spill out of her mouth likeblood through a gaping wound. The candles began to waver as a mysterious wind came intoher bedroom. The temperature began to decrease and even her thick skin could feel thepreternatural winds stinging her cheeks. She breathed deeply as she inhaled the icy cold thatwent all the way to her heart.When she opened her eyes, she saw a great beast of obsidian, formed like the shape of a greatblack worm. Many were the legends of such a beast. It was rumored to be made of darkmatter,the material the universe itself used to make blakholes. Other legends had it as the Uroborus,the serpent that bit its own tail. She was not afraid. There was very little she was afraid of, itwas one of her greatest strengths and her greatest weakness. Courage was a good thing butlack of fear could prove fatal even for an Eternal.It embraced her in its icy grip. It did not crush her, but she could feel the great pressures as herhand went through the obsidian worm like an apparition. The only reason she knew it existedwas the terrible cold that touched deep and the great pressures against her lithe form. It wascleansing as its breath went up and down her entire form."The life force in you is strong," it quipped as the icy grip of the dragon put her in a nearcryogenic state. Her body temperature began to fall rapidly and Her mind went numb as gentlemadness crossed her face. "So there are two life forces," came the dragon again. Its darkmatter was now exerting incredible pressures with its dark matter.

    The breath was forced out of her and she questioned herself, Two? For a moment she waslucid and There was no doubt what the implication of the dragons statement were. Sui-san was

    with child. She struggled helplessly against the creature which was the combination of a blackhole and a psychic reaper. Memories were forced from her limbic system at its leisure and itdisplayed a great intelligence despite the fact the creature seemed primal and incredibly old.But her will was strong, even stronger then the dragon of the moon had counted on, and shefought with all her considerable mental strength, which actually caused some of the dragonsdense mass to loosen its hold. She tried to scream but her scream was muffled for nothingcould escape the living black hole, not even her scream.

    She awakened in a cold sweat, her companion, Mentor, was already awakened from herstruggles."Are you all right?" he asked. "You struggled with the covers as if they were alive," he said in afatherly manner.Sui-san collected herself, for she was not one to trouble others with her problems, "It wasmerely that I have not slept with someone in a long time, normally I use a sleep environmentbecause it monitors alpha waves and ensures that the sleep cycle is uninterrupted." She halfsmiled and tried to side step the question as she lay her form against his great chest, and puther hands through Mentors silvery crown. Mentor was her companion and the leader of theEternals, and it was he that brought the sundered Eternal to Titan to begin with

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    "Sui-san, you cannot deceive me. I know you better then any other, what is troubling you?"" Mentor," she paused."Yes," he replied as he placed his great jaw upon her back and pulled her closer"I believe that I am with child."

    Mentor pulled back, "We can do an examination at the first light if you like."She looked into his eyes, "There is no doubt I am pregnant and worse I fear for the child's life."

    The next day she was brought before the citadel of the world computer I.S.SA.C It appeared inholographic form, a representation of the computer in humanoid configuration. This form washow the computer usually presented itself to the populace of Titan when speaking to them.The world computer did not hook her up to wires or inject her with chemicals. It merely gazedup and down her form with its holographic head that was fed information from the worldcomputer itself. Its form was like the universe, only carved into the shape of a man, and its headwas like a Helmut used to conceal ones self in battle.

    "There appears to be no abnormalities, but preliminary scans show that there is a child."Mentor looked at Sui-san and was amazed of the intuitive nature of his wife, and he to nowfeared for the child. "Can you bring up a visual?"I.S.S.A.C gestured and an image of an extremely developed fetus was looking at the group,almost as if it were aware of what was going on. It was still small and not all of its features wereclear, but it seemed to smile and Mentor and Sui-san were in awe for one thing was indeedcertain: the child was aware. This was confirmed moments later by the world computer whoregistered active alpha waves, which meant that it was cognoscente.

    After that day, Mentor began to teach it in the womb, by reading books and recitingmathematics. Everyday Mentor would sit and speak to Sui-sans belly. Mentor had often thoughtthat teaching could be done in this fashion. If his son, as the computer had predicted, was truly

    aware then its impact would be even more profound if he taught him while still in the womb andvery important if he was to be the next prince.There were even signs that the child was trying to communicate, as it kicked and moved in acommutative fashion.One day, Sui-san came across the strange herbs she had ingested, or at least thought she didwhen confronting the dream of the moon dragon. This made her wonder if perhaps they werethe same herbs that she had used in her dream when she encountered the dragon of the moon.But if it was just a dream then, why were they here? A sense of fear came across her again butshe quickly put it aside when the child kicked and seemed to be aware of the herbs presence.The child seemed to want his mother to ingest the herbs.Then it occurred that perhaps the herbs had made the child aware. She took the herbs and didso until the day her child would be born.There was one thing that technology did not seem to change: the look on a fathers face as hesees his son being born. With the technology at Titans disposal, it was not a painful process buta few minutes at most.Things were going smoothly until the world computer signaled that the child had stoppedbreathing. Sui-san screamed as she heard this. Mentor tried to restrain her, but the angst in her

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    was great. She was injected with some chemical agents that were nano-technology based andthey were programed to go inside her and take care of what was causing the problem.There was pause and the air of Titan grew still as an eerie quiet blanketed the world computerchambers.I.S.S.A.C then confirmed that the process had worked and that the child would live.

    A sense of relief crossed their faces as the world computers last bit of data had eased Mentorsmind.Sui-san screamed, however, as her Child's face was bloated and purplish in appearance. Theworld computer said that the child would be kept for observation. Sui- san was given a relaxingvirtual reality emotion stimulation module to give her peace of mind.Then I.S.S.A.C spoke, "There is something strange; it appears to be a mutation of theamygdala, the part of the brain that was once called the God-center. Religion and God are likea template that is overlaid, but in this case it appears abnormally large. His synapse fires atincredible speeds and his signals move across his cortex so quickly it often appears to besimultaneously.""What all does this bear?" said Mentor evenly."It is unknown I have never came across such readings. Only time will tell if it is good or bad."

    THANOS"DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES"

    INTERLUDE- THE MYTHOLOGY OF SCIENCE

    "He who fears he will suffer already suffers from his fear." Michael D Montaigne

    His name meant foreseeing but he could not foresee the power hungry actions of Zeus against

    Kronus or foresee that a rumor of a dubious nature would be one of the factors that would puthim in a position most dire. He was seized by Kratos (strength) and Bia (force) and carried off tothe mountain of the Caucasus. Their Hephaestus chained him to the high rock by the orders ofZeus himself.The new king of the gods would break the will of the one who opposed him. This one was calledPrometheus. He stole fire from the gods and gave it to man. For his crime, he was to bechained to the great rock with shackles of unbreakable adamantium. Bitter cold would torturehim at night, and in the morn, the great vulture would come to eat out his liver. However, hishealing ability always compensated and it always grew back. He was for all practical purposesimmortal, and though he could not die by conventional means, he had often wished he could.This cycle was to continue for eternity or longer, so was the decree of Zeus himself. But neverwould Prometheus yield to the tortures of Zeus, though the chains of adamantium did bind,always was his mind free: Free to roam, to dream, to escape the torture put upon him. Butperhaps he had done it to himself, for he had always been able to see through to men's heartsand even the gods themselves. He could have easily outwitted them. During his trial, he cameto know the forces of Thanatos and Eros on a daily basis. That both concepts were neithergood nor evil but merely pieces in the grand mosaic. During the greatest moments of pain, suchas when his liver were being devoured, he contemplated whether the secret was true? What did

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    Zeus fear? Knowledge? What was it that drove the king of the gods to chain Prometheus to therock and dethrone kronus? Prometheus was different then most of their ilk. He did not transforminto beasts and have lusty escapes with unwary maidens. Nor did he practice their licentiousbehavior. In many ways, the gods were worst than men.

    Then one morn, as the vulture was tearing at his liver, he had a vision . A vision of a New World,

    a world free of strife and decadence and this gave him hope in the midst of his own darkness.At the very moment of his epiphany, a great hand crushed the larynx of the vulture in one hand.Only one had such power and that was Hercules, who was dressed in similar raiment andwielded like power. He went by the name of the Forgotten One. He used his vast strength topull the shackles from the rock and to bring Prometheus from the mountain. He was brought toanother place, a place of majesty that rivaled Olympus itself. The denizens were remarkablysimilar to the Olympians and then he concluded the secret was true, he was indeed a memberof another race of god-like beings they called him by his new name. His true name "Mentor."

    THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVIL

    "One has not watched life very observantly if one has never seen the hand that kills tenderly"- Friedrich Nietzsche

    Titan was a world that pursued knowledge in all its various forms: art, science, philosophy andreligion. It sought what the earth philosopher Plato would call the Republic. A society that livednot by consuming products and losing one's self in material idolatry, as many of earth'spopulace had done. Instead, it sought spiritual and intellectual development. Even though, itwas an admirable goal Mentor knew it had been tried before. In the 1980s, the earth nationRussia had used the philosophy of communism to enslave its populace. To facilitate theintegration but not have a true authority.Titan would require an ingredient that other civilizations did not have, an intercessor of sorts,this ingredient was the autonomous AI enigma I.S.SA.C and with it was Mentor's brainchild: the

    intergalactic web.It allowed communication through a series of independent AI units sent out through the galaxy.Since much of their thought was independent and unknowable even to Mentor, it was notexactly sure how they accomplished their goal, for all things that lived evolved, and the AIprograms did this with remarkable results. The web had established contact with virtually everysentient race in the galaxy and beyond by using FTL transmissions. (Faster then light) Theseparticles were Tachyons theoretical particles that moved backward through time.Through the web, Mentor began to populate the world of Titan. He did this by creating a plazawhere an intricate series of wormholes, were connected like tunnels to different worlds and theirpopulace. Those who wished to come were given membership to Titan. Those who soughtknowledge were encouraged. Theologists, scientists, philosophers, cybertravelers, historians,mathematicians - no one was denied as long as they were willing to eschew violence.Mentor and Sui-san had another son, they called him Eros. His nature was different then hisolder brother, Thanos, who seemed more brooding and quiet. Where Thanos was stoic, Eroswas social. Where Thanos was dark, Eros was light and found pleasure in all things. His naturewas something that helped provide Sui-san company to forget the rebellion and death thatseemed to cling to her memories like a leech. Eros' power to make his mother feel good oftenseemed unnatural and Thanos thought it manipulation most foul. Sui-san had many daughters,

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    before both Thanos and Eros. Mentor also used bioengineering to mass-produce other Eternalswith the eggs of Sui-san.Mentor, who had took an avid interest in young Thanos since his birth, continued teaching himand introducing him to higher mathematics and intricate thought. Thanos' mind was somethingto behold. It seemed to seek a pattern in whatever problem it was dealing with and then through

    some process, which seemed more magic than thought, it would solve the problem. It was morelike art. That was the only way Mentor could understand Thanos' mind, for nothing else was likeit. At this stage, Thanos realized that his imagination was his most powerful weapon and Mentorencouraged Thanos to use it. He enhanced this by introducing his son to a new mode ofKnowledge: cyber-links. This allowed Thanos to travel the intergalctic web as a cybernaut givenform through interaction with the sentient program I.S.S.A.C., who help him travel theintergalactic web. Thanos was able to stay in the web longer than any other citizen of Titan, dueto his mutated mind. It seemed, for most minds, there was a limited time in which one couldspend on the web without side effects. These side effects included bodily detachment,disassociation, and coma.It seemed that the only thing which interested Thanos at all, besides his relentless pursuit ofknowledge, was Eros and his relationship with Sui-san. He thought it was of a dubious natureand resented the younger sibling. When Eros was born, it seemed that no longer could shethink of anything else, except Eros who sought nothing but pleasure and play. Thanos knew hertrials and knew he could help her, but she turned instead to ErosOften times young Thanos would come to the Garden of Eternity which was operated by thepriests of Pama which had a sect on Titan and brought with them their greatest achievement:The Eternity Ash, a great tree said to be the seedling of Yggdrasill itself, the great mythologicaltree which was a symbol of universal life from the legend of Odin who hung on the world tree tothe modern myth of Christ who also had hung on a tree to save men's souls. It was an awe-inspiring site, with its mighty branches, which seemed to extend beyond even space itself. Its

    wood seemed to palpitate and move up and down as if it were breathing. The leaves each adifferent color, each a different shape with intricate designs that were said to be able to foreseethe future.Thanos sat as he meditated on the day before him. All he could think of was Eros and hismother, Sui-san. Eros was unworthy if anything, thought the young Thanos. He should bedisciplined for his manipulation. When in Eros' presence, Thanos often felt something alienreach out and touch his mind, his pleasure centers. But if he had pleasure centers, they weresomehow immune to Eros' touch, perhaps it was because he was the polar opposite of hisbrother. Thanos' attention was drawn to a great spider web which, from young Thanos' vantage,was nearly three meters a cross in length. In the center was a great arachnid with eight hairylegs and a great mouth meant to devour.

    It seemed a bird had been caught and was attempting to escape. But the webbing held fast andthe bird struggled flapping its wings in murderous frenzy. But this only succeeded in trapping thefoul further. Thanos watched as the spider grew ever closer and appeared to grow larger andmore like a force of nature than an instrument of death. The avian made a terrible squall as thespider wrapped it in a web coffin and began to drink its life force. For some reason, this actpiqued the young Titan's curiosity.

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    It seemed to make him think deeper than even the most difficult math equation he had comeacross to this point. Then something stirred in him. Something dark.

    After Thanos left the garden that day, he continued his search for knowledge and went to thegalactic web. Thanos engaged in cybertravel using a porthole to hook his mind directly into thesystem itself. It was extreme and only those hooked into cyberverse could stay online as long

    as Thanos could. But the difference is that most of them had been hooked in since birth, andyet his ability was already rivaling the most competent cybernauts.Thanos visualized a great chessboard using his imagination to manipulate the cyberverse to hisdesigns. This practice of shaping the terrain of the cyberverse made Thanos' mind even morefocused. He was able use his witnessing the act of the spider and the bird to see past the veil,to see ones and zeros of the intergalactic web. Through the web, he saw the game in truemanifestation and decided to use it to hone his strategy. I.S.S.A.C., the sentient program, tookthe other side, and they began to play as they always did. "Today, I will beat you," said theyoung Thanos.For an undisclosed amount of time, they played, so long it was impossible to ascertain as timemoved differently in that environment.Thanos was able to play I.S.S.A.C. to a draw. When he came off the web and into his own bodyagain, he removed the cable from a hole, which was in his cortex. But something strangehappened as the hole had closed up. Normally once a cortical cable was inserted, the holeremained and could be covered but it was there on a permanent basis. Young Thanos seemedto have a power that his brethren did not have. He decided to study and learn all he could of hisheritage. Thanos was nearly ten years old, but the years on Titan were equivalent to ten earthyears and the life span of an average Eternal was longer then the average Kree or Skrull, andmuch longer than a human. Titan, as Thanos, already knew he was made up of an eclectic ofmany worlds, which were connected through the web. Many of the races that lived on Titanwere not Eternals, like himself, but were from other worlds. With only the seeking of knowledge

    in common, Thanos unlocked his father Mentor's personal files with ease and did not even havemoral compunction, for morals to Thanos were subjective and he saw it merely an obstacle thathad to be removed. He learned his father was from a race of Eternals different than his mother,and that they had absolute control of the molecular structure. He learned they wielded greatenergies which were the stuff of the universe itself. He learned that his father had beenpunished for his knowledge seeking and hung from a great rock. This intrigued Thanos, as hewondered what would make his father seek knowledge out at such an extreme cost to himBut the young Thanos would not be tortured or injured for his knowledge seeking. He woulddevelop those powers, that he seemed to have from his father's people. Thanos would never beput in positions such as his father was, he would be the one to wield power.

    Again, Thanos went to the garden to reflect on his knowledge. How his father had sought

    knowledge at a high cost to himself. How he would develop his powers from his father's side.He also saw how his father was an outsider, growing up in Olympus instead of the Kingdom ofEternals, and like his father, he felt out of place. His goals, different than the others of Titan -though they sought knowledge, they thought to merely sit on that knowledge. Thanos was morepragmatic and looked for ways to increase his uses. He also saw how he came about his name.How him and his brother were named when his father was in the throws of Thanatos and Eros

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    between life and death. Him and his brother were symbols of what his father had gone through,of what it meant to have a beginning and an end.But while Eros was the life urge, he had been named after Thanatos the death urgeThanos was distracted as he saw another bird caught in a web and wondered what lesson theEternity Ash was trying to teach him. Then epiphany! Was he not one who traveled the web?

    Much like the lonely spider, Thanos too was alone and mistrusted because of his appearance. Itthen occurred to Thanos that he could be the bird or be the spider.Eros broke Thanos' concentration, "Brother, why do you come to this place?"Thanos said nothing as he watched the spider get closer."Brother, you seem distracted," said Eros.

    A smile began to appear on his purple face as the spider was nearly upon its prey. Although hewas not so much different than his father, both were seekers of knowledge, both were outcasts,and though Thanos was physical as well as mentally different, he knew he would always beapart from his mother, from his brother, even from his father. Thanos saw himself as a kind oforphan."Brother, what has you so intrigued?" and when the bird screamed, Eros saw what Thanos hadbeen looking at and when he looked into his brother's eyes he saw the kill. And he sawsomething that terrified him."Tell mother I am coming, brother," said Thanos, "and that I have a gift."

    THANOS"DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES"

    Continues fromissue #1 andissue #2of Thanos: Dead Men Tell No Tales

    INTERLUDE- PARABLE"The devil has the farthest perspectives for god - that is why he stays so far away from him. The devil, in

    other words, is the oldest friend of insight" --Friedrich Nietzsche

    It was not often the devil was allowed to appear before the great gathering. It was even lessfrequent that he would be allowed to speak. But he had been chosen to speak at a trial thatwould ripple forth and alter Eternity itself.Mephisto waited in his stygian realm for the proper moment. Then an aperture would be openedand he would stand in the great hall of manifestations; Mephisto nervously plucked at one of hisdemons eye balls, impaling on each of his fingers completely through and swallowing theeyeball in a single motion, as he waited. The hall of manifestations was a realm where theabstracts were given form, and cosmic justice was dealt out by a mulitversal entity who was

    feared by all. His Title was spoken in whispers across the galaxies To some he was called theDread Tri-Judge and his fearsome three headed visage inspired terror in all who had theunfortunate happenstance to cross his path, for his judgments were final.When the great aperture appeared there was trepidation even in Mephistos steps as he walkedthrough the gate. However, the fact that he was chosen by her gave him faith. The hall ofmanifestations was a terrible site to behold as the true essence of a Celestial was manifestedbefore him. Even Mephisto had to shield his eyes from the glory of what appeared to be a soul

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    of a God. The essence was like raging fire engulfing itself, and brightness was all around it andradiating out of its midst like color of amber. In addition, standing next to the reveled essence ofthe soul was an armored representative of the great Celestials. He was called the "One Above

    All and the soul of the Celestial was under his charge. But the leader of the Celestials armoredform paled before the unsheathed essence of the deceased Celestial.

    On a great throne of bronze was the Dread Tri-Judge who had three faces that were like thoseof men, save they were hewn from stone and were white like wool.When he spoke, it was like thunder in the firmament, and black clouds formed in the Hall ofManifestations, "MEPHISTO, YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN VOICE BY SHE WHO IS THE

    ANTITHESIS OF FOREVER. THE GATHERING BEFORE YOU IS JUDGING THE ACTIONSOF ONE OF ETERNITY'S MANIFESTATIONS DURING THE SECOND HOSTS VISIT TOEARTH. THE CRIME WAS DISCOVERED BY THE LEADER OF THE LANDING PARTY. THEPERPETRATOR OF THE CRIME WAS THE CELESTIAL WHO WAS CALLED THE GOLDENONE. A GREAT BATTLE ENSUED AND IT TOOK THE ENTIRE HOST TO SUBDUE HIM,THROUGH THE WEAPON GIVEN TO HIM BY GALACTUS HE WAS FINALLY SLAIN. BUTHIS SPIRIT HAS APPEALED AND SINCE THE CELESTIAL HOST ASKED A MEMBER OFTHE GATHERING FOR HELP THE FINAL JUDGMENT IS OURS. SPEAK MEPHISTO YOURSIS THE LAST VOICE TO BE HEARD BEFORE THE VERDICT SHALL BE RENDERED.Mephisto looked around the gathering and next to the Dread Tri-Judge was he who was foreverthe man-like entity who clothed himself in the raiment of stars.On his left hand side was the great Galactus who was from another universe. A universe with adifferent Eternity, with different concepts he was as ever the alien. Mephisto spoke witharrogance as he addressed the great cosmic gathering before him."I speak for her. She thinks that the crime by the Celestial was not a crime and will one day playa part in the mosaic that is Eternity and asked me to stand as a proxy. When she asked me tospeak for her, she called me as an expert witness. For the actions of the Celestial in question

    are of a genetic nature, genetic manipulation if you will, and thus considered evil. And am I notthe manifestation of evil?" A dread silence filled the comic gathering as he paused to collect hisancient thoughts. Mephisto grinned sardonically as his serpent tongue flickered in and out of hishellish maw. Although I was not aware that one of the mighty Celestials was on trial, it isirrelevant" Mephistos tone was condescending and mocking. The One Above All moved aleviathan like limb toward Mephistos direction, and Mephisto seemed to cringe, as the greatlimb seemed to threaten ominously as it pointed in the stygian lords direction. Energies of anunknown nature began to crackle around the One Above All, and a great white light filled thegathering. All began to take cover, but a mere gesture from the dread Tri-Judge was enough tostay his hand.I WILL BROOK NO MORE INTERRUPTIONS IN MY COURT, ANY FURTHER ACTIONS

    SHALL BE DEALT WITH MOST HARSHLY. CONTINUE, said the Living Tribunal as hegestured for the stygian lord to speak his mind."Why should evil exist? He paused as if for effect, is it hunger that makes one evil? And thelord of evil looked at the Galactus, Is it appetite? When the great Galactus has plenty of foodhe can see his place in the scheme of things, and how he will give back to the universe farmore then he has taken. The Lord of Lies grinned malevolently but then he continued, "butwhen he is hungry then even Galactus is in doubt and he can no longer see his place in the

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    great mosaic. And certainly they whom he devours can see no good in it." Galactus eyed theLord of Evil with contempt as if to say with a glance that he would not forget Mephistos slight.Perhaps it is love that causes evil? Perhaps if we lived alone we would have little trouble.Mephisto glared at Mistress Love and her companion Sire Hate who were also among thegathering, "and if something were to happen to ones mate, Mephisto continued emphasizing

    certain words, "and she is carried off then there is no rest. Only turmoil and angst. Orperhaps said Mephisto evil springs from ill temper, and Mephistos eyes met the One

    Above All, the leader of the Celestials. "The moment we begin to lose our temper, we areundone. Perhaps it is fear, and Mephisto looked at the dreadful forces of Chaos and Order.Even if it is the twigs breaking or the leaves rustling, it causes us lack of peace and we have tosleep with one eye open and one ear alert, we are always in alarm."Mephisto stopped as the cosmic gathering seemed to be listening to Mephistos every word.But in truth it is none of these, said Mephisto, neither love, nor fear, nor ill temper or evenhunger, but all that is evil is due to our different and unique natures. Galactus is different fromLove and Hate, and Love and Hate different from the Lords Chaos and Order, therefore Iconclude that your evil is not my evil and each fulfills a purpose. Even as Galactus devours aplanet, it is done in purpose and the universe could not exist without it. This DNA will serve apurpose, or so my mistress believes, and she would not seek it to perish because of theCelestials, who seek to control every facet of their creation. Let them also know that they toomust serve and follow their place in the scheme of things.THE LIVING TRIBUNAL HAS REACHED HIS VERDICT AND ALTHOUGH THE GOLDENONES CRIME WILL STILL BE PUNISHED BY THE CELESTIALS, HIS CREATION, A STRANDOF GENETIC MATERIAL THAT IS A COMBINATION OF DEVIANT STRAIN AND ETERNALSTRAIN, SHALL SURVIVE, AND SHALL ONE DAY MANIFEST ITSELF IN THE GENE POOL.SO DECREES THE LIVING TRIBUNAL."Then all the assemblage began to depart and Mephisto also departed to his own realm where

    he was met by a rat like creature "You done well, Lord of Lies, the mistress is very pleased andyou will be rewarded for your guile."Then tell me this, what does Mistress Death want of the Celestial DNA and why does she wantit to exist in the scheme of things, is it not a celestial affair?

    The mouthpiece of Death, which had manifested itself as a rat with biped characteristics spoke,its words like venom. "You were to gain the Celestials anger, it was this that caused theTribunal to rule against him, and she knew that you and you alone could accomplish the task.That way she will not be blamed and the Celestial will not hold anything against her. With thatthe mouthpiece of death was gone and Mephisto wondered what would become of the DNA. Helooked on at the one who carried it in his genetic structure. "We will be seeing each other. Alarsand I will be curious to see how your offspring turns out and why Mistress Death seemed tohave such a vested interest."

    SIBLING RIVALRY

    We may lie with our lips, but we tell the truth with the face we make when we lie" -- Friedrich Nietzsche

    Mentor had called a family meeting at the request of his son, Eros. The subject at hand was hisother son, Thanos, who had done something so strange that young Eros had begun to fear forhis mothers life. Eros was thin and lanky with chestnut color hair and eyes that could change

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    color by will alone. In contrast, Mentors build was wider and more physically impressive. Hepushed his hand through his white hair, which was full and course. And queried aloud "Where isThanos and why has he not answered my summons?" Mentors mind was similar to Thanos inthe respect that they both did things for reasons. Mentor had to know Thanos reason, and hadevery faith in him, for it was obvious to Mentor that Eros had not seen the circumstances

    correctly and was perhaps misinformed.When Thanos walked into his father's chamber, Eros was talking to his mother, Sui-San, andMentor was pacing nervously. Eros was the first to acknowledge his brother, Greetings brother,we have been waiting on you for some time now."Eros began to pour himself a drink, and offered Thanos one also. "I will decline, brother, youhave enough vice for both of us," Thanos showed no emotion when he spoke and his face waslike immovable stone. Eros glared at Thanos and then Eros reached out and began to touchThanos with his mind. He could feel its sickening touch against his cortex and was not pleased.He spoke aloud a single word "sensulist" and with utter disgust. Thanos hit Eros with the backof his hand. Blood was everywhere as Eros cradled his broken nose with both hands cuppedtightly to his face."You will find Thanos mind not as easy to manipulate, as our mothers."Enough of this, the both of you, such behavior will not be tolerated especially in my presence,"boomed Mentor.Sui-San was in tears, but quickly found her stride as she challenged her darker son's motives."What is this gift Eros was telling me of? Thanos, I have always cared for you, loved you.""Spare me the rhetoric, you are still under the chemical dependence of my sensualist brotherand I will not speak to his mouthpiece."Sui-San was enraged and slapped Thanos across the face. The effect was more than the mereforces of the blow, but in his mind, he felt betrayal. Thanos began to walk out of the chamberwhen his father called out to him, Thanos, they do not understand you like I do, how your mind

    works, how quickly you learn and adapt.""Do you? said Thanos coldly, "Even your mind is but a pale shadow compared to my own, youare all like children before me! Thanos grinned sardonically, "Goodnight mother." Mentor didnot attempt to stop his son for he felt it better if he had time to think on it.

    Thanos contemplated how he would deal with his sibling, and he still had to give his gift to hismother. For as long as she was under his brother's control, she would never truly be free. Hedid not fear retribution from his father for he knew that his father who had been his teacher hadthe most respect for his mind and would never do anything as long as he was seekingknowledge. Although his brother was addicted to every pleasure, he too had his vices "pride -his one fatal flaw.Thanos walked over to the great Plaza in the middle of Titans Square. Within the plaza was theweb, a great collection of wormholes and portals to over a thousand worlds. The FarcasterGates had been set up by I.S.S.A.C., a sentient computer in Titans early days. It was throughthis series of dimensional travel gates that Mentor had populated Titan and exchangedknowledge with other civilizations throughout the galaxy. Thanos had already visited manyworlds and had learned many disciplines, from abstract physics to four-dimensional geometry,which was used in the construction of modern time travel machines. During his visits to other

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    worlds, he had made certain observations. For example, the world he was now going to was notheavily trafficked by other Eternals, nor was it trafficked by the other worlds, which were hookedto the Farcaster Gates. The gravity alone made the planet uncomfortable. Add on a hardcoregroup of zealots that lived for the sake of combat and it was easily understood why this worldwas not a tourist attraction. Thanos made the necessary adjustments and placed a strange

    helm over his purple pate. He soon found himself standing on the planet of Vandus.Large heavily limbed creatures called Taurians were the dominant life forms. Other racescultivated them for their physical prowess and size often exploiting them. Seeing as how theirtechnology was limited and most of them could be trained, it was quite easily understood howthey made up the greater force of bodyguards and servants within their galaxy.But Thanos did not come seeking a slave or a bodyguard; he wished to experience what theorange-hued Taurians called the gift. Thanos had been observing the tribe for some time andhad learned many things about their culture. Thanos spoke a challenge in the high tongue of

    Aruk. An impressive looking specimen came forth to answer, his thick hide and thicker limbsready to bless Thanos with the gift.

    Thanos clenched his fists but was surprised by the speed of the great orange Goliath. He wasalso encumbered by the planets gravity. He moved as one who moves in water. The Tuarianeasily struck him off his feet with a single blow. The Titans head concussed against the rockyterrain but was unhurt as he raised his great bulk for a counter attack. The Tuarians eyes werelike slits, and his toothless maw shot a kind of spittle that blinded Thanos. The Titan wasimmediately struck with a series of repeated blows that were both powerful and skillful, strikingvital spots on the Titans body. His limbs effectively paralyzed, Thanos was in no danger, but hehad not counted on the Tuarians being so formidable. But he was ever adaptive and his limbswere once again under his control. However, he feigned weakness to draw his opponent in andused utility of movement to conserve strength and wait for the proper moment. The Tuarianstruck another great blow, causing spittle and blood to fly from Thanos mouth in all directions.

    Soon the Tuarian made a fatal miscalculation and there was an opening in his guard. There itwas, not drastic, but enough for Thanos to strike him with an uppercut, completely dislocatingthe Tuarians jaw. Thanos began to get used to the effects of the world's gravity and was soonin a position of superiority. Although the Tuarian was bleeding, it still had fight and began totrade blows in a pugilistic manner. The two warriors fought valiantly and it was unsure whowould walk away. But a telling blow was delivered, and Thanos fell before Taurian and washelpless when it delivered the fatal blow.

    Thanos removed the helm and took out the cable, which was linked directly to theTitan's cortex. This cyberlink connected his consciousness to a robotic simulacrum. The

    simulacrum was covered by a layer of flesh and blood and the cyberhelm could projecthis consciousness to any planet within the makeup of the web. Apparently, there wassomething wrong with his link and he had lost his connection to the world in questionand his simulacrum. Another robotic double could easily be constructed. That was noproblem, however, he could not easily replace the knowledge that was lost or the timethat was wasted. There were still some flaws in the process but it was clear that hecould download his conscience into a simulcrum if he desired. Thanos sat for a moment

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    in contemplation and then "revelation" - Perhaps it had not been a complete loss. Yes,he had found a way to deal with his brother.

    THANOS"DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES"

    Continues fromissue #1,issue #2,andissue #3 of Thanos: Dead Men Tell No Tales

    INTERLUDE- THANOS CUBEDWhen stepping into the stream of consciousness, don't slip on the rocks. --BUDDHA

    The circle was nearly complete and soon he would come. Soon he would take everything of anyvalue from her. It happened in a moment of weakness. A time when she was alone. Tearsbegan to swell in her eyes as she tried to remember the exact circumstances of what hadhappened all those years ago, but the memory was reluctant.It happened before she was rescued from the barren world when all the other inhabitants hadkilled themselves in a civil war. It was in that time of loneliness, between hopelessness anddesperation, that her mind reached out and did the unthinkable. She knew of the legends ofhow all she had to do was call his name in a last desperate attempt, as she tried to hold offmadness.The great dragon of the moon was summoned and offered her a Faustian bargain. It claimed amighty being from a powerful race would rescue her. But in exchange she had to give vow thatshe would give her first-born child. Such bargains were not uncommon, one just had to bewilling to pay the price. But now she was no longer a prisoner on that barren and war tornworld. Her temporary insanity had abated, and although she was grateful to the Dragon, therewas no way she would ever give her first born son, at least not as long as breath remained.

    To prepare herself for the dread day of his return, she studied volumes of mystical tomes andforged her spirit in magic most foul. She was nearly ready for the great worm, the mystic circlewas drawn and she now stood in its center. According to all the ancient tomes, this wouldprotect her and give her time to pull her ace from her sleeve. In her delicate hands was a puzzlebox, her ace as it were. She had purloined the cube from the race called the Skrulls when theyhad once visited her world. While the artifact itself was from the Skrull Empire, it was said thatthe architects of the puzzle box dwelt in another universe all together - a universe where thelaws were said to be contrary.Her hands were very adept as they found every crevice. Her skilled fingers went over all theintricate patterns, causing the puzzle box to rearrange its formations. A schism opened in realityand twisted things began to swim forth, their bodies turning inside out. But it was not thestrange beasts she was waiting for, they were merely the by product of the summoning. A voicecalled out "Have you summoned me to complete the bargain?"She was silent as she continued to nervously run her hands across the puzzlebox. "You will nothave my son, no matter what," her tone was angry and full of regret."There is no choice in this matter, declared the dragon as she was ripped from the center of thecircle, and its great icy claws clutched at her garment pulling her closer until its great head was

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    nearly on top of her. She tried to turn away as she saw a hideous maw filled with a thousanddeadly needle like teeth."There is always the matter of faith, Sui-San, if you have none your mystic circle will have nostrength. The dragon changed the subject, "Did you feed the child the herbs which will make itsmind a product of both universes?"

    Sui-San turned away, she had to play her hand perfectly or else all would be lost. And lookinginto his face would break her of this she was certain.Body heat began to flow from the women and into the dragon in great torrents. She grew colderand colder, and her body took on the deathly pallor of a corpse."Answer me, woman, it raged, while its ebon breath caused a frost to form over her nearly inertbody. Don't you realize, it continued, That I shall take your child anyway. My masters haveneed of him, he is to be their protege, their champion."Her teeth chattered with such force that she feared she would sheer of her very tongue but shestammered as she put forth a mighty effort with the great dragon of the moon about to devourher, "I I I Knnnooowww yyyoourr ttrrruuue naamme."True name? replied the dragon, None know my true name."Iiiiiinnnn bbbbeettwwwenneerrr, she said, the effort stealing the last of her strength.The great dragon howled, its voice like a mighty blizzard as it was thrust in the puzzle box, andher fingers, which were still moving feverishly, closed it up locking the creature away. Thepuzzle box was then thrust to the ground with such force that it was imbedded with only the topshowing.Her mind was filled with terrible visions and two great eyes were peering down upon her fromone side and a head with a baldpate on the flank. Their eldritch gazes bit into her skull, gnawingwith teeth of dementia, tearing into her cortex where all her memories were contained. Try asshe might, she was unable to resist as they raped her mind repeatedly with the esoteric visionsof nightmares which would never pass. The one trapped in the puzzle box was freed and then

    hovered above the woman who was now sobbing and sitting in a puddle of her own bodilyfluids.The creature was now in its true shape, with one part madness and one part sanity, half ofevery concept that man had ever imagined was its essence. It took her child and she reachedout in final desperation as the In-Betweener along with Chaos and Order took the young childand were gone along with her son.But as the darkness fled, a voice came from behind her, Shaper of Worlds, I thank you for yourboon, her face taking on a different continence entirely, I could never have done it withoutyou." The Shaper was impressive as volatile energies encircled his nosfertu like visage. Itsunearthly glory nearly sent her prostate but her studies had brought her in contact with manydemons and her mind was unafraid.

    And I you, said the Shaper where his cosmic herald Glorien was not far behind. His form buta streak of light that danced around the shapers crowns like a willow the wisp. "Your vision of autopia, continued the Shaper, Is something I wish to see fulfilled. Even if I must confront theforces of Chaos and Order itself.We have been beneficial to eachother, she said somberly, Truly there will be no world likeTitan, it shall be a gem amongst the stars," said Sui-san.

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    The Shaper was silent as his mighty gaze was drawn to the young child he had just saved byplacing a simulacrum in its place. "The child's dreams are grandiose like nothing I have everseen, said the Shaper, his great Skrullian face was staring squarely upon the visage of thesmall child. "Rarely have I looked upon one so young with such vision," The young childseemed to stare at the Shaper and something formed in his mind, and young Thanos smiled at

    the evolved cosmic cube, reaching out with his little paw, reaching for his dreams.

    A Matter of Life and Death - Chapter 4

    "MEN TALK OF KILLING TIME, WHILE TIME QUIETLY KILLS THEM." --Bouckault

    War is deaths feast! said the Young Titan enthusiastically. He looked at the Tachyon Projector,a machine that utilized FTL (faster then light particles) to peer into visions of the future. Thevisions were used as a teaching tool, but its applications were limited by the filter, which wassometimes unable to decipher the images on the holo-screen before them.The Holo-projector revealed two great star cruisers hovering over a smaller one. The starcruisers that were projected on the screen were using gamma incendiary projectiles to breakdown the smaller opponent's hyperdrive. Five more star cruisers came out of a gravity gate andsurrounded the lone starship, which was now dead in space.I.S.S.A.C., the sentient computer created by Mentor, had anthropomorphized itself in a holo-image and was currently addressing a classroom, which consisted only of Eros and Thanos.However, other than the holo-image of I.S.S.A.C and the Tachyon Projector, the room wascomfortable looking. There were two chairs that had cushions and seated the two students.There were some Holos of Mentor and Sui-san hanging on the wall and some othersentimentality as well."I do not see how death will profit either way, Thanos, a war between equals can only end ingenocide," said Eros."I had no idea you could be such a visionary, gibed Thanos, his voice dripping with black bile.

    It is the older man that declares war, but it is the youth that that must fight and die. I believethat is a quotation from one of the priests that first came to this world when the stargates wereopened and the first ecclesiastical stepped forward, but I believe it is appropriate."How intriguing, said Thanos, "a sensualist quoting the priesthood." Thanos had a glare in hiseye as his commentary dripped of venom, "I must confess, brother, I don't always understandhow that mind of yours work. Thanos interjected"Which clearly illustrates the limits of your own intellectual capacity, brother."Thanos was also cut off by the holo of I.S.S.A.C., "Let us hold a discussion in peaceful manner,learning is best carried out in an environment that is devoid of stress and emotional tumult.""I capitulate, teacher, I was merely prodding my brothers lazy intellect. Continue, saidI.S.S.A.C., but try to stay on topic. The next question: what use is war? And what, if any, arethe benefits of such a disclosure?""What good is killing ones fellow sentient? Titan has existed since its beginning and there hasever been peace, will you Thanos deny the evidence of your own senses? Eros moved hisarms in animated fashion, as he found his blood beginning to boil. I believe a culture can existwithout the threat of war and I fail to see why murder should ever be glorified!

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    "In the long run, dear brother, are we not all dead? asked Thanos. Death is as psychologicallyimportant as birth, shrinking away from it is unhealthy and abnormal which robs, the second halfof life of its purpose. Death borders upon our grave and our crib stands in its shadow.""You are mad, Thanos, there is no longer any doubt in my mind.""Let us carry out a discussion in an environment, said Thanos as he repeated the words of the

    teacher, devoid of stress and tumult, let us stay on topic sibling." For a moment Eros andThanos were facing each other as they were now standing and confronting one another.I.S.S.A.C was trying to break it up, Mentor quickly came into the learning facility and held Erosback who was in a frenzy trying to get at his brother. Thanos merely stood his ground andgrinned. Sen-Sui was not far behind her mate as she chided both her sons for their violentbehavior.

    Nevertheless, Thanos was oblivious as an image upon the Tachyon Projector caught hisattention. The Tachyon machine was on auto mode and so it constantly switched positions. Theprojector was observing piles of bodies as a laser field took out an infantry unit, their bodiessliced and burned beyond recognition. However, as the landscapes changed, the TachyonConverter jumped to various points in the future. But no matter how often the machine changedpositions, the image would always be there. Thanos left without saying a word, ignoring boththe protests of his mother and his brother.

    "Father, said Eros, his tone nearly indignant, Why do you cater to him? Thanos is mad!"Mentor did not speak right away, as he seemed to be collecting his thoughts for a properresponse, "And are you a sensualist, Eros?""You have always been partial to him, haven't you father? It is like he is your pet project orsomething!"Mentor turned his back and clasped his hands, "You are closer than you know, Eros, saidMentor, his intonation subdued.All my knowledge has gone into Thanos he is an experiment if

    you will, an experiment to create the ultimate intelligence.There was a great silence and Eros was at a loss, "From the special herbs your mothergathered, to placing Thanos directly under I.S.S.A.C.s tutelage. Everything has been done tosee just how far a mind could evolve and if a pure intellect would be good or evil. His mind islike a black hole in which nothing can escape, so I often give him some room. If too muchpressure is put on him or he felt threatened, Mentor paused as if for effect, his mind couldprove to be the ultimate weapon."Eros was dumbstruck, "Does Thanos know this?"Of course, replied Mentor, He has been aware since his birth. With a mind like his, how couldit be otherwise?Where is mother? asked Eros, she was in here just moments ago."I do not know, said Mentor, Perhaps she went to meditate, she has been much troubled as oflate."

    You do not understand, father, I have tried to tell you but you seem to turn a deaf ear. Mother isin danger."

    Thanos began to concentrate and focus as he cleared his mind of all extraneous thought andthen his eyes began to burn like fire. Like a miniature sun gone nova, they began to flare out

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    and then they exploded outward, their murderous sockets blazing with hellish fury, totallydestroying the alloy construct which he designed to absorb its might.He raised a gauntleted hand and an energy bolt lanced out and destroyed another construct. Itwas only days ago, he recalled, when he would have struggled to unleash this much energywithout tiring, now he was doing so without any strain whatsoever. His mind was already like a

    razor, all that was needed was to enhance the body until it matched.The Titan then hit a button on his belt and four cyber-modules, that up to this point had beenused by Mentor to serve the inhabitants of Titan - their duty was to perform menial tasks whilethe citizens of Titan sought more spiritual matters. Thanos had placed in the robots systems avirus that caused a loop- a loop that would cause the systems to perform a series of relatedsteps over and over, and abort when the specific conditions were met.The specific condition was the destruction of the young Titan himself. Thanos smiled as theysurrounded him on all sides. Soon heavy-mechanized hands that had been designed to aidwere now being used to kill. Blows that registered at superhuman speed hit the Titanrepeatedly. They moved so fast that he did not have time to defend himself. His outer raimentwas quickly tore apart under the deadly computerized assault.The Titans massive forearms rose reflexively to cover himself but the mechanistic assassinswere tireless. They would continue until they registered that all life signs of the Titan hadceased. Waves of pain wracked the mad Titan as his skin blistered and bruised. The Titanmerely cleared his mind and then there was no more pain. To one such as Thanos, it wasalways a state of mind.The automatons attack was deadly but they were also predictable. He knew that they wouldremain until they had performed the objective. With this in mind, the Titan's hands moved outwith deadly accuracy, disabling the automatons at their joints. Thanos grinned, as he knew thatthe recursion program would not allow them to back down or recalibrate their strategy. Hecontinued his assault against the joints of his attackers until they were destroyed and limbs

    were strewn across the floor. His eye beams fired up as he prepared to clear away thescattered parts, for he did not wish to draw undo attention to himself. Even Mentor would nottolerate the restructuring of servant droids to assassins. It was considered the ultimate crime tobuild a weapon. Naught but slag remained of the servants as his eye beams greedily slurped upall the evidence. His body was beaten and bruised, but he closed his eyes and focused all hisenergy and he was whole.Clearly, thought Thanos, he was closer to the first generation Eternals who could utilize theircosmic force to heal themselves, in fact they were essentially indestructible by physicaldamage.He had finished his workout and now proceeded to investigate something that was like asplinter in his mind eye, driving him mad. It had transpired while watching the Tachyon machine.

    An image of what appeared to be a figure that was dressed in dark robes, watching the killingeven as he was watching whatever it was.

    At first, the Titan thought it was just an observer but as the scenes changes, the observer didnot. How could one observer be within a distance of several light years nearly simultaneously?It would have to move faster than light. He went to his own personal holo-machine and turnedon the Tachyon Converter. Great battles appeared on the screen as men lived by the

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    philosophy of kill one and you are an assassin, kill millions and you are a conqueror, killeveryone and you are a god.Nevertheless, Thanos did not come to view the killing, he came to view the figure. For hours,Thanos sought whatever it was and for hours, he came up empty. His body was feeling chillybut he continued his quest for the unknown figure. He rubbed his hands together to generate

    warmth.Then it hit him - Epiphany! Thanos knew at last who it was at least on an intuitive level.Eternals did not grow cold, they were immune to such effects, the cold was unnatural and whenhe turned he saw it was the image he was searching for. It was a beautiful woman, dressed inlong flowing robes and the great cold was her breath and it chilled him to his very marrow."It is you, said Thanos, but Thanos was distracted as the doors of his chamber opened andSui-San walked in."Thanos we need to talk, it is of dire importance, said his mother, her face flushed."At last, mother, said Thanos, his voice like the grave, we are alone."

    INTERLUDE - PAY BACK

    Sui-San looked into the mirror and wondered if they would come for her. She wondered if shecould escape their grasp for much longer for she knew their arm had grown long indeed. Astears flowed from her eyes, she felt that she was somehow being watched and then she had avision of a terrible realm. A realm she had seen but once before. A realm that had made such animpression that she had lived in terror since his last visit, and in an esoteric globe, she saw him,the one she had duped. Then her body began to tremble and her head smashed against theglass, cracking it down the middle. Only her son could help her now, only an agent of deathcould save her from the forces of madness. She felt guilty for having brought her son to thispoint but it was the only way. She could feel the forces of chaos peeling away her thoughts. Hermind being suddenly thrust into the mouth of madness. And when she looked into the cracked

    mirror once more, she saw the avatar of insanity, and so terrible was the sight her, that verybreathe was tore away from her breast by his unseen hand.He sat in a prison forged of solid insanity, its great globe of depravity completely encircling theservant of Chaos and Order. His veiny, bald pate seething with indignity at having been dupedby a cosmic cube and having been humiliated by Sui-San in front of his masters. His cylinder ofmadness hung just between the twin polarities of actuality. Two great triangular constructs thatwere the physical manifestation for all extremes in reality. "Retsam redro lliw ton yalp ynaerom," came the mouthpiece of Lord Chaos. When the In-Betweener turned, he saw a childwalking upside down and in her hand was a red balloon with a fearsome face and jagged teeth.The In-Betweener bowed his head as the mouthpiece of Chaos chided him, Ouy era a loofreneewteb-in," But then the mouthpiece showed him Sui-San looking into a broken mirrorspeaking aloud to herself as the vision sent by Lord Chaos had overwhelmed her. The In-Betweener placed his face against a floating piece of glass that materialized in his cell and helooked through the looking glass with great anger at the one who had put him in this position.The little girl began to dance in a twisted version of a childhood dance, all things were normalexcept the child's limbs moved opposite of how they should, folding in instead of extending out.

    Sui-San was afraid and through the mirror, he could taste her fear, how she only wanted to befree. But the In-Betweener now knew what he must do and as the prison vanished, he knew

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    that he had another chance. He then stepped through the looking glass and was gone, leavingthe twisted child laughing wickedly as the balloon began to grin.

    THE GIFT

    "If Marylyn Monroe was alive right now, what would she be doing? Clawing at the lid of her coffin.

    - Tyler Durden, Fight ClubMy mother was the last person I thought I would see but this didn't disturb me for I wanted tosee her eventually but the timing was premature and yet there was something unusual, perhapsthis was a ploy to set me up but I am not so easily duped."Greetings, mother, how may I be of assistance? I waited for her to make the first move andthen she spoke."Thanos, I wish to die."Had it been any other this statement would have likely shocked or paralyzed, it was almostbelievable but as I studied her sudden bewilderment and the way she raised her hand to hermouth as if she were trying to cover something, I knew immediately that she was attempting todeceive me; any dullard would have picked up on that.'To do that mother would violate Titans most sacred law. Im sorry, I am unable to assist you,perhaps mentor or Eros.Then the unexpected happened as all the exits were locked by what I could only perceive asmagic, a science that I had only begun to study in its fullness."I WILL ASK YOU ONLY ONCE MORE, SON, WILL YOU KILL ME?!" The words caught me offguard and now I truly wondered if I could accomplish such a horrific task. But it was not out ofevil that I considered it, for was the worshipping of one force over another simply a matter ofbiased and relativity to the independent observer? I knew my purpose and if I truly was worthyof death this would be my baptism, I knew at last I would have to become the spider or bedevoured by my own hesitation. But could I kill even my own mother? The severity and tone of

    her words bit through my normally stoic demeanor as the emotional outbursts were unusualvolatile, normally she was more disciplined and not prone to such violent behavior. But whenshe grasped me with a strength nearly equal to my own and then hurled me against the wallwith enough force to completely shatter a body twice my mass, my suspicions were confirmedand I sensed other forces at work within her as well. My mother had come to be purged and asa good son I would not deny her wishesDid I not give you birth?! And how do you repay me?! By disobedience!" Vomit spewed fromthe mouth of my mother and her head began to contort. She was beautiful in her depravity, anicon of dementia, my mother had become art and I the artist.But it was most interesting that I pictured her holding me in her arms when I was a child andnow I was going to kill her, but even this thought did not disturb me. Was I not Thanos?I looked at my monitors overhead and saw Mentor and Eros attempting to breech my fortress,time was now of the essence.Mentor was using a sonic drill, which was just as insignificant as his puny cosmic might againstthe shielding around my sanctum, but my sanctums senses had shown that Mentor had sent asignal to the main frame I.S.S.A.C.Mentor had apparently signaled I.S.S.A.C. to use a virus to break the electronic coded lock, butmy recursion loops would keep them busy while I finished my dark task.

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    I could hear them speaking as Eros was with his usual mindless self, "How much longer can wehope, listen to this conflict, before its too late. Surely mother is no match for that monsterThanos!I laughed at the irony of the statement, as my mother delivered a blow that nearly shattered my

    jaw never had I felt more alive. Mentor was calling in the force droids and spoke with his link to

    I.S.S.A.C. It appears we will need as much firepower as can be summoned," he said. With that,I knew I had to finish this and quickly. I took out a mystic blade and prepared to be baptized intothe supernatural."The blade struck deep down the middle and blood sprayed into my mouth, as I cut into hercortex with the daggers sharp point, but still she struggled against the inevitable and although Iwas loath to do it, I had little choice in the matter. I continued to cut until I severed the corpuscallosum, an operation that cuts 200 million nerve fibers. The sheer number of fibers aloneattests to the complexity of the operation, especially with a dagger. Finally, I had split her mindin half, separating the right and left hemispheres. For a moment she had regained her senses."I thank you, son, the In-Betweener had taken possession of this body, he sought to claim usboth for Chaos and Order, that twisted god who rule another universe."Her brain was hemorrhaging and it was quite clear that even an eternal could not survive muchmore damage without succumbing, but she showed remarkable fortitude and still she struggledto speak despite her obvious agony."Son, long ago I made a bargain with a great beast who called itself the Dragon of the Moon.She tried to find the strength to continue but the loss of blood was taking its toll, The greatworm whose body is composed of dark matter. My people had been drawn into a great civil war.

    A war so brutal and bloody that it would haunt me even to this day. And after all had either leftour world or had been killed, the dragon came to me and offered me a bargain."She hesitated for a moment as she struggled to keep consciousness. I was impressed."In my moment of darkness, I accepted the price - my first born son - in exchange for escape

    from the world that was now my prison. But for the rest of my days, I studied the mystic ritesand uncovered an artifact of great power, an object known as the cosmic cube. I sought to useits influence to deceive the forces of Chaos and Order by sending a doppelganger to them onthe date of your birth, I encouraged Mentor with your fascination with Death, for I knew the daywould come. You must finish the rites or I will be forever a prisoner of Chaos and Orders realm.You must devour my mind so that it is beyond their touch. For it is that which they crave withtheir jagged teeth of lunacy and it is the last part of the rites in which even they must be boundby their own words and will have to abandon their plans for vengeance.But then the voice of the In-Betweener interjected, Now you are both mine! And the roombegan to spin and a great gate was beginning to open.My body was shattering, but no sooner did I use my control over my molecular structure to

    regain my true self, then I found my body frozen, but it was all a matter of control. Soon I felt herbreath against my neck and then I knew that she had chosen me. I smiled, as I knew my victorywas now assured. With naught but sheer depravity and madness driving me, I was again uponmy mothers broken and bleeding body. It appeared that the In-Betweener had not expected meto keep my mind when it summoned its realm to this universe. I ended the conflict quickly as Icompletely vivisected her form. The In-Betweener would again be sent back to his masters afailure.

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    Somehow, the vivisected form of my mother was still alive, the forces of Chaos and Orderwould not let go, truly they were terrible forces to behold. Then I realized the price of usingmystic means. And though I was bound by the letter of the law, still would I take this lesson forlater examination But I knew there was no other option and when I reached down and took herbrain with all its nerve endings and neurons I opened my maw wide and devoured it, according

    to the mystic rites and performed as stated. It was the only way to ensure the conclusion,however no longer would I deal with mystic rites and spells, for they had left a bad taste in mymouth.Thanos was then bowled over by a sensory overload as he struck the floor.Thanos, I have called you forth from this day on. You shall be my avatar, said the skeletalfigure, which hovered above Thanos chamber that was now painted with the blood of hismother.You are the balm that will soothe my burning heart, you are the one who will give me purpose.FROM THIS MOMENT ON I AM YOUR SERVANT AND I SHALL SPEND THE REST OF MYDAYS EITHER WORSHIPPING YOU OR DEALING DEATH OUT.

    There was a great explosion, as Thanos chamber doors were forced open and an eliteguard of twenty came forth. Thanos did not even resist as they took him away. Eroscould think of nothing except attacking his brother, but he easily struck him aside,Unhand me, you shall not lay hands upon me again. Eros massaged the bruise thatwas beginning to form over her right cheek. Mentor grew introspective and withdrew itwas more than he could handle, for he knew the part he played and the awfulramifications that had ensued, and then he thought he saw his former mate standingover Eros or at least someone that had a remarkable likeness, but then the apparitionwas gone.

    INTERLUDE - A GRIEF OBSERVEDThe way to mourn the dead is to take care of the living who belong to them.- Edmund Burk

    Mentor

    I was saying my good-byes.But although I looked unflappable inside, I was devastated. How could it be otherwise?My own son had killed his own mother and, in my own way, I had encouraged it as much as if Idid the dark deed myself. I clenched my fists until my knuckles were white, cosmic energyerupted from my fists as it tore a whole in the ceiling of my son's sanctum. To look upon her wasmore then the soul could bear, and yet my detached outlook allowed me to accomplish theimpossible.However, I would have no one else dispose of her remains. She was my companion and I

    would see this through to its bitter conclusion.I used my own hands, and then my imagination began to wonder how it happened and I couldfeel reality itself blur and then I heard his voice truly it was like the grave."Father are you enjoying this? I did it all for you. A gift in your honor, father. A gift for all yourendless hours of tutoring. It was ... the only way I could truly repay you. Do you notunderstand?"

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    The voice sounded just like Thanos and I could even see his terrible visage with his ebon stareand his malevolent grin. Yet, I somehow knew it was an illusion, deep down in the core of mysoul, I knew. I waved the illusion off, saying that I would pay the illusion no heed."I must confess," came the voice in my head again, "you have quite the will but you were ever adangerous man and I needed something to break your unwavering resolve."

    I continued to ignore my "son". Eventually it would pass. No doubt it was a side effect from therather traumatic experience. I took a mental note of illusion's incredible detail and was trulyamazed what grief could do even to a mind such as my own.The voice was persistent and it then said, "You are next father."But it was amazing how my mind could conceive of such an accurate creation, how a part of mymind could be so different from my own being.Yet the illusion continued, unhindered by my seemingly uninterested placid expression, andthen it grabbed me! I could feel his iron fingers grasping around my throat and I could hear hisvoice echoing, endlessly, within my mind. "Does this appear to be an illusion to you, father?Can you not feel your life force not seeping away from your grasp? Glorious . . . isn't it?"It was at this time that I made another mental note about the sensation I was experiencing, ofhow although it was completely generated by an illusion. It's reality was staggering and then . . .I couldn't breath! And for a moment, I wondered if it was not an illusion at all. For if it felt real,and it sounded real.Then the question dawned on me, Could an illusion - if that is what this is - really kill?

    And as I looked upon the horror before my eyes, his grinning purple visage holding me aloftover the remains of my deceased mate and my feet dangling in the air. His empty eyes weretearing into my mind and then I was lost.I felt a tap on my shoulder and Eros, my second son was standing before me, through adarkened haze. He was asking me if I was alright, I nodded unreassuringly. It was then, like anout of body experience as I saw myself standing next to a screen with the AI computer

    I.S.S.A.C asking me what to do with Thanos.End Interlude

    POSSESSION IS NINE-TENTHS OF THE LAW

    God providentially foresaw the devil's turn to wickedness, and also that of evil men, but permitted this for

    the good of all creation. - Augustine

    Mephisto

    As the lord of evil, I had been following the One who had possessed the DNA since the trial ofthe Dreaming Celestial and wondered what the off spring would become.*(* See Thanos : Dead Men TellNo Tales : Issue Three for details on cosmic trial.)

    And as I gazed through the mists that cut through all dimensions I began to study the one whocalled himself Thanos. In appearance, he was rather apish and aesthetically unappealing, thiswas no doubt the deviant strain showing itself.But as I watched the purple pollywog grow I began to be intrigued by this strange demigod,who's father was once a citizen of fabled Olympus and who's mother would be considered awitch. My God - if there is such a thing - must have a sense of humor, indeed. A mind so sharpin the body of a bloated purple frog.

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    But as he vivisected his own mother, I was in awe at the depths of dementia his mind wascapable of plummeting. And I wondered was he devoid of conscious completely. Or was it hewas simply capable of both extremes? Was he, perhaps, just as capable of doing amonumental good as well?My mind reels at the thought of his own mother allowing her son to court Mistress Death,

    herself, as if she were some fleshless maiden instead of the reaper of souls. Truly, Thanos wasblessed.Sui-San and Mentor will give a whole new meaning to dysfunctional family.

    As my gaze falls to Mentor, it appears that the father of the One has gone somewhat mad.From his disoriented appearance it is clear that he is being haunted my his own psyche, as if heis in communion with ghosts and attempting to rationalize his own madness.But it is rather enjoyable watching a mind as strong as Mentor's crack, if not shatter, much likean egg.Omelet anyone?Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!So witty I am at times that I amuse even myself.But if I wish to take full advantage of Mentor's misfortune, I must be swift! Thanos will not allowhimself to be imprisoned for too long. And what, I wonder, does Mistress Death want with thispurple toad is beyond me. But whatever happens it is most clear that his soul, no matter howdark, could not possibly reach the sygian depths of such as I. And yet the Celestials are anenigmatic lot, and the Dreaming Celestial was reputed to be on par with the mightiest of them.The flames of my netherworld begin to wane and standing before me, once more, is MistressDeath's mouth piece, "You will go to Titan, Lord of Lies. The In-Between is seeking Thanos'rather unique DNA and Mistress Death thinks you may be of service." The Mouth Piece'sputrefied flesh would be repugnant to most, and the trail of maggots that drop from every orificewould annoy even I had there falling bodies not fed my flames with their pathetically, worthless

    lives."I will steal the DNA from under his very nose," I informed the mouth piece while silently musingto myself means in which to accomplish said task, And then Mephisto shall again be what hewas in ages past. Hmmm, how shall I do this? I could send a demonic lackey in my stead. Yetsince I know they are untrustworthy - perhaps as untrustworthy as I - I will do this myself, inperson.It has been ages since I did this trick, since Samarian times to be exact. Back during antiquitywhen magic was science. But the last time I did this a prophet trapped me in a heard of pigsand sent me tumbling over a cliff. Not the most ... outstanding notation within my demonicrsum, to be assured.The transition must be seamless, I purloined one of my most powerful artifacts, one I had not

    used since I had taken one of my other guises. A guise which was extremely effective. I held thetrident outward and pointed it at the stygian waters at Mentor's image and I was there. Unlikemortals, I needed no device of transport, no point of transition, it is simply I will it and then it is.Truly a staggering thought for mortals to understand.I had to be careful. Mistress Death would be watching, closely. And using the body of Mentor tomask my essence, I slipped in to Mentor's body as casually as one puts on a garment ofclothing. After seeing his own mistress vivisected it is no wonder, that he was virtual catatonic.

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    Yet it is times such as these when beings such as I slip on, and act. To some, it is known astemporary insanity. To one such as I, it is another bag of flesh to wear and discard as I see fit.I get no complaints as I imprison Thanos in a cylinder of adamantine. The same substancemighty Zeus used to imprison this body on a rock while vultures tore out its liver on a dailybasis. Within the container are a liquid full of hallucinogens and other chemicals to keep him in

    sedated. But he is not unconscious, far from it in fact. Although I probably could have killed himwithout any complaints, it was not wise for that would bring in my mistress. And I could senseher watching me, carefully.We were all standing over the body of the inert Thanos then. To my right is my son Eros, trulyhe does a father proud his pleasant demeanor masking something much darker. But perhapsthe most mind staggering thought Thanos could have gotten that ridiculous hair as well as hisapish appearance.I.S.S.A.C. was running tests, when I made requested for a sampling of Thanos DNA.Suddenly, I feel something as cold as ice against the back of this bodies neck and its hairsbegin to stand on end. I turn to see the entourage of Mistress Death. Eros is completelyoblivious to her presence as is the world computer I.S.S.A.C. But how could it be that the otherthe forces of death work in the universe everyday and no one is the wiser?She is terrible to behold, as her socketless eyes seem to watch the body of the inert Thanos.Her mouth piece with is a putrefied shade that has a small trickle of maggots dripping from thecorners of its mouth. Its seems to be also staring but not at Thanos, in fact it seems to bestaring at me. But I am not concerned for some reason this body seems to mask my thoughtsfrom her.

    And much akin to the forces of death, which do their work daily, my actions are none the wiserto those closest to this host body's heart. Since it was common knowledge that when mengrieve, and especially after someone discovers the utter horror that Mentor had moments prior,men tended to act differently. No one would suspect a thing, as was the plan.

    "How goes things, Mephisto? Mistress Death feels that the In-Betweeener watching from afar. Iuse telepathic means to communicate so Eros does not suspect," her mouth piece, that stoodoff to the left and behind her mister."Even now I'm taking precautions to protect the DNA, my mistress," I retorted.The mouth piece spoke bluntly, "Seek not to deceive us, Mephisto, for Mistress Death iswatching closely." And then the voice was gone.I needed time!So I command Eros to obfuscate the truth of Sui-sans death. I told I.S.S.A.C. to tell thepopulace of Titan that Sui-San will be taking a temporary leave of absence and will travelthrough the farcaster gates to all the planets on the web and may be gone for quite some time.

    After all, I cannot have a populace on edge or deal with constant interruptions of fools consoling

    me, especially, when there is an opportunity for power to be had as great as this one was.I begin to weave an intricate strategy, yet Mistress Death's distraction allowed Mentor a foot-hold.

    A strong voice addresses me. "You will not hold my body forever, demon.""Nor do I intend to, old man," I mused in retort to the essence of the body in which I currentlyheld dominion over. "Your addled mind, although enjoyable, as I watch it tortured, you are nowonly as good to me simply as a means to an end, and nothing more."

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    "And what end is that?"Came another voice, not of Mentor's. Standing before me was Thanos and Mistress Death, itappeared he was in some kind of astral form and next to him was his mother. Thanos told me ofthe threat of the In-Betweener had passed and that I could return the DNA to its rightful body.He saw what I was doing perhaps he had even been watching all along. For truly I did not

    believe him capable of leaving his very body. I clenched the teeth of the body of the one I worein indignation but then smiled and spoke, "But of course, I am ever Mistress Death's humbleservant.""And now my pawn," came Thanos.But I also now realized that Mistress Death would never sit by idly and as her socketless eyesseem peruse this body it came to me what would happen if she found me out. What punishmentwould be for defying her ebon will? The thought alone was enough to send shudders throughthis bodies spine.I returned to my fiery lair, promptly after that brief discourse, and while Mentor would forgetwhat had occurred, the effect of my presence in his body would no doubt have long lastingeffects and gaps in his memory. Yet, it was of no matter to one such as I. Mistress Death, itseems has truly chosen Thanos, but although the Mad Titan may have seen through my planbecause I did not realize him capable of leaving his body I will have the last laugh.For Mentor will discovered the weapon I planted and such a crime is eternal banishment for thatapish brute!Ha ha ha ha!

    Truly, Mephisto is the lord of all evil.

    Silver Surfer

    Galactus had commanded me to find him a world for him to consume.And like a good herald, I complied. My star spanning senses reveled the very fabric of the

    universe. My gaze saw a planet roughly a light year distant. I was upon it in seconds and wentthrough a wormhole of nearly ancient design. It's energy signature indicated it was a formergateway used by many alien races to trade and interact but most of those races had longperished.I hit the wormhole at star spanning speed. The wormhole curved and I moved my body inimpossible positions as I performed the cosmic act of surfing. The first wormhole wasconnected to other wormholes I adjusted as the wormholes shifted and changed it was one ofthe many pleasures of being the Silver Surfer, herald to Galactus, himself. It was times likethese that I truly relished being a herald of Galactus.The technology used to create this device was likely a large dense object that simulated the

    spinning motion of a blackhole. With such an object, even space and time could be warped. Itwas likely Shi'ar technology or something similar to the farcaster gates used by Titan. When Icame out of the transport device, I detected an energy signature nearly on par with my own.I quickly descended upon a lush jungle world and was hovering just over the tube, which hadonly been here a short time. I knew this not because of my cosmic senses but could smell thefoliage that was still burning from the impact. I gestured with my cosmic power and the cylinderwas raised until it was even with my board. I used my senses to discern the origin of thecylinder and had determined that it had come from Titan. After all I had been the herald of

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    Galactus for nearly a century now and was familiar with a great deal of technology. I thendetected the DNA, which was in his body and realized the terrible potential if it were to go awrybut did not think it my place to destroy what he had not created. In fact, I had done enoughdestroying as the herald of Galactus.But before I left I used my cosmic power to free the sentient being and then proceeded to find

    Galactus a world to consume but later I would wonder if I made the right decision in freeing t