NEW MARVEL PROUDLY PRESENTS		64
YEAR ONE	by Travis George	JUN

Note: As soon as you read this, you'll know I took the in medias res approach to writing this first issue. Why in particular? Well, I had to have action, or I don't think I'd have any readers left... But of course, all will be explained so you'll get the action first, and answered questions later.

Deep space

"Die, organic scum!"

The hateful cry accompanies an extremely powerful blast. The Charter ship NCC-1701 is barely able to swerve out of its way in time.

The hatred felt outside the ship mirrors that which is felt inside the ship.

"We should kill those fools for what they did to us," Beta Ray Bill decrees.

Xlyym, the octopoid of the group responds to this threat with his own rage. He launches one of his tentacles in Beta Ray's direction.

"Stop!" Quasar blasts Xlyym away, and tries to appeal to all the occupants of the NCC-1701, both friend and foe.

"We can't afford to fight amongst ourselves. We all have to band together to stop Skeletron."

"Skeletron wouldn't harm us, you fool," Fabrikant replies. "We are his Starblasters. We freed him."

"It doesn't look that way to me," comes Quasar's rebuttal. "He didn't seem to care who was on this ship."

"Well, a quick communication with him will put a stop to that and signal your death as well," Insidio says. Then he goes to the control panel, and turns on the ship's communication device. "Skeletron has a built in signal receiver and will be able to communicate." Less than three seconds later, Skeletron's mechanical face becomes visible on the screen.

"Skeletron. You have returned," Nyborn says.

"Yes, you organic fool."

Despite his alien features, the doubtful expression on Nyborn's face is recognizable by human standards. "We are overjoyed at your return, liege. Now we can at last fulfill our goal of conquering the galaxy."

"We? Idiot. Now that I have the Starbrand, I have no need of you."

Quasar looks at Insidio and Nyborn, and it's obvious they've finally realized their folly.

"I see that Earth fool Quasar is aboard that vessel. I will destroy him --"

Quasar tenses up for battle, as do Beta Ray and Xenith.

" -- But first I have other matters to attend to. I had the foresight to download data contained in the Stranger's computer banks before he stranded me in that barren universe. I bade my time, waiting for an opportunity to return and seek vengeance upon all the pathetic organic life in this multiverse. That Earth fool will be one of the first to feel my fury. But there is one even more worthy of my wrath. Where is the Stranger?"

"I don't know, my liege." Insidio answers, beginning to cower.

"Useless as always, Insidio. It doesn't matter. I sense his home planet is not far from this location. He will return here in due time. Till then, I have entities to contact. I shall return to deliver your fate, Quasar."

Quasar does a good job of hiding his fear, but he knows he's in for it, as he watches Skeletron disappear in a flash, and the screen fading to black.

********

Not far

"My name is Uatu. I am called the Watcher. It is my charge to observe all the major events in this sector of space. Recently, the being known as Skeletron returned to this multiverse, wielding the extradimensional energy known as the Starbrand. These events do not bode well for the fate of this galaxy, or any of the lifeforms that reside within."

"Where is he, Watcher?" says the Stranger, having materialized in time to heard the important parts of the Watcher's monologue, which he composed on an asteroid that orbits the Stranger's home planet.

"He is not here. But he will return. And he has vowed to destroy you first."

"Well, thanks for breaking your vow of non-intervention once again simply to inform me of the obvious. Now stay out of my way."

The Stranger disappears, and reappears right outside the force field of the New Universe Earth*
[*Last seen in Quasar #60 - TG]

'This is one thing Skeletron must not obtain. When he returns, he will no doubt attempt to add the anomalous energies of this world to his own already staggering power. Time is of the essence. I must -- eh?'

The Stranger turns to see the NCC-1701 approaching. The cargo bay door opens, and Quasar flies out of it.

"Stranger!"

"What do you want, Quasar?"

"Probably the same thing you want. Not to die at Skeletron's hands."

"Indeed. And one way to make that less likely is to prevent him from accessing the energies this planet is bathed in."

"Yeah, but there's no way he would be able to breach the Living Tribunal's force field. Is there?"

"It's doubtful, but still too possible for my comfort. Now stay there and be quiet, so I can contact the Living Tribunal. He quarantined this world; only he can remove it from harm's way."

The Stranger shuts his eyes and appears to concentrate on something.

While he is doing this, Quasar creates a platform in space for himself to stand on.

About a minute into the Stranger's trance, he opens his eyes with a strange look on his face.

"What happened?"

"I was able to reach him, but he refuses to appear here."

"What's that about?"

"I'm not sure. He didn't give me a reason. He didn't tell me much. I almost got a sense of... difficulty. It's not something I've ever sensed the Living Tribunal ever have to deal with."

All of a sudden three figures materialize on Quasar's platform. One is an extremely tall, beautiful woman with platinum blonde hair and a white gown that speaks of royalty. The other two are men, short in comparison to the woman. One looks like Charlie Chaplain, the other a literally very scruffy, grungy punk mechanic.

"Hi there. I take it you're also here to observe the end of the universe as we know it?"

"Greetings champion of Earth. I am the Omniversal Mastrex, Opal Luna Saturnyne. These others are named Horatio and Bert. I don't just plan to observe, I plan to do something about this situation... if I can."

"Great. That would be nice if you could help. Mind if I ask what exactly is an Omniversal Mastrex? You don't seem like a cosmic entity, and I've never heard of you."

"That's because I wasn't directly assigned to you."

"Come again?"

"Every time there has been an emergency with alternate timelines or parallel Earths, the Living Tribunal or the Time Keepers have been free to intervene if any of them so chose. They were the ones assigned to your case."

"My case?"

"Yes, in addition to a hierarchy of the guardians of life, time, space, etc., there is also a system of assignment for every living being in the universe. Think of it as foster children assigned to specific social workers, only on a much grander scale. You have your share of cosmic entities to report to. Your tuetalage was assigned to Eon. Your inspiration to Origin. Infinity is your guardian angel. If you were involved in matters that threatened the timelines, the Time Keepers would take the necessary steps to straighten it out. Numinus was assigned to help you out if you were left on your own too long. And if you were involved in matters that upset the balance of power in the multiverse, you'd have a visit paid on you by the guy wearing the biggest brass hat of them all, the Living Tribunal. The latter is the one that asked me to overlook this situation. "

"I always wondered how it worked out. So why did the Living Tribunal decide to delegate the responsibility this time?"

"He didn't have a choice. Due to problems beset by --" she points to an image that Horatio projects from a crystaline device he is holding, and an image of Skeletron appears, "he was unable to attend himself."

"That isn't possible. There isn't supposed to be a force in the entire omniverse that can incapacitate the Living Tribunal. He is supposed to be the last resort of the cosmic checks and balances system of creation," the Stranger's voice almost denotes a hint of fear. "Did Skeletron defeat him?"

"No. Now please excuse me. I will brief you in a second."

Nonchalantly, she turns to Horatio. He finishes flipping through a book, and has just selected the page he wants.

"What's the next number available?" Saturnyne says, addressing him.

"3207, your whyness."

"Earth 3207, this is then." She looks at the planet, marking her new discovery.

Quasar, meanwhile is thinking of the special someone he left behind here.

********

Elsewhere in space, the woman called Kismet is escorting the Skrull named Morfex and the Rigelian named Tana Nile to safety.

Neither of the two can speak, as their entire bodies are badly cut up and dissected, including their mouths. But both of them notice the shadows creeping up behind the trio, from their angle. Kismet is carrying both, and flying them forward, unable to concentrate on what's behind her.

She also misses their faces. Even she managed to get a glance, she'd see the fear in both. Both are in a condition in which all four limbs as well as their necks are paralyzed, so they can't tap her on the shoulder. They both have ideas on what to do to alert her. Morfex could use his shape shifting powers to try to form artificial vocal cords to make a makeshift mouth. Tana could use her telepathic powers to alert Kismet. Neither gets the opportunity, and a powerful blast from the enemy that snuck up on them silences any thoughts the three of them had, perhaps forever.

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2.13.01

QUANTUM QUORUM

Still no letters, simply a straightforward preview blurb.

NEXT ISSUE: The bad guys are bloodthirsty. Be here!