"The great Hive has become the lord of the Brood's principal star, amassing its strength on distant stars and developing its civilization, while we are here on Earth, providing personnel and power at his behest. When he returns, we will become the only subjects of the new Earth."
Jacqueline stretched out her hands and said, "Anyone with ambition should join us! Especially people like you with special abilities, you will be recognized by the great ruler!"
"Really? What benefits would this bring me?"
"Benefits?" Jacqueline revealed a mocking expression, saying, "That's how you NAZI Hydra always are, always asking about benefits, with no ideals or beliefs at all. But, if you really need to dwell on this issue, all I can tell you is…"
"You assume the great Hive resides on some deserted remote star, surrounded by the dark cosmos, but that's not really the case. The Brood is a highly advanced civilization, which is why they could reach, and invade, Earth..."
"Spaceships, planetary shields, kingdoms, cities... all the products of civilization you can dream of, they are all there."
"And, once you become a member of the Hive citizenry, you'll be freed from the narrow and petty thinking and perspectives of humanity. You will witness the most genuine and original aspects of the world. Living as part of a grand entity, the feeling is far more wonderful than you can imagine."
"Are you saying that I can go to another planet and enjoy the achievements of its civilization?"
"You can certainly understand it that way."
"I understand everything you said." Schiller looked at Jacqueline and said, "So now, it's time to talk about the terms."
"You want me to give up all my achievements on Earth and all my current assets, and go to an unknown planet. Shouldn't you guarantee that I will have a status there, akin to what I have today?"
When Jacqueline turned her back on Schiller, she revealed a mocking smile. She said, "Of course, think about it. Stuck on this tiny planet, the greatest pleasures you can access are nothing more than money and prestige. Yet, in a more advanced civilization, you can indulge in even more pleasures…"
"Your predecessors, after leaving here, all regretted the time and life wasted on this barbaric planet. On the new planet, they gained endless life and pleasurable times. Isn't that what you deserve after striving for half your life?"
Jacqueline glanced at Schiller's shoulder and said, "What was just injected into you is a kind of technology from the Brood civilization. It's called a 'nanoworm'. Focus your attention, and you'll feel it moving around inside you. It will allow you to see the beautiful Beehive Home Star…"
As she instructed, Schiller slowly closed his eyes, gradually revealing an intoxicated expression. Jacqueline smiled again and said, "Do you see it? The massive city that human technology will never be able to accomplish, the Brood citizens walking between the spaceships and buildings. That is your future…"
"Come with me, it's all within your reach…"
Schiller, like a wandering soul, followed behind Jacqueline. They bypassed the altar and passed through a dark passage to a smaller room. There was a faintly glowing portal in the room. After Jacqueline and Schiller entered, the portal flickered twice, and the room fell silent.
Noticing the change in light before him, Schiller opened his eyes. Before him was a broad and bright hall, and Jacqueline in his line of sight had undergone a terrifying transformation.
Countless tentacles sprouted from her mouth, instantly covering her face, transforming her entire head into a monster covered in tentacles.
"Welcome to your Hive Home Star, human, you will soon become one of us…"
With that, Jacqueline's mouth shot out a spindle-shaped seed that hit Schiller square in the chest, burying itself inside him.
However, the shocking transformation that Jacqueline had anticipated did not occur.
Projected sounds of chilling laughter rang out, eventually escalating into sharp, ear-piercing laughter. The man in front of Jacqueline laughed uproariously, finally straightening and his laughter faded from his voice, replaced by a sharp and mad edge.
"Brood? Is that your name? Can I call you that? Or should I say Hive?"
"But that's not important. What's important is, the game is on."
"Remember my name… remember it forever! You'll hear my name in one delightful game after another…"
"My name is Joker. Got it? Then, let's start laughing together!"
A series of sharp, crazy laughter pierced through walls and ceilings. As it echoed over the Brood, from above, it was a city of the future filled with countless distinctive buildings and aircraft. However, navigating amongst them were all kinds of creatures with monstrous heads.
The moment laughter first rang out on this planet, it marked the beginning of an endless, unavoidable chaos and madness.
Near the moon's orbit within a mechanical base, Steve looked at the unfolding lunar base with some hesitation, saying, "Isn't this wrong of us? After all, they were the first ones here, our strong-arm approach might be..."
"They got here first?" Stark turned to give Steve a look, saying, "The moon has always been an inherent satellite of the human race. We've even planted several flags on it, from various countries, are they going to argue it's their territory?"
"But the Inhumans' leader seems to have known Nick, it feels wrong for us to just barge in like this…" Steve still disapproved of Stark's action of surrounding the moon with mechanical bases.
"You can try calling Nick, see if he picks up. Knows him? The moment we briefed him about our plan, he decided to sever relations with the Inhumans."
With that, Stark flew out of the cabin in his battlesuit, a few symbionts trailing behind him. Blue Spirit stepped forward saying, "We have adequate interstellar diplomatic experience, let us go."
Stark didn't stop him, he made a 'please, go ahead' gesture, and the few symbionts walked in front of him. As Venom tried to surpass him, Stark swung his hand, pushing him back, saying, "Why are you tagging along? Don't tell me you also have a wealth of interstellar diplomatic experience?"
With a cold huff, Venom replied, "When I was flinging shit at the Sulfur Dwarf's star port, you didn't even know where you were. Move!"
With this, he casually strode towards the Inhuman race's lunar base. Stark gave a slight eyebrow raise saying, "You're actually proud of that? Mud!"
Not long after, Stark and the symbionts' team returned to the base. Seeing Stark's slightly smoking Mecha. Steve said, "I knew it, you guys would end up fighting. The Inhumans never sounded easy to handle…"
Stark scoffed, "It was just that the head guy had a really loud voice, we sorted them all out in a jiffy."
"What about the data? Did you manage to retrieve it?"
"Only part of it, Jarvis is currently speculating possible locations. This part of history is too old, they don't have very complete records either, we can only deduce from some historical clues…"
They all returned to Earth, within the Avengers base, all members were gathered. Steve said, "This will be the first time the Avengers undertake a mission to another planet. Without a doubt, this will be a challenging task, and therefore, we are not forcing every member to participate..."
"I want to go!" Peter raised his hand saying, "Those people actually kidnapped Dr. Shiller, it's outrageous! I must go rescue him!"
Following that, Blue Spirit also stood up, saying, "From the data you guys showed me, the hive sounds a lot like cosmic parasites, if it's really them, we must go. Not only because they are our sworn enemies, but because they're not easy to deal with."
"Humans don't have the experience to deal with these types, we need to ensure your safety and provide strategic support. You guys have helped us a lot in the past, this time, it's our turn to help you."
The three mutants stood up. At this point, Matt shook his head saying, 'I and Erica will stay, we'll stand guard at the base. Our physical qualities are merely that of a regular human, we are not capable of surviving on space. Facing an unknown planet, we might cause you guys trouble if we go."
"And also, we have to defend against Hydra's assault on Earth, that's enough to keep us both occupied."
Steve nodded at them in agreement with their choices. After saying this, he turned to look at Stark, and Stark looked back at him: "Of course I'm going, where else would I be?"
At this point, an unexpected figure stood up, Eddie spoke in a low voice, "I'll go too."
"You? Or Venom?"
"We'll both go."
"You guys…" Steve was a bit hesitant, he didn't want to dampen their enthusiasm, but he was indeed having doubts.
Because Venom didn't come across as a good guy no matter how you looked at it. Simply put, he was very different from Captain America, they didn't communicate much normally and looked completely incompatible.
But at this point, Eddie spoke in his raspy voice: "All I know is, an unknown sense of duty is calling me, as if my nemesis is waiting for me to fight them…"
Stark let out a snort, he was always disinterested in these light and airy theories, but he still said, "Alright, at the very least you can try and pollute their star port."
But Peter was in favor of Venom's choice, he said: "I didn't misread you! I knew you would step up, Dr. Shiller is waiting for our rescue…"
Eddie shook his head, speaking in a chilling tone: "... No, once you hear the sound of that maniacal laughter, no one can escape the madness…"
"He will bring ceaseless fear for that city, and I, born from fear, I also have to save everyone from that fear…"