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***HR. Washington DC***

“I, Alexander Joseph Luthor do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Lex said to the officer in front of him as he stood in front of the capitol building.

Lex Luthor stood with a triumphant smile on his face as he placed his hand on a bible and was sworn into office. When he had learned that nearly all of the US government leadership had been killed he used his influence, and ability to jump into office. They had done a quick time campaign across the US. He was in a specific position to help those in need and apply his candidacy for being President. But if he was being honest he didn't have a lot of competition.

A lot of the people that may have wanted to step in were terrified that another invasion would happen. Rifts were opening up across the globe! Some were small and easily dealt with. While others were large and stayed open for weeks at a time. One specifically in New York had swallowed Agent Wraith for nearly two days! He was still inside the Rift, last anyone reported. While other Rifts across the globe were spitting out creatures, and intelligent life that despite all attempts to come to a peaceful solution all seemed bent on destruction.

Lex finished swearing in and shook the hands of the other leaders now under his command. His sister, and mother were present for his big moment. Lex gave them a big, genuine smile! He always said he should be a ruler of men. Now he was! His sister Lena would take over his company while he was away, rules. While his mother would continue to work on the off the books, and now legitimate projects of the US government.

Lex was then escorted to his new office in the White House. An actual step down in luxury, and security for Lex. Something he would have to change in the future. His first appointment of the day. Straight into work to fix a broken country. Having years of experience handling share holders, investors, and sycophants. Lex cut through the bull shit quickly. His office was broken! People refused to come to work in fear of being attacked even though the invasion was over. This was when Lex truly understood how far under they were as a country.

It wasn't until the very end of the day that Lex was free to find some respite in his new room in the White House. There he pulled up his personal laptop, and put in his ten digit pass code. He opened up a bottle of whiskey and sat down in front of his laptop with a glass in hand. He reached up and pressed play on a video file he obtained a few months ago. A video file he got from...himself.

“Hello Lex...” Said Lex Luthor from the alternate reality.

“We have a lot to go over, and a lot to say. But first let's go over something that I tried, and if you are anything like me. You'll want to try yourself. Superman? If your Superman is anything like mine before he was brain boxed. Then I'll tell you now you are wasting your time trying to prove to the world that he is a villain.” AR-Lex said in the video and started to show news reports, and videos of all of his mistakes as he tried to prove to his reality that Superman was a false idol.

“However, I have to say that despite what I did. I don't regret my actions simply because I get the chance to help you! In this message are the detailed designs to every weapon I ever made to fight Superman. Because if your reality is anything like mine. Superman is not the last of his kind. I don't mean Supergirl, I mean the others. The others truly are what we always feared. Use these tools to help defend Earth.” AR-Lex continued, sending up several more files that Lex had looked over a dozen times already.

“But each journey starts with the first step. Lex, you need to become the President of America. It will make things so much easier in the long run. Once you have sworn in, and taken office please press the accept button on the message and we'll continue from there.” AR-Lex said from the message. Lex reached up and pressed the accept key....For a brief moment nothing happened. Then a live video feed went through.

“Hello Lex.” AR-Lex said to his doppelganger.

“Hello Lex.” Lex said back, a smile on his face.

“Let's get to work.” AR-Lex continued....

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***Rift, Story/Cross Over***

Tropical Paradise! Lash Jormungandson spent three wonderful days with Natasha. Out in public they were simply friends, and co-workers. They had spoken about keeping their romantic, and or physical relationship a secret. Simply because it would complicate things in the long run. But every night! For most of the evening! They would enjoy each others company until the sun would rise. Lash used his Advanced Sex to the best of his abilities. But Natasha showed him a few new moves that was enough for him to obtain experience in the skill.

Now, they were standing on a tarmac waiting their turn as dozens of quin-jets came in from a nearby insight hellicarrier. Everyone was being sent off to missions across the globe. Oddly enough nothing of major concern happened for one straight week. Something that everyone was confused about but didn't want to jinx it. Even Director Hill took a single day off of work. Though she kept a holographic pad with her. She did at least get some sun before she left the next day.

A soft chime rang from Lash's pocket as he pulled out a Nova Corps communicator. He looked it over and activated the transmission. A direct message came from Nova Prime herself. They requested his attendance at Xandar for a mission. The first mission of their little partnership. Lash stepped away from his group of people and informed JARVIS of the change in plans. There was no tearful goodbyes, or passionate kissing from Natasha as he stepped away.

“Don't be a stranger.” Natasha said with a wink.

“Of course not Lady Romanoff!” Lash said with a bow from his waist.

“When your ready Heimdall!” Lash called to the sky, and a rainbow bridge crashed into the tarmac and sucked Lash up into the sky.

From Midgard, to Asgard, then down to Xandar. Xandar is the homeworld of the Xandarians and to many other species as the capital of the Nova Empire with a population of twelve billion. Xandar was located in the Andromeda Galaxy. Xandar appeared to be predominately covered by oceans. Additionally, Xandar's solar system contained three stars (two yellow and one red), which served as the inspiration for the Nova Corps' occulight symbol.

The capitol of Xandar was an artificially created atoll. The city itself was shaped into the Nova Corps symbol of Nova Empire red star. The Xandarian Empire was a lot like the Kree in the idea that several different species from different planets came together to form a galactic government. However, the Kree did this by force and brutalized anyone that said no. While the Xandar's were mostly benevolent in their intentions and tried to be a force for good in the Andromeda galaxy as a whole. Despite the competition, the Xandarian Empire controlled about 1/3 of Andromeda.

The rainbow bridge shot across the ocean of stars and crashed into a predetermined spot on the Xandar capitol. Then with a flash the bifrost faded from sight leaving behind Lash who stood in his Einherjar Asgardian uniform. He was in his default human appearance as he looked around. Standing in a burnt image of celtic knots. Standing there waiting for him were two uniformed officers of the Nova Corps. One Xandarian, and one Krylorian, their uniforms were a deep navy blue. With the typical inverted triangle energy points that make up the symbol of the Nova Corps.

“Asgardian, I am Rhomann Dey welcome to Xandar.” The Xandarian said with a polite smile. Rhomann was 5'10” with white skin, curly brown hair cut short to his head, and gray eyes. He had a rectangular figure with strict military officer training. He carried himself like a warrior, and leader.

“I am Nulene Neem, I'll be your liaison and will be here to help you understand our rules, and culture.” The Krylorian said, she was 5'8” with light pink skin, short black hair in a bob cut with purple metallic highlights in her hair, and purple eyes. She had a rectangular figure, and stood with one hand on her hip. A playful smile on her face.

“Respectful greetings unto you, Lord Dey, and Lady Neem. I am Lash Jormungandson, god of monsters.” Lash replied to them and bowed to each in turn. Rhomann looked a little perplexed at Lash's title but didn't say anything. Neem smiled at being called a Lady, and flipped her hair a bit.

“Please come this way, Nova-Prime has a mission for you.” Rhomman said, as he gestured for Lash to follow him. Nulene came to Lash side and took up his same pace.

Lash looked around the city and found it to be a delight on his eyes. A vast ocean of crystal light blue water stretched out as far as the I could see. While the beaches were filled with white sand. Creatures swam in the water, but kept from the beach thanks to a net. While children, and adults played on the beach. The city itself was very well designed. Smaller buildings along the outside, while taller buildings inside. Allowing for a gradual build up, and an obstructed view of the ocean beyond.

The architecture was full of geometric shapes. Pyramids, squares, and spheres. Though each building had several different alien cultures writing, and art carved into them in array of color, and individualization. Nature, and civilization came together almost naturally. Air traffic was kept to a minimal. Lash was taken to a private military air transport that looked like a rectangular metal box with soft edges. Rhomann took the driver position while Neem sat on a couch next to Lash.

Lash's Science Intuition activated as he looked over the transport and gained experience. Xandarian air transport design....30%.....60%....100%.....

Congratulations User, you have learned the Nova Empire air transport design.

Zero DP is required to record this design.

Lash sent his Virtual Intelligence tech-spirits out into the city to gather information. His world point background allowed him some information but not enough for his needs. The tech-spirits slipped past their firewalls with ease and started to look around. With Parallel Minds activated Lash started to look through the information as he continued to play the part of the alien stranger from another galaxy, dimension, and reality. Neem seemed pleased as he continued to look around. Clearly happy that the Asgardian was impressed with their home.

“How do you deal with the tectonic instability with your artificial landmass? Oh! I see you specifically built it away from the fault line. Then you use storm generators to collect the natural abundant energy from the different storms on the planet. Very efficient! Clean, renewable energy.” Lash said, as he went through several rhetorical questions.

“Have you considered using a storm anchor to steer, and or limit the different storms that roll over the capitol?” Lash asked Lady Neem who looked at him in confusion.

Lash was looking through the data base that was something they couldn't control. Once a year a massive storm would roll over the capitol. They had shield that protected the capitol from the worst of it. But every year a category 6 hurricane came rolling through. Lash had the Atlantean storm generator design. He could limit that storm down to category 4. He produced a holographic design and created a simple video. Neem leaned in looking at the video. She wasn't a scientist but the idea seemed sound.

“So this device would limit the storms level of strength? Does it require water to operate?” Neem pointed out a simple flaw. Yes, used a hard water energy generator. But that could easily be swapped out for something else.

“It does, but the power supply can be changed out. But with the design, and several of them in place you could turn a massive storm like you have on D-023. Take it down to a level 5 storm.” Lash said, as he applied the design to a planet in their empire that they were having trouble colonizing due to the atmospheric storm.

“That...That would be amazing!” Neem said as she looked over the design.

“Lady Neem what is the information network for Nova Empire R&D? I'll send it over.” Lash said to her, and even Rhomann looked back at him in confusion.

“You are going to just give it to us?” Rhomann asked.

“Of course! Asgard has no use for such a tool. But clearly you do. It will be a gift between two powers for mutual benefits.” Lash said to them both. Rhomann didn't say anything went back to piloting the transport. Neem pulled up her own communicator and with in a few minutes Lash sent the design over.

Attention User! You've obtained an increase in Nova Empire reputation.

“The Nova Empire is aware of the use, and manipulation of Universal Energy is not?” Lash asked Lady Neem who froze like a deer in headlights. Then she opened and closed her mouth several times trying to come up with an answer.

“I'm afraid Nova Empire is not aware of how to used UE.” Neem said at last almost deflating at the idea that her people didn't know how to use it.

“Well that! That is something I'll have to discuss with Nova-Prime. But I believe a trade agreement of knowledge can be shared.” Lash said to her with a smile.

----

After thirty or so minutes they arrived at Nova Corps main facility. It was a giant cube sitting on its side. It was anchored in place by a pyramid, the cube sat in the middle of the pyramid. It looked a little unbalanced from the outside. If it tilted one way or another it looked like it would fall over. However, Lady Neem assured Lash it was perfectly balanced. Along with emergency struts that would come up out of the ground should the need arise.

Rhomann escorted Lash into the main viewing, and briefing chamber shared by several officers and Nova-Prime. Nova-Prime herself was a Xandarian, a 5'9” pale skinned humanoid with silver white hair styled back into an assorted ringlets. She wore a navy blue uniform, but while Rhomann, and Neem wore combat gear. Nova-Prime wore a state official attire with her rank displayed on her chest right above her heart. She held with practiced confidence, and the gaze of a leader that controlled a vast portion of a galaxy.

“Welcome Asgardian, Lash Jormungandson, I am Nova Prime Irani Rael. Welcome to Xandar, I've heard that you've already donated a storm generator of sorts. As well as you are willing to discuss a trade deal of knowledge about UE. I have to say, that was not the original reason I called for your help. But I won't deny that we are interested.” Nova Prime said with a smile as she gestured for him to take a seat.

Lash bowed from his waist, and took the offered seat before he spoke. “The generator, and the basic use of UE is of little importance to Asgard. As you are more than aware with the different cultures, and species with in the Nova Empire. Things that are common to one, are rare to another. Giving such things can only benefit us both as a people.” Lash said in a crystal smooth voice, his Administration skill activated and granted him experience.

“However, I do not believe that was why you called me here today? As the agreement we made with to ensure that Terra and/or C-53 is on the patrol rout of the Nova Corps.” Lash said, as he tried to steer the conversation to why he was called. Irani looked pained to be speaking of the subject but waved her hand a holographic image appeared above the table they shared.

It showed a Kree, specifically Ronan the Accuser. Along with a long list of things he had done since the peace treaty between Nova Empire, and Kree Empire were signed. Recently one of his allies a woman named Gamora had been captured on Xandar and taken to the Kyln. Lash clenched his jaw as he tried to scream out in panic. But the 4th wall engine prevented him from screaming. Thanks to Erik, Lash/Saurian knew where they were in the timeline. But wait, that didn't explain why Nova Prime had called him.

“I need context to your request, Nova Prime.” Lash asked, as he looked towards her.

“When the Nova Corps first met you it was centuries ago. Before my time. You were a talented tracker, and hunter. Even across the vastness of space could you track a scent. We want you to help us track down Ronan. All you have to do is find him. We'll do our best to arrest him, and judge him according to our laws.” Irani said to him, and Lash understood what they needed.

“Can you give me approximately ten minutes, you don't need to leave.” Lash stood up from the table and went to a cleared space in the viewing hall much to the confusion of everyone present. Then he used his long lost friend Cosmic Awareness... 80% of his total energy was consumed in the effort.

A divine golden light swallowed Lash as he stood in the room. Spell script written in dozens of dead alien dialects coiled around him. Intricate designs, and will-o-wisps of energy danced through the room. Where is Ronan the Accuser? He asked the cosmos around him. Heading for Xandar Prime. He got in response. The light show burst into starlight around him and he dropped to his knees as his energy was stripped from him. He was given a head ache so severe that if felt like an ice pick was digging around in his brain.

“Ronan the Accuser is heading for Xandar Prime as we speak. He has in his possession an infinity stone, specifically Power. He will be here in a few hours.” Lash said to the room.... A pin drop silence followed his oracle.

“Activate the long range sensor nets immediately!” Irani said as she jumped to her feet. The entire room went into action. Neem came to Lash side to help him stand confusion clear on her face.

“What was that?” She asked him.

“I asked the Universe where Ronan was, I got a reply.” Lash said with a smirk as he slowly stood up to look at a real time holographic display of a satellite feed. A FTL jump point was seen. The Dark Astar a three mile wide Kree Accuser warship jumped into the edge of the system and quickly dispatched the satellite. Oddly enough no alarm went off.

“Ma'am! Early warning systems are down! We don't know why.” An officer shouted at Irani who paled at the sight of the Dark Astar.

“Call the entire Nova Corps! Evacuate the city!” Irani shouted, and she began to give orders left and right in quick succession.

“Rhomann, you have a message on your data pad.” Lash said to him, Rhomann looked over in confusion but pulled out his communicator. He read through it and raised an eye brow at the message.

Rhomann delivered the message from Peter Quill to Nova Prime. Apparently a faction of Ravagers were coming to aid Xandar in their time of need. They pulled up a satellite and saw a fleet of ships in bound in a direct path between the Dark Aster as it began to push towards the planet. Holy crap! They zipped through the entire system in a few minutes! It took a Martian ship several hours to travel from Mars to Earth back home.

“Lady Neem what kind of orbital defenses does Xandar have?” Lash asked her hoping for dozens of defense platforms. Land based cannons capable of shooting into the outer atmosphere?

“We...don't have any.” Neem said with a contrite expression. What? How could they not have any defenses!?

“You don't have any anti air? Of any kind?” Lash said to her in astonishment.

What is wrong with the fucking MCU! First Asgard has no fleets capable of FTL! Then none of the realms they guard have any form of orbital defense! Now a huge galactic wide empire doesn't have any defensive platforms on their capitol? That is just lazy world building right there! That or its done specifically to make the Rift more difficult. Now that Lash thought about it, that actually made perfect sense. The lack of defenses would make the challenge harder. Then as if to answer his questions.

Attention User! A dynamic event has activated near you.

Objective: Defeat Ronan the Accuser.

Optional Objective: Help prevent the loss of life on Xandar.

Optional Objective: Help prevent the loss of life of the Ravagers.

Optional Objective: Try and keep all of, Guardians of the Galaxy alive.

Comment: Good luck!

“Well let's build some defenses!” Lash shouted loudly and sprinted out of the viewing room with Neem hot on his heels. Irani glanced at him then went back to watching the holographic image update in real time.

Hundreds of Nova Corps fighter craft were taking off from the city. While thousands more were flying from across the planet from their military bases. All the while a fleet of Ravager ships were stalling the Dark Aster. The Ravagers were an interstellar crime syndicate comprising of thieves, smugglers, criminals, bandits, mercenaries, bounty hunters and pirates. There are nearly one hundred factions of Ravagers around the galaxy. So, essentially pirates had come to save the day! Yay!

Thankfully Lash was not officially in combat so he pulled up his Dream Store catalog and looked for defensive platforms capable of firing off planet. Shooting down a variety of space junk, attack craft, and capitol ships. Thanks to his unique qualifications as a magitek creator he was able to find one that was reasonably priced at 300 DP. He quickly purchased the design and began building in the courtyard outside the main building.

Lash used Manifestation and called his Elites to his side. Then they used Crafting, Science, Science Intuition, Magic Intuition, Enchanting, Bending, Reality Warping, (Which had returned to normal with out the Aether), Eldritch Blast, Phantasm, Silence, Fabrication, Infinite Supply, Connectivity, Alteration, Compression Transformation, Virtual Intelligence, Gravitas, Enchanting Word, and Quality Enhancement.

The defensive platform was placed on a triangle platform that was raised up about fifty or so feet into the air. While the whole structure was about 100 feet from point to point, and 100 feet tall. The triangle was level with the ground, while its points acted as the supports for the structure. The rotating turret looked like a smaller triangle with an elongated barrel for its tip. The platform linked up with the Nova Corps main defense net and pointed its barrel towards the sky. The entire structure was very sleek, with pointed edges, and had the look of pure silver with intricate spell design along the edges. It was made primarily out of Nth metal, and Uru for the barrel.

The platform started to absorb ambient magical energy in the air, as well as absorb natural energy from the sun. The platform created three false images of itself to fool sensors, and visual pin point. While a spell of Silence was cast to muffle the sound. The barrel elongated further as it adjusted to cast a magic shot. Lash, and his Elites were channeling magical energy into the cannon to hurry its process up. They had an audience of Nova officers, and soldiers were looked at the platform that had been built in under two minutes.

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High above in the clouds the Dark Aster was slowly making its way through the cloud line towards the city for landfall. The Ravagers were in a dog fight among the necrocraft of the Aster. While a team of Ravager ships were shooting through the backside of the Aster in an attempt to break into the ship and assassinate Ronan. While en route was a fleet of Nova Corps ships. The Dark Aster acted like a monster from many peoples nightmares. Nova Prime was clear that if the Aster should land, Ronan will use the power stone to eradicate all life on Xandar.

Then for a brief moment there was a brand new red star. This star was born on the very surface of Xandar as a ripple of energy ripped through the air straight towards the Aster. Every Nova Corps ship, and Ravager were told to immediately break away and get to cover! Get to cover now! The entire atmosphere shuddered in fear, as the clouds in the sky were pushed to the side. The vast amount of energy shot from the new red star went straight into the Aster and the entire ship was pushed! PUSHED back out of the atmosphere in a spin!

Every crew member aboard the ship was flung into the bulk heads of the ship including Ronan! The gravitational force from the spinning ship went from 1G to 5G's in under two seconds flat! The Dark Aster spun so fast, and was forced out of orbit so quickly that the entire ship broke in half! The main core of the ship struggled to right itself through emergency control systems. While the smaller half shattered into pieces that were scattered through out the system.

The Nova Corps, and the Ravagers were struck dumb by the scene. The Dark Aster eventually came to a stop just on the edge of the system. The ship itself was barely operating, and was on emergency life support. Only a few people were alive on the ship, the rest had been turned into paste at the extreme G's of the spin. While the damage on the planets surface was at a minimal. Every single piece of glass for a hundred miles in every direction had shattered! While the main kinetic force of the shot had been absorbed by the Vibranium metal and was currently being consumed to charge up another shot that wouldn't be needed!

================================================================

Down at the platform the 10 Saurus Elites had been blasted into their base magical particles for standing right next to the platform. Lash had been catapulted through the air and had made a looney tune imprint of his body straight into Nova Corps main interior wall, yes interior wall! He had been shot through dozens of exterior walls to get to where he was currently. Thankfully his Reality Armor, True Body, and Blessing of Bast had activated. It blocked a single life threatening hit.

Lash briefly saw a flashing UI message stating he had completed the dynamic event in record time! Then he blacked out! Lash woke up later and thanks to his Clock he knew that two days had passed. He was currently sitting in what looked like a Xandar hospital bed, and medical wing. He still wore his Einherjar armor given it was magically sealed and needed either himself, or an Asgardian to remove. He did a systems check and found his body was intact.

Congratulations User! You've completed the dynamic event in record time!

Completion time was 9 minutes, and 32 seconds!

Objective: Defeat Ronan the Accuser. [+] Complete!

Optional Objective: Help prevent the loss of life on Xandar. [+] Zero deaths, Complete!

Optional Objective: Help prevent the loss of life of the Ravagers. [+] Zero deaths, Complete!

Optional Objective: Try and keep all of, Guardians of the Galaxy alive. [+] Zero deaths, Complete!

Comments: YOU FUCKING MONSTER!

Attention User! Your defensive platform turned into energy particles to prevent Xandar from learning its design.

Attention User! The Dream Engine Developers have confiscated the defensive platform you designed. They have refunded your Dream Points, and paid you an additional 500 DP for the design.

Well damn... Lash turned his head to look at a familiar face, Lady Neem was looking through a holo pad and squeaked in surprise when he looked at her. “Your awake! I have to notify Nova Prime!” Neem said as she sent a message out. With in a few minutes his hospital room was filled with physicians. Slowly Lash sat up in his bed and answered any questions he could after he had a tall glass of water.

Lash was being escorted under heavy guard to see Nova Prime. They said it was for his security. But he was under the impression they were afraid he was going to build some planet destroying device. Blame the dream store! Yes, he did put the Dark Elf black hole energy core for its main battery power. Yes, it was suppose to create a singularity to consume the ship. Lash had no idea why it catapulted the Aster out into the solar system instead. Maybe he had the math wrong?

He was frustrated he lost his Elites. He had learned as long as they didn't out right die. They would accumulate experience like any of his other spells. He was hoping maybe they would become their own people over time. Now all their experience would be reset when he made more of them. Maybe he could promote some Veterans into Elites, and just make more Warriors? He'd have to experiment.

The rebuilding of the city was well underway. No one had died! Zero! Yes, every piece of glass in every direction shattered from the vibration. But that was a small price to pay for zero causalities! No one cheered for him. Most people just looked at him in horror! Well he was use to that on Asgard. They took a air transport to the main capitol building with over a dozen fighter craft escorting the transport.

“Really? Are you that afraid of me?” Lash asked Neem who flinched at his question, and suddenly became incredibly interested in her nails.

They flew over where the platform had been? There was a perfect sphere shaped hole where the platform had been. Thanks to his tech-spirits-->>

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