To battle Atom vs Gladiator!

The party had long ended and now the Starjammers, The X-Men, and Lilandra's forces began gathering themselves. Preparing themselves for an all-out war against D'Ken and his forces. The omega level mutant Vulcan and Gladiator as well. Nathan sat on his bed strapping up his gear in preparation for the fight.

Rachel had once again joined the man in his bed. The feeling of being with one another shielded them from their nightmares and provided the two with a sense of peace. However, in this particular moment Nathan seemed to be in deep thought. His body was so tense even Rachel could feel it.

She leaned over and placed her hand gently on the man's back to soothe him.

" You seem tense. Are you worried?"

Rachel asked the man as she rubbed his back.

" I'd be lying if I didn't say I had my doubts. We're about to go up against a lot of firepower. A lot of people are probably going to end up dying. But what's done is done. There's no other way to get Lilandra back on the throne. So, like it or not to battle we go."

Nathan explained to the woman as he finished strapping up his suit. He then got to his feet and began walking towards his closest and pulled out a bottle of alcohol.

" Want some before we head out?"

Nathan asked the woman as he held the bottle out for her to take.

" No, I need to be focused for my powers to work efficiently."

Rachel said to the man refusing the drink.

" Yeah, makes sense."

Nathan muttered out before popping the lid off and gulping down a large amount from the bottle.

" You know, Rachel. I've been doing this for a long time. All my life, literally. But no battle before has felt as heavy as this one does. Why is that?"

Nathan turned and asked the woman.

Rachel slowly got out of bed and walked over to the man. She then placed her hand gently on the man's face and started speaking.

" I don't have an answer for that. Maybe you feel like you can't do it. Maybe you aren't ready for something this big."

Rachel stated.

Nathan then moved his hand up to Rachels face and gently stroked it.

" Or maybe I just have more to lose now than ever before."

Nathan's words caused the woman to blush slightly.

Rachel moved both of her hands and covered the one Nathan had placed on her face.

" Maybe you're right."

Rachel replied as she stared into Nathan's eyes.

The two began drawing closer and closer to one another. So, close in fact that they could feel each other's breaths on their lips. But just before they could seal the deal Corsair came over the intercom. Calling for both of them to report to their stations.

" He certainly knows how to ruin a mood."

Nathan complained.

" We'll pick it up later. After we kick my uncle's ass."

Rachel said to the man.

Nathan smiled and nodded at the woman.

" Right! Let's go!"

Nathan exclaimed.

The duo walked out of their bedroom and made their way to the command deck of the Ship. Once there, Corsair began going over the details of the attack and who was responsible for what.

" Alright, remember this is our one and only chance to put an end to this war. So, no matter what happens out there stick to your roles."

Corsair explained one last time to the group before releasing them to their duties.

Corsair turned on the jump drive and the crew began running to their stations in preparations for battle.

Atom and Rachel watched as the stars soared past them, hand in hand, as they headed towards what they hoped wouldn't be their final destination.

Atoms grip on the woman's hand tightened as Corsair came over the intercom announcing their arrival.

" Get ready. We'll be coming out of the jump in 3. 2.1!"

Corsair counted down the time until the ships finally came out of their jump. The planet below them was filled with D'Kens forces.

" TO BATTLE!"

Corsair yelled

The crew of the Starjammers let out a resounding battle cry as they began firing at the imperial guard.

Atom released Rachels hand and flew out of the ship to meet the oncoming captain of the imperial guard Gladiator.

No words were said. None were needed in this fight. The two men had more than grown acquainted with each other over their years of battle against one another.

The two men flew towards one another fist pulled back ready to swing at the other. Finally, after seconds the two men punched at each other. The resulting explosion violently shook the planet below them as well as the ships fighting in the air.

" AGH!!! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"

Vulcan asked as he guarded his new wife, Deathbird, from the gust of the collision.

As he looked up, he spotted the two men fighting for dominance over the other as they tumbled around in the air. Eventually the two landed harshly on the planet below cratering the ground beneath them. The smoke cleared and it seemed like Atom had the upperhand over the guardsmen. He grabbed gladiator and slammed his fist into the man's chest knocking him across the planet violently.

Gladiator tumbled in the air as his body smashed through multiple rock formations before finally regaining his balance. The man grit his teeth and flew back towards his opponent. Gladiator slammed into Atom and launched them both from the field

" You know something Gladiator? I've come to realize something after all of our fights. We have so many ways we can hurt each other. You can shoot heat vision from your eyes. I emit nuclear energy that hits like a planet. All these different ways we can hurt each other and yet, whenever we come up against someone who shares our strength, all we do is punch each other in the face. Do you know why?"

Atom asked the man as they tumbled through the air.

" BECAUSE IT FEELS GOOD!"

Atom exclaimed as he punched Gladiator in the face knocking him back down to the planet's surface.

As Atom and Gladiator battled each other fiercely The Starjammers and Lilandra's forces battled the mighty D'Ken. Or so it was supposed to be.

As the forces fought D'Ken had managed to get his hands on his younger sister Lilandra, holding her in a deathly vice grip. The man treated his own family like trash.

" Sister, sister, sister... It's been far to long since I've seen your face in agony."

D'Ken sneered over his sister's pain.

" Vulture! Carrion prey!"

Lilandra spat at the man with venom

" Coming from your lips, even those words sound like emperor to me. My only dilemma. little sister, is... Do I kill you now, or let you witness my victory first?"

D'Ken asked the woman unaware that Vulcan, The man whose mother he had killed. The man he had ripped from his mothers womb as he violently raped her, approached him from behind. His eyes seething with rage as energy flowed from them. Vulcan raised his hand and blasted a hole through D'Kens body.

" Actually... That would be my victory, you mother-killing bastard!"

Vulcan yelled in rage.

As the blast tore through his body D'Ken let out a ghastly scream. D'Ken turned to the man in fright with tears in his eyes as he looked over his looming executioner.

" You think I would be your brother?! That I would serve beneath you?!"

Vulcan asked the man in anger.

D'Ken trembled in fear as Vulcan raised his hand once again. Vulcan let out a powerful blast of energy right into D'Kens face vaporizing the man on the spot.

" You think I could ever forget what you did to me?"

Vulcan asked the scorched marks of what used to be D'Ken.

The participants of the battle all looked on in shock and confusion over the man's actions. Unaware of what was to come next.

However, not everyone was rendered speechless. Deathbird, Vulcan's wife and the younger sister of the now deceased D'Ken flew up to the man in rage and disbelief.

" Vulcan... No! I trusted you."

Deathbird yelled at her husband.

Vulcan leaned down to the ashes and picked up D'Kens crown.

" And I heard your wishes, Cal'syee... And I respected them. You didn't want to rule. Now that we're married you won't have to."

Vulcan explained to the woman.

When D'Ken ripped him from his mother's womb he had unknowingly allowed Vulcan to be born in the royal throne room. As shi'ar laws dictate any child born inside the royal throne room is therefore allowed claim to the title of ruler of the Shi'ar. Vulcan married deathbird out of genuine love for the woman. But once he discovered he was technically Shi'ar royalty now. He changed his plans and moved forward with killing D'Ken.

" Because I claim D'Kens throne as my own! By right of blood and combat! By right of succession! I name myself emperor Vulcan, ruler of the shi'ar imperium! "

Vulcan proclaimed his rule over the Shi'ar. Deathbirds rage turned to pleasure as she looked at her magnificent husband.

However, Vulcans moment was ruined by two objects crashing near him.

The smoke cleared and revealed the bloodied Captain Atom and Gladiator still punching away at each other.

The battle had taken a massive change. But still it raged on, nevertheless.

Vulcan sneered at the battlefield as he moved to join it.

" Death to those that oppose the empire!"

Vulcan declared as he and deathbird moved to join the fight.

As Atom and Gladiator battled Vulcan moved to execute Lilandra.

" My first act as Emperor is to secure my throne from threat..."

Vulcan declared as he stood over Lilandra.

" No... You can't... You're mad.."

Lilandra coughed out.

" Haven't you learned by now Lilandra, that your people prefer a mad emperor?"

Vulcan asked as he raised his hand to kill the woman.

Vulcan readied himself to kill the grieving woman, but before he could Corsair jumped at the man and swiped at him with his sword.

" Take your hands off her!"

Corsair yelled as he cut Vulcans hand.

Vulcan reeled back from the pain but was relatively fine.

" Leave her alone and listen to me you little fool! Listen to your father!"

Corsair ordered his son.

" Father? You mean you, Corsair? No. You're just the man who was too weak to save me or my mother."

Vulcan said to the man.

" I have no father!"

Vulcan declared as he blasted Corsair in his face.

" YAAAAAAH!"

Corsair yelled in agony before dying from Vulcans attack.

" DAD! NOOOOOO!"

Alex yelled as he ran towards his father.

" Christopher..."

Ch'od whispered the name of his old friend.

" No..."

Hepzibah cried as the man she had shared a special romance with was killed.

However, the tragedy didn't stop there. On the other side of the battlefield another one of the Jammers was distracted by the sudden death of the captain of the Starjammers.

" FATHER!!!!!!!"

Nathan yelled out as he turned to see his fathers body.

The brief moment of distraction allowed Gladiator to take advantage of his defenses being dropped.

Gladiator reeled back and with all of his power drove his fist through Nathan's chest punching a hole through it.

Nathan spit up blood as his body started falling towards the planets surface.

" This was not how I wanted our fight to end Atom. Forgive me for that. But I have a duty to do. And I cannot allow my personal feelings to get in the way of them."

Gladiator said as he watched his old nemesis and only rival fall to his death

The Starjammers and X-Men turned in terror as another one of their closest friends fell to what appeared to be his death.

Rachel's face flooded with tears as she rushed to catch the man's body, but before she could Gladiator appeared in front of her and smacked her back towards the others.

" LITTLE NATHAN!"

Hepzibah yelled out as tears fell from her eyes.

Hepzibah charged towards the ship to gather weapons cursing in her native language as she killed anyone who got in her way.

" You bastard! You freaking bastard!"

Alex cursed at his brother as he attacked him.

" DIE! Die, you sick..."

Alex was yelling as he attacked Vulcan.

Vulcan merely scoffed at the man and raised his hands stopping Alex's attack with ease.

While those two battled Gladiator returned to deathbirds side bloody and beaten.

" My lady what are your orders? Is this Vulcan truly..."

Gladiator was asking the woman.

" Your emperor? Yes, Gladiator he is. And you and the Imperial guard better protect him."

Deathbird explained to the man.

" RAAAAAH!"

Korvus yelled as he attacked Gladiator and Deathbird catching them off guard with the remains of the phoenix blade.

" Now, die like your brother, witch!"

Korvus yelled to deathbird as he blasted the woman.

Vulcan turned and roared in anger at his wife's injury.

" DEATHBIRD! I'm going to roast your flesh!"

Vulcan declared as he attacked Korvus

" Not this time jerk!"

Rachel declared as she averted Vulcan's attack.

" You'll pay in blood for what you've done."

Rachel declared.

While Vulcan was distracted with Rachel Alex approached Lorna.

" Lorna, now, while he's focused on Rachel... His armor. You can take him down."

Alex explained to the woman.

Lorna's hands started glowing.

" I intend to... Assuming he has a heart to crush!"

Lorna declared as she used her magnetic powers on Vulcans armor.

She slowly started crushing the man within his own armor

" AHHHHHGH!"

Vulcan yelled in agony as his body was being crushed by the armor around him.

" Remember me? I helped send you into space the first time."

Lorna declared to teh man.

Alex got to his feet and ran over to his falling brother and started punching him in his face.

" Maybe I can't touch you with my powers. But that doesn't mean I can't hurt you!"

Alex declared as he started pummeling his brother.

" Keep on him, Lorna... He's hurting."

Alex declared as he and Lorna continued attacking the man.

" LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Vulcan yelled as he blasted at the two.

Alex quickly jumped in the way of the blast saving Lorna from death.

" ALEX!"

Lorna yelled in terror as the man dropped in her arms.

" Oh, God Alex..."

Lorna cried as she held the man.

" I'm okay... Absorbed most of it... Don't worry about me..."

Alex declared.

While they were distracted Deathbird recovered herself and rushed to help her husband.

" WITCH!"

Deathbird yelled in anger as she clawed at Lorna's face.

She knocked the woman away from Vulcan and ran to his side.

" Come, my emperor... We must go."

Deathbird exclaimed as she held Vulcan in her arms.

" No... Can still... Fight... Kill them all... Kill..."

Vulcan was barely able to speak as he struggled to breath.

" Your ribs are crushing your lungs... You'll die... Let's live to fight another day."

Deathbird explained to her husband softly.

She picked the man up and turned to her guard.

" Imperial Guard withdraw! We leave this place!"

Deathbird exclaimed.

As she took flight however, a beam of energy pierced through her stomach making her falter in her flight.

" Empress!"

Gladiator yelled out.

He then turned to see where the attack came from and to his and everyone else's shock and surprise Atom had returned to the battlefield bleeding from his chest and barely standing as he aimed his hand at the fleeing duo.

" You'll burn for that."

Atom declared as he eyed Vulcan and Deathbird angrily. The only thing keeping him standing is his unbridled rage.

" Imperial Guard! To your Empresses side!"

Gladiator yelled too the guard.

He quickly raced towards Vulcan and Deathbird and grabbed them.

Atom tried to pursue but was too injured to chase after them.

Atom took one last glance at his father's body before passing out once again from the pain.

" NATHAN!"

Rachel yelled the man's name in terror as she caught his falling body. Her tears flowing once again stained the man's face.

The battle had ended but the cost was high.

Lilandra had managed get Hepzibah along with Nightcrawler, Warpath, Darwin, and Charles back to earth. Nathan was severely injured. And Corsair was dead. The Starjammers had lost both of their captains in a single battle and the remaining X-Men were trapped in space. Though sever the battle was not without gain. Vulcan and Deathbird had both been critically injured in the fight. And D'Ken had been killed.

Rachel continued to cradle the man's body until Ch'od had come to her side.

" Let me take him."

Ch'od said to the woman as he leaned down to her side.

" Christopher is gone. But Nathan may still live. I need to get him on board the ship as fast as possible."

Ch'od explained to the devastated woman.

Rachel looked up at the man with hope filling her eyes once again and nodded. She placed a kiss on Nathan's lips and watched as Ch'od carried his body to the ship in a hurry.