Across the Cosmos in a Single Step

Before leaving, however, there was one more thing to do.

Apocalypse arrived in Missouri. Director Fury and Agent Hill had received word and were already waiting there.

Daisy, Scarlet Witch Wanda, Quicksilver, White Ghost Ava, and the others had come along as well.

Fury did not actually need them there. They had simply heard that he would be meeting Apocalypse here and tagged along aboard the Helicarrier.

Apocalypse was always on the move and rarely spent much time at S.H.I.E.L.D., making even a brief meeting with him difficult.

The group arrived in a forest on the outskirts of a small town.

The trees were relatively sparse, with winding trails branching off in every direction. It was a fine place to unwind outdoors or go for a run.

However, the area had already been sealed off.

A cordon surrounded it, and armed personnel patrolled day and night.

During his last battle against Zola, the God of the Internet, Apocalypse had extended his consciousness across the globe and discovered this plant. S.H.I.E.L.D. had found the site using the coordinates he provided.

The group gathered around the plant and examined it closely.

It was only a dozen or so centimeters tall, with blue root tendrils on the outside, a red mesh in the middle, and a blue core within that gave off a faint blue glow.

Quicksilver asked, "Idol, what's this thing called?"

Apocalypse shook his head. "It doesn't have a name. If we had to give it one, something like the Ego Fruit or the Ego Root System would fit. It's an avatar of a Celestial."

"An avatar? Doesn't that mean he can hear what we're saying?"

"He probably can't yet."

Fury said gravely, "Tang, you said it could swallow the entire town in a few seconds? At that rate, wouldn't the