46(2): Marvel's Green Lantern, To Catch a Phoenix Pt.1

“Why are we here again?” Firehair muttered as she stared at the stars around her.

After leaving Asgard, she’d thought they were going to find what Agamotto needed to complete his barrier. But instead, they were nowhere near that place.

She and Max were on one of his constructs, a platform of solid green energy hovering over a dead, rocky moon orbiting a blue gas giant. The gas giant filled most of her view, its swirling azure storms beautiful and hypnotic. Beyond it, a red sun cast everything in a warm crimson glow.

It is very beautiful, Firehair thought as she looked around.

Never in her life had she thought she would witness things like this. Only a few years ago, she believed the entire world consisted of the forest she lived in, the trees, her wolves, the sky above. Now she was so far from the world she knew, in a universe so vast it made her dizzy to contemplate.

She looked to Max, who was floating in a lotus position, concentrating on an emerald orb in front of him. His eyes were closed, his expression calm and focused.

He had told her they needed to wait some time for “them” to show up.

Who “them” were, she did not know. But considering how excited Max was, she expected she would like it as well. He had that childlike enthusiasm he got when discovering something wonderful, the same look he’d had when showing her the aurora on that ice world, or the bioluminescent oceans on that water planet.

Before the Phoenix, she had lost everything. She had nothing, no tribe, no family. She had set out to find others like her, those who would help protect the world. She expected it to take years, perhaps decades. But meeting Max while hunting that vampire as he called it—and then him gathering up the world’s mightiest heroes, just like she wanted, in merely a day was something she did not expect.

She had found a new family in this new tribe of hers, the Avengers. And Max, the first one she met, was the one she had become closest to.

They were kindred spirits, drawn together by their passion for exploration and their appreciation for beauty in all its forms, finding joy in life’s simple wonders. They would spend hours exploring old ruins and meeting people from all around the world, observing how different cultures celebrated their way of life, how life persisted and thrived in even the harshest places. He taught her about the stars about worlds beyond counting. She taught him how to hunt.

Yes, she was close with everyone in the Avengers, even Odin, whose attempts to woo her were sweet. But she liked Max more. With Max, there was an ease. An understanding. A shared wonder at existence itself.

It is annoying how much this man affects you, the Phoenix spoke in her mind.

Firehair was about to argue when the cosmic being continued: If you wish to mate with him, then do it.

“I do not—” Firehair started to whisper aloud, then caught herself.

We are one, my host. I feel what you feel. Your urges are inefficient and distracting. It is not as though he does not wish it as well. I have observed how he is when you are near the way his eyes track your movements, the increase in certain—

“Please stop,” Firehair said quietly, feeling heat rise to her cheeks.

Both of you are too craven to act on your desires, the Phoenix observed with something like exasperation. You circle each other like prey animals afraid of their own shadows. It is tedious to witness.

“Stop,” Firehair repeated, more firmly.

I have witnessed courtship rituals across a billion species, over billions of years. Yours is particularly inefficient. Perhaps I should simply take control and—

You will do no such thing! Firehair thought, panic flaring.

Fine, the Phoenix said, sounding almost amused. Then her tone shifted. At least he is finally going to act on it.

Firehair’s eyes widened. “He is?”

Of course he is. This journey has been as much about courting you as retrieving artifacts and stealing swords.

Firehair felt her heartbeat quicken.

Though you must be the one to make the decisive move, the Phoenix continued. To establish dominance in this courtship. I will not tolerate you being submissive in—

Firehair tuned out the Phoenix’s ramblings as Max opened his eyes, took the emerald orb into his hand, and broke into a wide, unguarded smile.

“And there it is,” Max said, staring at the emerald orb with satisfaction.

“What is it?” Firehair asked, moving closer.

“I managed to mimic Uru,” Max said, his voice filled with triumph.

Firehair’s eyes widened. “Uru? The same metal Mjolnir is made from?”

Max nodded enthusiastically. “This is why I needed the knowledge from Mimir’s head.”

Just then, Jade spoke through the ring: “May I begin processing the rest of the data now?”

“Yes, do it,” Max said. “Look for how enchantments work at the fundamental level, and also what we took to help Agamotto with his barrier project.”

“Acknowledged,” Jade replied. Then: “The Acanti are near.”

Max’s smile widened, and he looked at Firehair with barely contained excitement. “Come on!”

“What are the Acanti?” Firehair asked, curious about what had Max so animated.

“Trust me, you have to see them,” Max said, already flying off.

Firehair followed, the power of the Phoenix flaring around her, eager to see what could make Max this enthusiastic.

They swept around the curve of the moon, and then—

Firehair gasped.

On the far side, hundreds of red, fish-like creatures floated in space. They were enormous each the size of a mountain with graceful, flowing forms that moved through the void as if swimming through water. Their bodies glowed softly with bioluminescence, and they made gentle, melodic sounds that resonated not through air; there was no air in the void but directly in her mind.

“What are these?” Firehair breathed, eyes wide with wonder.

“They are the Acanti,” Max replied. “An ancient species some even billions of years old around as long as life has existed in the universe. They roam the cosmos in search of knowledge, singing to the stars. A race with pure souls that harms no one.”

“They are amazing,” Firehair said.

Yes, they are, the Phoenix spoke, her voice unusually soft. I have seen many in my time. They are among the few beings I have never felt the need to test or burn. They simply… exist, in harmony with all things.

They flew among them, and to Firehair’s delight, the Acanti seemed to recognize Max. Several of the massive creatures turned toward him, their songs shifting in pitch almost like a greeting.

“They seem to know you,” Firehair said, smiling.

“They do,” Max confirmed, reaching out to touch the flank of one that came close. “Odin and I defeated poachers who dared to hunt them. The Acanti remember that.”

Firehair’s eyes narrowed, anger flashing. “Poachers? Why? Why would anyone hurt them?”

“Their parts are very expensive,” Max said, his voice going hard. “Their bones can be used for starship hulls, their organs for certain medicines. Even though hunting them is prohibited in most parts of the universe, there are always those who—”

I remember destroying some worlds that hunted the Acanti, the Phoenix interrupted with satisfaction.

That is the only time I agree with you on wanton destruction, Firehair replied to the Phoenix in her mind.

She and Max watched as the Acanti began to move together all of them, in synchronized formation heading toward the red sun.

“What are they doing?” Firehair asked.

“I don’t know,” Max said. Then he paused, his eyes widening. He gasped. “I think… I think one of them is going to die.”

“What? We must—” Firehair started.

“No, no,” Max said quickly, placing a hand on her arm. “It’s at the end of its life. This is natural.” His voice filled with awe. “I’ve read about this, but I never thought I’d see it. When they’re at the end of their life, they hurl themselves into the core of a star, releasing their soul back into the universe.”

He looked at her, his eyes bright. “We’re lucky to witness it.”

They watched as the Acanti gathered around the red star, circling it in a slow, stately dance. One a single Acanti that looked older, its glow dimmer slowly made its way toward the star while the others sang.

The song was beautiful and heartbreaking: a farewell, a celebration, a promise that they would remember.

Then, in a silent explosion of light, the Acanti hurled itself into the star’s core.

The light flared brilliantly. Waves of energy rippled outward, gentle and warm. Before their eyes, the star’s color began to change. The deep red shifted, brightened, transformed, becoming the yellow of Earth’s sun.

“Wow,” Max breathed.

“Yes,” Firehair echoed, tears in her eyes though she couldn’t explain why.

She turned to Max after watching for some time. “Thank you for showing me this.”

“Well, I wanted you to see the Acanti,” Max said with a small smile. “But this was a nice bonus, I guess.”

Firehair laughed—a joyful sound—as she flew closer to him, landing on the construct platform where he was standing.

Max looked at her. “Do you want to leave now?”

“I want to stay for some time,” Firehair said softly, meeting his eyes before turning back to the transforming star and the other Acanti now flying around it in celebration of their companion’s gift.

She found herself looking forward to what Max had planned for their final destination, hoping the Phoenix was right.

Finally, the Phoenix said in her mind, sounding almost relieved. Progress.

Firehair ignored her, simply standing beside Max, watching the spectacle unfold.