Galactus' P.O.V.
The female has come out as I called. Yet she has showed no fear. After her speech she asked me a question. Should she as the mother bow down to the will of her son's future herald? If everything she says is true. Then I am asking my future masters mother to bow down to me. That could be catastrophic. If my future master finds out that I once forced his mother to bow to my will it will not be pretty. What should I do? The Watcher warned me and I disregard his advice. Now another warns me. I must think about this carefully. While I think to myself she just stands there waiting. While I am considering my future path my Herald appears with a mortal on his board.
"What is the meaning of this my Herald?" I question.
"Master I could not stand by while you did something you should not do. I told the inhabitants of this planet about the Ultimate Nullifier, and they have retrieved it." My Herald bows his head. I look towards the other on his board. He wears the Ultimate Nullifier on his head.
"So what if they have retrieved the Ultimate Nullifier. Few can actually use it." I stated.
"Sadly for you I am one of those few." The being on my Herald's board states. He then points to a pile of near by rubble and it disappears. It is a show of might. He CAN use the Ultimate Nullifier. Now my position is even worse. First the Watcher warned me offering to help me and I refused. Then I run across the mother of the prophesied Celestial of the End. The one who will become my future master. I asked her to bend to my will and leave. Now one shows up with the Ultimate Nullifier. A piece of regalia that can remove anything from existence including myself. To make it worse, the one who showed up can actually use the Ultimate Nullifier. All these inconsistencies on one tiny planet. I am beginning to think I have been influenced by a higher being. I should have listened to the Watcher. Then I run into my future master's mother and try to force her to bend to my wil. Lastly my most trustworthy herald has been trying to stop me for my own good he says.
"Speak mortal. What is it you want from me?" I ask.
"It is simple. I want you to leave this planet and swear an oath to never return with any form of malice to this planet." He states.
"And if I do this what is in it for me?" I ask.
"I shall return the Ultimate Nullifier into your keeping." The mortal male states.
"Then so be it. I Galactus the World Devourer do swear a cosmic oath to leave this world intact and never return any form of malice upon this world as long as the Ultimate Nullifier is returned to me." I swear.
It is actually a good thing for me. Now no other being can attempt to trick or force me into a conflict with my future master's mother. As I stand here after swearing my oath I see the Watcher appear.
"I, Uatu the Watcher, have observed the cosmic oath of the one known as Galactus the World Devourer. In accordance with the rules of the Living Tribunal any party found breaking this oath shall be judged by the Tribunal. Anyone found attempting to force either party into breaking their oath shall be hunted and removed with judgment as is stated in the Akashic Records. Now mortal return the Ultimate Nullifier to Galactus and the oath shall be considered complete." The Watcher states aloud.
"Very well, here Lord Galactus the World Devourer. I return to you the Ultimate Nullifier." I watch as the mortal removes the regalia and extends his hands to hold forth the Ultimate Nullifier. I reach out and take it. When I do I feel something snap and something else sink in. I was right there was another cosmic being influencing my actions. I must leave this world at once. Higher beings than I have their eyes on this world. But first there is the betrayal of my Herald.
"Norrin Radd the one known as the Silver Surfer. I here by punish you with imprisonment upon this world never to leave until I or my future master release you from this binding. I leave you your life and powers because of your former devotion. Now I must leave for the hunger grows within me. Goodbye and farewell." I say as I return to my ship taking all of my parts with me. I then smile to myself, leaving my Herald behind may help my future master and save me some future trouble.
Susan's P.O.V.
It happened just like he said it would. Reed and the Silver Surfer showing up as long as I held on. The way the negotiations would end up. Even the fact that instead of killing or stripping him of his powers the Silver Surfer he would imprison him here on Earth. The fact that he knew the Silver Surfer would be imprisoned here on Earth. It is the key fact, a fact that nobody should have known would happen beforehand. It proves beyond a shadow of a doubt EVERYTHING Marcus told me has been the truth. I will still confront Reed, but I have my answer in my heart. I will stay with Marcus, but first the Silver Surfer needs condolences and assurance.
"Norrin!" I call out.
"Yes, Miss Susan Storm?" He replies and I can see the lost part of his soul within him. It hurts my heart because IF I told him he might not have helped us and we would have failed.
"Norrin my dear friend you do not need to be formal with us. We are your friends, and I am so sorry. You are being punished. When you fought for your master's own safety, and still your master imprisoned you. It is wrong my dear friend. You can stay with us. I promise you as you live on our planet I will help you find someone whom you will fall for. It may take years, but you will find that person." I express my heart towards the Silver Surfer. I haven't known him long but his noble heart deserves happiness.
Ben's P.O.V.
We did it Galactus was sent packing, but at a cost none of us expected. My savior and good friend has been punished. The Silver Surfer is being imprisoned here on Earth. He only wanted what was best for his master Galactus, and yet that very master has imprisoned him here. He seems to be shook up. I will talk to him when he descends, not about my cure but about matters of the heart and friendship.
As I look up at him and Reed I notice Susan's face. She seems to be distraught. I observe her running on thin air towards Reed and the Silver Surfer. She is saying something to him that only he and Reed can hear. I am not sure what it is, but the Silver Surfer's body language seems more relaxed.
"Hey, you three just gonna stand there floating in mid-air ignoring me or ya gonna come down here so I can hug y'all and celebrate our survival?" I shout at the top of my lungs. Yep that got their attention.
Reed Richards' P.O.V.
We did it. We stopped the Earth's destruction. We saved our planet, but at what cost. A noble being with a noble heart is being imprisoned on our account. He didn't have to help us. He could have fought against us. Instead he helped save us. Why? Because his heart said it was the right thing to do for everyone. Not just for us humans. Not just for himself. He did it even for his master, and yet the Silver Surfer, a former Herald of Galactus, has suffered imprisonment on our planet. He did what he felt was best, and now he is suffering imprisonment for it. Susan is running towards us on thin air. She must've had a break through in the usage of her powers.
"Norrin!" I hear her call out as she rushes towards us.
"Yes, Miss Susan Storm?" I hear the Silver Surfer's response and something inside me breaks. It is a voice of confusion and being lost. Even with my vaunted intellect I am at a loss for what to say. I am wondering what to say when Susan arrives and starts talking to him.
"Norrin my dear friend you do not need to be formal with us. We are your friends, and I am so sorry. You are being punished. When you fought for your master's own safety, and still your master imprisoned you. It is wrong my dear friend. You can stay with us. I promise you as long as you live on our planet I will help you find someone you will fall for. It may take years, but you will find the person." She pours her heart out towards him. I can here the care in her voice. Just like always, she cares about everyone, and this time she is totally right.
"Susan is right." I stated as I reach out and put a hand on the Silver Surfer's shoulder. "Stay with us. You have shown us your heart, and we will show it to the world. Not as the Silver Surfer but as the man Norrin Radd. Our whole planet owes you for it's survival. Let us show you how much we can accept you. I will not say everyone will, but I can say that many of our population will commend you and care." I stated with all my heart. As I communicate with him I hear from below us,
"Hey, you three just gonna stand there floating in mid-air and ignoring me or ya gonna come down here so I can hug you all and celebrate our survival?" I know that voice. We all look down and there he is my good friend Benjamin Grimm. It brings a smile to my face. No matter how crazy things get Ben will still be Ben. At that thought I laugh out loud and motion for us to descend.
"We really should go down and celebrate, and Norrin, please give us a chance to show you are love and care. Plus, there are 3 other people waiting for the good news." I say with a smile on my face.
Norrin Radd the Silver Surfer's P.O.V.
We have stopped my master, or should I say my former master. I followed my heart. I did it not just for myself, not just for this planet full of life, but also for my master. I didn't want my master to be the one who killed all these beings. I sensed many things on this planet. Hidden powers that would step forward to stop my master if he continued to push for this world's destruction. Powers that could have been a threat to my master. I wanted to speak with him and let him know why I did what I did. Unfortunately, he left and I cannot follow him to talk with him. He imprisoned me without even giving me a chance to defend myself or even to explain what I found. I become lost in my thoughts when I hear my name being called. I look up and see it us the one known as Susan Storm.
"Yes, Miss Susan Storm?" I ask.
"Norin my dear friend you do not need to be formal with us. We are your friends, and I am so sorry. You are being punished. When you fought for your master's own safety, and still you master imprisoned you. It is wrong my dear friend. You can stay with us. I promise you as long as you live on our planet I will help find someone whom you will fall for. It may take years, but you will find the person." She expresses her heart to me.
My cosmic senses tell me she is being truthful. As I listen to her words the vision of a young blind lady who I talked to pops into my head. She cared and saw the real me. Her name was Alicia Master's if I remember correctly. She was the first one who awoke my feelings. She could be the one Susan is talking about. As the memory about Alicia soothes my soul. I feel a hand on my shoulder. Then I hear Reed Richards say to me, "Stay with us. You have shown us your heart, and we will show it to the world. Not as the Silver Surfer but as the man Norrin Radd. Our whole planet owes you for it's survival. Let us show you how much we can accept you. I will not say everyone will, but I can say that many of our population will commend you and care." I can tell he is being honest and true. These people are my friends, and as the name they go by states, they are fantastic.
His words bring a smile to my face when I hear, "Hey, you three just gonna stand there floating in mid-air or ya gonna come down here so I can hug y'all and celebrate our survival?" I look down and it is my other friend. The one I have sworn to cure, Benjamin Grimm. I hear Reed Richards say,
"We really should go down and celebrate, and Norrin, please give us a chance to show you our love and care. Plus, there are 3 other people waiting for the good news." He tells me this with a smile on his face. His words bring to mind two females and a young male who shows immense courage at times.
"Yes, you are right. We should gather our friends and celebrate our survival." I say. Inside I am both happy and sad. Sad that my master left me and punished me without listening to my reasons. Happy that my new found friends are sad for me and want to cheer me up. I descend down to the ground towards Benjamin Grimm.
Ben's P.O.V.
They are coming down towards me. Reed seems happy but worried when he looks at Norrin. Suzy seems to be happy but saddened when she looks at Norrin. I am not sure what is going on or what they said up there. I just know that my friend Norrin Radd the Silver Surfer needs cheering up. He was done wrong and after I talked to him back at that brat Marcus' house. I learned why he did what he did. There are other powerful beings on our planet. Beings that he felt would be a threat to his master if his master attempted to consume Earth. He did the right thing and yet is being punished, without even being allowed to explain, why he did what he did.
When they finally set down I rush over and give the Silver Surfer a big hug. "Norrin my friend and pal. I am sorry your master didn't give you a chance to explain yourself. You told me why you helped us and it saddens me that Galactus imprisoned you without hearing your reasons for helping stop him. I am always here for you. Not because you can cure me, but because you are my friend and I would do almost anything for my friends." I stated while giving the Silver Surfer a hug. While I hug him I hear from above, "Hey everybody, did we win?" I know that annoying voice. As I look up I see Johnny flying down towards us.
"Johnny!" Susan calls out with a bright smile on her face.
"Matchstick, get your butt over here." I motion for Johnny to join us. He quickly descends and joins us.
"So what happened? I was flying here when the shadow above and the machine vanished." He says with a confused look.
"We stopped Galactus, but at a severe cost." Susan replies.
"Yes, it was at a severe cost." Reed states. As I think about what happened I have to agree with both of them. "Yeah we won, Johnny, but there was a severe cost for our winning." I say with sorrow in my voice.
"What happened? What cost? Everyone seems find, so tell me what is going on." Johnny says with both worry and confusion. It is Reed who steps up to explain.
"We stopped Galactus, but because the Silver Surfer here helped us he was punished with imprisonment on Earth. He can never return to his own planet and family ever again. Galactus punished him without even giving him a chance to say why he helped us." Reed explains then he states, "That reminds me. Norrin exactly why did you help us?"
"I can tell you why he helped us Stretch." I stated. "He helped us for 3 reasons. The first reason, is because he saw the spark in humanity and it awoke his inner feelings. The second reason, is because he saw something special in us humans. The third and final reason, is that when he explored our planet he sensed other powerful beings on our planet. Beings that could threaten and cause harm to his master Galactus. Those very same beings he felt would step in if Galactus continued in his pursuit of devouring our planet. He didn't want any harm to come to his master. So helping us was 3 birds with one stone. He would save his friends, he could follow his heart, and lastly but not leastly he could save his master. Those were his reasons for helping us. I had a talk with him back at the place where we met Uatu. I asked him the very same question you just did, and those words I just spoke came directly from his mouth. Have I not told the truth my friend?" I stated while looking into the face of the Silver Surfer.
"Yes, my friend Ben, you tell the truth." He replies with what lookslike tears forming. I can see Susan cover her mouth as tears fall from her eyes. I see Reed with an expression of what looks to be distaste. I look to Johnny and he looks embarrassed. Then there is me, my heart aches for my friend who is being punished for doing the right thing.
"Okay everyone group hug!" I stated and motion both Susan and Johnny to join me. We all surround the Silver Surfer, our dear friend, then we all hug him tightly.
Norrin Radd the Silver Surfer's P.O.V.
We have reunited with Ben and the first thing he does is wrap his arms around me. It is both gentle, yet powerful I can feel the emotions from him. He is sad for me, and it warms my heart further.
"Norrin my friend and pal. I am sorry your master didn't give you a chance to explain yourself. You told me why you helped us and it saddens me that Galactus imprisoned you without hearing your reasons for helping stop him. I am always here for you. Not because you can cure me, but because you are my friend and I would do almost anything for my friends." I hear him say while he hugs me. As he releases me I hear a voice call out, "Hey everybody, did we win?" We look up and it is the one called Johnny Storm. He has arrived to where we are. The others call out for him to join us. As he does he states,
"So what happened? I was flying here when the shadow above and the machine vanished."
"We stopped Galactus, but at a severe cost." Susan says.
" Yes, it was at a severe cost." From Reed.
"Yeah we won, Johnny, but there was a severe cost for our winning." This from Ben.
"What happened? What cost? Everyone seems find, so tell me what is going on." Johnny states in confusion.
"We stopped Galactus, but because the Silver Surfer here helped us he was punished with imprisonment on Earth. He can never return to his own planet and family ever again. Galactus punished him without even giving him a chance to say why he helped us." Reed says. Then he asks my why I actually helped them. They are my friends and I want to be honest with them, but before I can explain I hear Ben's voice.
"He helped us for 3 reasons. The first reason, is because he saw the spark in humanity and it awoke his inner feelings. The second reason, is because he saw something special in us humans. The third and final reason, is that when he explored our planet he sensed other powerful beings on our planet. Beings that could threaten and cause harm to his master Galactus. Those very same beings he felt would step in if Galactus continued in his pursuit of devouring our planet. He didn't want any harm to come to his master. So helping us was 3 birds with one stone. He would save his friends, he could follow his heart, and lastly but not leastly he could save his master. Those were his reasons for helping us. I had a talk with him back at the place where we met Uatu. I asked him the very same question you just did, and those words I just spoke came directly from his mouth. Have I not told the truth my friend?" He finishes with a question for me. His recap makes my heart stir. I can feel fluid building up at my eyes.
"Yes, my friend Ben, you tell the truth." I reply to his question. I can see all of their expressions. Susan is stunned and saddened for me. Reed has a look of is it disgusting or distaste I am not sure. Johnny has a look of surprise and embarrassment. Lastly Ben, he looks hurt not for himself but for me. There is sorrow and understanding with acceptance all rolled into one look in his eyes and on his face.
"Okay, everyone group hug!" Ben calls out. He approaches me again. I see Susan Storm approaching from my right. I see Johnny Storm approaching on my left. I feel Reed reach around me from behind just as the others also wrap their arms around me. It is warm. They all surround me and squeeze me tightly.
There isn't enough strength applied to hurt me. It us just enough for me to feel their hearts, and I do. I feel the warmth, the caring, the love, and the support. They are my friends and they want me to know how much my sacrifice means to them. This 'group hug' as Ben called it is amazing. I can feel their very souls embracing me and honestly it feels fantastic. I could break free easily if I wanted, but I don't want to. It is a security I have never known. It reaches places within my very being I never knew existed.
While we stand here with them embracing me thoughts of what I have seen on this planet come to mind. A vision of a young fearless boy and his protective guardian who stood to protect even though she knew she would fail. A vision of a blind female who awoke my very soul. A vision of a female who nearly died because of my actions who not only didn't blame me, but opened her home to me and made me feel accepted.
As I stand here I long to be in their company too. This isn't my home world, but it is a world where my friends are, and it feel just as comfortable as my world felt. It is a world that I will call home from now on, but while my master may have been punishing me. I don't think this will be much of a punishment. This place, these people, the ones in my memory, they make this place not a prison but a home. I want to see those other people in my memories. I want to return to that house that made me feel accepted so I say what comes to mind. "Let us gather our friends and return to that place. The place that felt like home." I say.