fiction | Part of the journey is the end

5. What if... zombies?!

The Watcher explained how Bruce Banner fell from the stars to warn humanity of imminent danger, but the world he found was not one he recognized.

"The world wasn't one Bruce recognized?" Rhodey said. "That period of time is the worst time to diverge. Thanos is about to come to Earth!"

"I better not see some weird shit with Thanos," said Sam.

"Maybe Thanos won't snap this time?" Scott suggested, hopefully.

"Yeah, right," said Carol. "All these alternate universes are awful."

The Bifrost caused Bruce to crash into the New York Sanctum.

"Try not to crash into the Sanctum this time," said Stephen. "I'm the one who has to deal with it since someone has higher duties now," he said, shooting a look at Wong, who looked smug.

Bruce grimaced. "I'll try my best."

"Thanos is coming. He's coming," said Bruce. He looked from the staircase to find no one.

Everyone's brows furrowed, especially Stephen and Wong.

"Where's Stephen and Wong?" Peter asked. "They were there before."

"The Watcher said this world wasn't one Dr Banner recognized," said Vision.

"Great, it's another depressing universe," said Bucky.

"I hope nothing bad happened to them, though," said Scott.

The Cloak of Levitation, who was alone, looked down at Bruce.

"The Cloak is alone?" Stephen said. He didn't have a good feeling about this.

Bruce left the Sanctum in sorcerer robes and gasped when he saw a deserted street. "Was I too late?"

The Avengers and the Guardians stiffened.

"What's going on?" Bruce asked warily. "Why is the street deserted?"

A Q-Ship beamed down Cull Obsidian and Ebony Maw.

All of them groaned.

"Not them," Gamora complained.

"Kill them," Nebula spat.

"Where the hell are Stephen and Wong? Those two are there for the Time Stone," said Natasha.

Bruce tried to turn into the Hulk, but it didn't work.

Bruce sighed. He and the Hulk had to sort out their issues.

"Bruce had Tony, Peter, Stephen, and Wong with him the first time, but he's alone this time," said Steve. "Where are the other four?"

"Hear me and rejoice," said Ebony Maw.

"This guy is just like Loki. They only have one speech to introduce themselves," said Clint.

Loki rolled his eyes.

Bruce slapped himself to get the Hulk to come out, but the Hulk said no.

"You guys need to sort out your issues," Rhodey told Bruce, who nodded.

"You are about to die at the hands of the children of..." Ebony Maw was interrupted by a portal opening behind him and a blast from Iron Man's gauntlet shot him in the head.

"Huh, that was surprisingly effective. Why didn't we do that the first time?" Tony asked Stephen, who shrugged.

"Because you two were too busy having a pissing contest the first time to do anything," Peter muttered.