Spider-Man: Far From Home [5]

1

Ixtenco, Mexico, 2024

Astra Hart, Nick Fury, and Maria Hill drove through the ruins of a small village that had been destroyed by... a monster made of dirt and rubble? At least that's what it had said in the emergency.

Fires had erupted, buildings were either partially or completely destroyed, and there wasn't anyone in sight. At least until they got to the main street, where people were gathering valuables and trying to rescue others.

Astra, Fury, and Hill got out of the car.

"Nick, this was a tragedy, but it's not why we're here," Hill began.

"What, are we fighting the weather now?" Astra added sarcastically. "Like, something similar happened with that cyclone in Morocco."

"Locals say it had a face," said Fury.

"People see things when they're under stress," Hill contradicted. "That does not mean it is the start to some other big world-ending-"

She was cut off when a giant wisp of green smoke landed in front of them. All three of them held out their guns, while Astra's other hand glowed purple with the energy of the Power Stone.

The smoke disappeared to reveal a figure with a fishbowl head, which de-materialized to reveal a human face.

"Who are you?" the man asked warily.

Then a loud crash sounded behind them and there the earth monster was - face and all, smashing buildings and lifting cars.

"You don't want any part in this," said the man, lifting his hands and blasting green energy out of his hands to vaporize and destroy the creature.

***

"They were born in stable orbits within black holes, creatures formed from the primary elements," Quentin Beck, the fishbowl guy, explained. "They first appeared on my Earth, and when we fought them, they only grew stronger."

"Wait a second. 'My Earth?'" Astra repeated. "Whoa. The Multiverse is real? That's so cool! How do you jump from one universe to another? How does it work? And are these the same Elementals-"

Fury cleared his throat.

"Sorry," Astra said quietly.

"Don't apologize for being the most curious one in the room," said the fishbowl guy, whose name Astra learned was Quentin Beck. "And yes, these are the same Elementals that attacked my Earth. The one we just faced attacked at the same coordinates on my Earth."

"Wait, so we saw two Elementals. Earth and - the one in Morocco had to be air, right? It was a cyclone. So water and fire remain," said Astra. She looked quizzically at Beck. "Do you know when and where they're going to attack?"

"Water will attack in a week," said Beck, "and fire two days after that. As for the locations-"

"The locations are something you don't have to worry about, Hart." Fury cut Beck off. "You'll be on your Europe trip. You may as well enjoy it."

"Yeah, but how can I not help when water and fire threaten to bring about death and destruction?" Astra demanded.

"Fire is the most destructive of them all, it's the one that took my family," said Beck quietly. "I'm sure Mr. Fury wouldn't want to risk your life."

"I'm sorry," Astra said softly, noticing Beck twisting his ring.

"You'll be on a once-in-a-lifetime trip with your friends, you might as well take advantage of it," said Hill. "Besides, don't you think you've fought enough already, after Thanos?"

Astra looked at the ground. Hill was right, so she held her tongue.

"When the Elementals attack, whatever the location, stay put, because Mr. Beck will deal with them," Fury told her. "If they do attack where you are, your only responsibility will be keeping civilians safe and away from the danger. Got it?"

Astra nodded.

But she had a gut feeling that Fury, Hill, and Beck were keeping something from her.