“She still hasn’t talked to Dealer.” Which I thought was amusing.

“She says she has this handled,” Dr. Strange relayed, considering her words.

“And you don’t believe her?” I half-laughed, shaking my head. “I’m of the opinion she’s one of those people who are smarter than me, which means she’s smarter than you... and she’s not limited to magical solutions.”

“The powers of magic are in a turmoil with the rise of the Dragon...” he murmured.

“Meh. You think she doesn’t know?” I scoffed at him. “Go on, go watch it all in your Orb. You know you want to.”

He sighed, dropping his feet. “We will speak further another time.”

Of that I was certain.

Content that I couldn’t do a damn thing about what was coming except run away if need be, I just watched as Dealer began conjuring up some scrying events herself for us, watching what was going on, as I was sure a lot of people were doing.

========

Out in space...

He was a streak of silver, cutting across the sky at nearly the speed of light, the physics-bending power of it all calmly taken up by the Power Cosmic granted to him by his master.

He swept past the outer planets of this system, barely batting an eye at them. The life they held was not something his master would desire, as it was rare indeed that a gas giant held the needed energies for his master to consume.

He could sense those energies ahead of him, and he swept forward on his mission of mercy.

He had taken upon himself the task of being the Herald of Galactus, of warning what worlds he could of the coming of the Devourer of Worlds, that they might evacuate who they could and save as many of their peoples, ecology, and societies as possible... and if they could not, then they would be given time to prepare for the end.

It was a grim job, and it was not often appreciated by those he raced to give warning to. Some thought he sought out the worlds... he did not, such were chosen by his master. Some thought that to strike him down or turn him aside was to do the same to his master, but that was also a fool’s wish. His striking through their violence merely displayed his own might, and the infinite might of his master was far, far beyond that.

He was a Herald of Doom, for that was what his master was... but he was also the only mercy that his master granted those worlds doomed to feed Him.

He could see the energies coming from the world ahead, and so accurately measure the level of their development. No space traffic to speak of, especially in the outer systems... that was a grim omen for the world. The amount of radio signals indicated an advancing culture and great numbers, but they had not made the jump to be free of their own homeworld.

His arrival would mean the apocalypse. His expression hardened in sympathy, for he knew what he would soon see.

Panic, chaos, and violence. If the world was to end, who cared about tomorrow, about consequences? Their nations and peoples would fall into an orgy of bloodshed and conflict, all the pent-up urges and desires being released at once, and Galactus would arrive to a world in flames and blood... none of which mattered to Him in the least.

He swept towards the third world from the sun, even at this distance able to see the blue of oceans and the white of the clouds. Were it not for the amount of radio signals, he could almost imagine it as a beautiful and pastoral world...

“Good day.”

The voice was half-telepathic and in Interlac. Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer, Herald of Galactus and bearer of the Power Cosmic, almost jumped off his gleaming Board.

There was a humanoid flying next to him, standing next to his board on nothing, moving backwards and keeping pace with him as he did so. He was clad in a mostly red outfit, with a showy white cloak to accent it, his muscular arms crossed across his chest. Indeed, he looked very similar to Norrin’s own native people of Zenn-la. Perhaps more hirsute with the facial hair...

Despite himself, the Surfer slowed at this peaceful contact, nodding at the other. The male had already proven he had great power by coming up on Galactus’ own Herald without him noticing, and keeping pace with him. The simple fact a being with this level of power had done so without immediately resorting to violence indicated that this situation was already an improvement over the normal scenario when he arrived at a chosen world.

“Greetings,” he returned carefully. “I am the Silver Surfer, Herald of Galactus. You are?”

“Most people call me Primus,” the man answered calmly. “Your master is on His way?”

It was the calmest greeting that the Surfer had ever heard. The sheer novelty of it disarmed him despite himself, and he rapidly slowed his speed until they were coasting at mere thousands of miles per second. “He is. I confess to being surprised that you know of Him?” He waved a shining silver arm at the rest of the system. “You have no extraplanetary presence to speak of.” The conclave of Celestial-born Eternals on the moon of the gas giant back there didn’t count, clearly having nothing to do with the world before him... and yet clear indicators that his Master’s attention was correct for coming here.

“My homeworld’s population is currently punching itself in the face far too often to open its eyes to the worlds beyond,” Primus sighed. “Regardless, we are hoping for your help in negotiating with your master.” He held his hand up before Norrin could speak. “I am not speaking of turning you against your master. Despite what many worlds think, we know that your service comes from a true heart. It is to that heart that we make our appeal, and we do it above-board and in an honorable manner.”

Norrin considered the unusually calm and thoughtful man gliding alongside him, his blue eyes calm as the seas of his homeworld looked from here. “You know that I cannot turn my master from a world He has chosen,” he spoke, to silence such arguments before they began.

“We don’t actually believe that, but the argument would have to be compelling enough. That is not what we are requesting, however.”

Norrin Radd was more confused than ever. “If that is not what you seek, then what are you asking, Primus?”

“Is your master adverse to a more efficient feeding?”

If Norrin could have blinked, he would have. “I do not... understand?” he asked. Were they throwing themselves on the pyre in planetary suicide?

“We are capable of fighting Galactus. Doing so will cost Him a considerable portion of His energy, and render His harvest of our homeworld much less successful and efficient.

“On the other hand, we are capable of offering Him a far more efficient harvest of the Celestial Seed within our world. If He but leaves a portion of the energy behind, that which has endowed the biosphere of the world, He will claim a greater and purer harvest than the norm, spend less time on the process, and in the distant future, when our people have departed, he can idly swing by and take the rest of the energy He left behind with minimal effort.”

Norrin Radd considered the radical idea slowly. “You know of the Celestial Seed.” That fact alone was impressive. He had not yet met a starfaring race, including his own, that knew why Galactus chose so many of the worlds that He did.

In truth, they were chosen for Him by the machinations of the Celestials!

“We do. Furthermore, unlike Him, we can directly probe and measure the Seed itself, and have done so to an exacting degree. He should be able to extract the Seed in toto from the core of the world, without having to feed upon it through the planet itself.”

Norrin stared at the man in disbelief. “That... is an extraordinary accomplishment,” he managed to say after a moment.

“I would not know. Is your Master amenable to such an agreement, since it will be to His benefit?”

The mind of the Silver Surfer whirled. “I cannot speak for Him, but His logic tends to be fairly narrow, Primus,” he admitted. “You offer a richer meal, as long as He leaves some behind, and a massively inferior meal if He does not. It seems a simple argument on its face.”

“We acknowledge that we cannot stop Him,” Primus stated simply. “We also offer this as a gesture of good faith: there are currently Celestials upon our world.”

Norrin Radd straightened up instantly. He could not sense them, of course: the Celestials were existences far beyond his own, only a step down from Galactus Himself, and if they wished to remain hidden, so they were.

The interference of Celestials could easily impact the vitality of the Celestial Seed itself, reducing its nourishment to Galactus catastrophically. The simple bit of news was effectively a massive gift to Galactus on its face!

“I suggest you fly on by and make no announcement,” Primus went on. “Perhaps you might wish to contact your master...”

Norrin nodded slowly, turning and calling out as he reached forth with the Power Cosmic, “Galactus, my Master, I have news!...”

The flaring of his Power Cosmic was enough for his master’s Cosmic Awareness to reach across the galaxies and respond. The vision of his master swelled before him, and as always, the overwhelming power radiated across his mind. After all, his own power was merely a sliver of what Galactus possessed.

“WHY DO YOU DISTURB GALACTUS, HERALD?” the great voice loomed in his thoughts, as if the universe itself was speaking to him.

“Master, I have made startling and peaceful contact with the inhabitants of the world you intend to feed upon. They have made an offer to you, and by my measure, they are qualified to do so.”

“AN OFFER TO GALACTUS?” There was no amusement, or even much interest. “CONTINUE, HERALD.”

In terms as much telepathic conveyance as words, he related what he had been told by the waiting Primus, who was watching calmly, unable to see what the Herald did... until Galactus turned His attention upon him.

Abruptly aware of Galactus’ Will and Presence, Primus straightened up and bowed. “Primus greets the Devourer of Worlds!” he said formally.

“YOU BEAR POWER EQUAL TO MY HERALD, AND HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK TO GALACTUS. TELL ME MORE OF THESE TERMS.”

“As the Devourer wills.” Primus simply set it forth in his thoughts, and the relevant details were immediately known.

There was a long pause as Galactus considered the frankly startling offer being presented to Him. Negotiating with Galactus to a mutually beneficial ending was... unprecedented. Normally, minor beings attempted to buy off His attention by turning Him to another world, giving them time to evolve, arm themselves, or flee, with precious little incentive for Him to acknowledge them or their efforts.

This... was a concerted, planned effort dealing with His arrival and backed by multiple entities at the cosmic level, including several entire pantheons of gods (normally one pantheon of gods to a world was excessive!).

It was to His advantage to do this, in all the ways. Trying to take it all... would actually cost Him greatly.

And in good faith, they had actually performed for Him a great favor, and He was not one to look past such things from those powerful enough to speak with Him.

“GALACTUS AGREES TO THIS BARGAIN.”

And so, the deal was struck.