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The Witching Hour
The dimension called Limbo: ‘You dirty son of a -’ begins Clint “Hawkeye” Barton, until he is interrupted by Simon “Wonder Man” Williams, who remarks ‘You’re making way too nice with him, Hawk!’ Iron Man agrees, while John Walker a.k.a. the USAgent declares that the time for talk is over, and is about to leap into action when Janet van Dyne a.k.a. the Wasp tells him to wait, ‘We don’t dare attack him now!’ she exclaims, to which her ex-husband but current lover Hank Pym agrees, pointing out that no matter how much they despise their foe for putting them all through the wringer with his Legion of the Unliving, Immortus still has the upper hand - at least as long as he has got the Scarlet Witch in his power.
Standing up on some steps with a motionless Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. Scarlet Witch at his side, and Wanda’s brother, Pietro a.k.a. Quicksilver, lying wounded on the steps before them, is the unstoppable Immortus, who calls the Avengers West Coast all fools for prattling on about power while having no conception of its actual meaning. ‘And power is hiding behind some poor girl you’ve hypnotized, right?’ USAgent asks, but Iron Man suspects that what Immortus has done is far worse than hypnosis. ‘If you’ve hurt her…’ begins Wonder Man, who cares deeply for the Scarlet Witch.
‘Hurt her? Are you mad?’ asks Immortus, who reveals that Wanda is indispensable to his role as absolute master of seven millennia - and has been since the say she was born! Immortus decides that there can be no harm in the Avengers West Coast knowing now, and explains that the Scarlet Witch is a nexus - one of those rare beings or objects that belong equally to all possible timelines and all potential realities. Immortus adds that he realized long ago that the Scarlet Witch’s hex power would enable him to protect and control the centuries under his dominion.
Immortus explains that all he had to do was gradually increase Wanda’s power, while he worked to secretly restructure her personality. Wonder Man helps Quicksilver to his feet, and the speedster asks Immortus if he was behind the Vision reverting back to an android and being incapable of loving her. ‘And their twins - you deprived them of their very existence!’ Wonder Man exclaims. Immortus reminds the Avengers that those “children” were merely manifestations of Wanda’s probability-altering hex power with a bit of magic thrown in for good measure. Immortus turns to Quicksilver and says ‘You should not look upon me as some cruel beast’ before explaining that when he acts through Wanda to safeguard the coming future, the Scarlet Witch will be serving all of the Multiverse.
‘And you asked if I was crazy?’ Wonder Man mutters, before Quicksilver calls Immortus a monster, and despite his injury speeds up the steps, ‘You have turned her into some living power source!’ he exclaims, about to swear revenge, when he slams into a force field that Immortus creates. Immortus remarks that this should restore Quicksilver’s sense of proportion, before assuring him that in service to his glorious cause, the Scarlet Witch will live forever.
‘But first you changed her - then you took away her free will!’ exclaims Pietro as he slams his fists against the force field. Arms folded across his chest, Immortus remarks ‘An overstated commodity - even to the meagre extent it actually exists’. Suddenly, Wonder Man exclaims that they have been hanging back for fear of endangering Wanda and suggests to Immortus that he shouldn’t have revealed just how important Wanda is to him. Simon begins punching the force field, exclaiming that he is not going to stop until the force field gives, or his heart does. Quicksilver continues to smash it too and calls over to the Avengers, asking them for help.
The handsome USAgent turns to his teammates before leading the way, although asking them if he has to ask “Mother may I” first. Hawkeye replies that they have a more dramatic way of saying it…’AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!’ the Avengers all shout as they run towards Immortus and the Scarlet Witch. But Immortus calls them ‘Muscle-bound dullards’ and tells them that they cannot touch he or the Scarlet Witch, although admits that the fury of the Avengers combined assault may somehow negate the trance which he has placed Wanda in.
‘What say we put that theory to a test?’ Wonder Man asks, before adding that his super-powered fist may even find a weak spot in the force field. But as Simon is about to swing his first forward when a large white crystal-like hand comes down and grabs Wonder Man, picking him up in the air. ‘What kind of hand is that?’ USAgent exclaims, while Hank Pym points out that it lifted Simon up as if he were a rag doll. Weakening, Simon calls out to the Avengers, asking them what is happening to him. The Wasp expresses her concern, and Hank exclaims the Wonder Man is aging by the second, he now appears as a very feeble old man hanging limply above them. Iron Man asks who or what is the thing that is holding him, and the Avengers watch and listen intently as the large being introduces itself as Tempus, the guardian of Castle Limbo - and warrior-slave to the time-defying Immortus.
Meanwhile, back on a very much time-governed Earth, the old sorceress, Agatha Harkness continues to talk with Immortus’ shadow which she trapped on Earth and tells him that she knows what he is planning and that he is a fiend. The Inhuman Lockjaw keeps watch over the Immortus copy and Agatha’s cat Ebony meows as Agatha wonders why she is wasting time shouting at a transparent doppelganger like this one. ‘I am sure I have no idea, Agatha Harkness’ the Immortus doppelganger replies, before telling her that as she knows the true Immortus has taken her costumed colleagues to his own dimension, while her mystic spell has kept him here and forced him to reveal Immortus’ plans, even though he is simply a magical after-image.
Agatha tells Ebony to be still, before exclaiming that she must reach the Avengers, as Wanda has always been like a daughter to her. Turning to Lockjaw, Agatha knows that even his powers of teleportation cannot take her to Limbo. Agatha realizes that the only passage to Limbo - if there is one at all - must be through the captive doppelganger which partakes of Immortus’ very essence. Agatha thinks that leaving Ebony here within her pentagram as an anchor her plan might just work, at any case, she must try. Agatha begins her chant: ‘Again I call thee, triple Goddess, you who are my mother, rock and helm - let my ethereal self go roaming - through this shade to Immortus’ realm!’ With that, Agatha’s spirit leaves her body and flies into the Immortus shadow. A puzzled Lockjaw just looks at the madness before him.
‘Well! That was fast! I’ve arrived here as swift as thought itself!’ Agatha exclaims to herself as her astral image appears flying above the Avengers in Immortus’ dimension. Hank tells the other Avengers to charge Tempus, who is still holding on to Wonder Man, while Agatha wonders, now that she is here unseen and unheard, how she can assist her friends against Tempus, as from the looks of things, they could certainly use a bit of help. ‘Who died and left you in charge, Pym?’ USAgent snaps. Firing one of his weapons, Hank replies that all that counts now is Wanda. Hawkeye motions to the large club that Tempus is swinging around and tells Hank to watch out.
Suddenly, Tempus speaks again, ‘Here, you inmates of a three-dimensional prison! Take back this super-annuated carrion!’ he exclaims tossing the weak Wonder Man amongst them. USAgent catches Simon, but Simon lands hard, and Agent falls to the ground. ‘Thanks, Agent’ a weak Wonder Man exclaims. ‘Don’t mention it…’ Agent replies, before he passes out as does Wonder Man. Iron Man checks them and assures his teammates that they will be okay, to which Hawkeye remarks ‘just when you think you know what makes a guy tick’, referring to USAgent, but Iron Man cuts him off, reminding him that being an Avenger has brought out the best in people before now.
Agatha regrets that she cannot project her magic in her current state of being and aid them against Tempus, thinking to herself that she has never felt so completely and thoroughly helpless. ‘HELPLESS!’ Pietro thinks to himself, thinking that if Pym’s weapon, Hawkeye’s blast arrows and even Iron Man’s repulsor rays cannot defeat Tempus, what can a mere speedster do against him? Pietro turns to his sister, calling to her he asks if she can hear him from behind the shield. He reminds her that they have been through so much together, and that for her to become nothing but a human storage battery for Immortus to draw on - no matter how noble or vital he claims his purpose is - ‘In the name of Heaven itself - no good was ever born - out of something so clearly evil!’
Suddenly, Quicksilver grabs a chunk of rock and using his super speed he runs up the side of a wall and races along the arm of Tempus, before smashing Immortus’ protector in the face. Iron Man congratulates Quicksilver and continues to blast Tempus with his rays, pointing out that clearly the chunk of castle that Quicksilver grabbed has done more good against Tempus than anything they have been throwing at him. Hawkeye agrees and wonders if he could make an arrow out of one.
Tempus calls Earth’s Mightiest Heroes witless “timelings” that are born to live and die between the beatings of his heart. He exclaims that some of them might escape the ravages of aging which he could thrust upon them, but none will escape his time storm! With that, the giant Tempus unleashes the sands of time in a gust of mighty wind which swirl around as he swings his club. Tempus explains that the time storm is no mere wind, for all that it hurls them about in the midst of one of Earth’s hurricanes. ‘Look within your own hearts - and face the foe which, above all others, you cannot hope to defeat - your own most fearful, most deeply buried memories!’
Quicksilver:‘Relive, Quicksilver, those tortured days when you and your sister were hunted like wild animals because European peasants were terrified of your mutant powers!’
Hawkeye:‘Relive, Hawkeye, the youthful disillusionment when you learned that your mentor, the Swordsman, was a common thief!’
Wonder Man:‘Relive, Wonder Man, the instant of your “death” as a result of those same ionic rays which gave you your powers!’
Henry Pym:‘Relive, Henry Pym, the heart-rending anguish you felt when you looked down at the corpse of your beautiful bride, murdered behind an Iron Curtain!’
Iron Man:‘Relive, Iron Man, the searing pain you felt when exploding shrapnel lodged within the breast of Anthony Stark!’
Wasp:‘Relive, Wasp, the indescribable horror you felt when your scientist father was slain by an alien creature he teleported to Earth!’
USAgent:‘Relive, USAgent, the moment when you beheld your beloved mother and father cut down by the bullets of hired assassins!’
Agatha Harkness continues to hover unnoticed above her associates, and sees the secret torments that are thrust into the heads of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, though she suspects that they cannot see each others, and what Immortus has shown them has reduced them all to quivering helplessness. Agatha thinks that she can do nothing - or can she? Floating over to the unmoving Scarlet Witch, Agatha thinks that she might have given too much weight to her inability to recite spells or to touch things physically, so perhaps she can utilize her mystical rapport with one who has long looked up to her as a second mother - Wanda.
Agatha thinks that if Immortus, who continues to watch the Avengers’ plight, where not preoccupied, he would have surely have sensed her presence by now, but since he has not, Agatha is able to float behind Wanda, and calls to her, ‘Wanda! You can hear my thoughts now - I know you can!’ Agatha tells Wanda that she must rid herself somehow of the excess power Immortus has bred unnaturally into her, without the ability to alter the probabilities of cosmic timelines, Wanda will therefore be useless to him. ‘Give up that power, Wanda Maximoff! Give it up!’ Agatha urges, before deciding that it is no use, as Wanda has not moved the slightest. Agatha wonders if perhaps Wanda does not hear her deep within her mind after all - ‘And if she does not - then all is most surely lost!’
Agatha has another idea though, and projects illusions of the Vision and Wanda’s “children” as they once were, before her and urges Wanda to fight back for her husband’s sake and even more for the sake of her children. Agatha recalls that Wanda seeing the Vision as he once was has had a profound effect on her once before, and hopes that it still will. The aged sorceress is relieved when Wanda’s expression changes for the first time since she was rescued from the clutches of Magneto, her face now shows some faint hint of feeling, of strain, of deep-seated fear perhaps.
But it is only for a moment, as Wanda’s face once more becomes expressionless. Agatha realizes that in the depths of her being, Wanda must know that her former android lover is “dead” to her and that the twins never really existed therefore she rejects what her heart knows to be a lie, meaning Agatha cannot reach her that way.
Standing over the Avengers, Tempus asks Immortus what he wants done with the interlopers. Immortus replies that he has been thinking about that and that he is reluctant to act out the role of “villain” in which the Avengers melodramatically picture him. However, Immortus thinks that on the other hand, his mission is all that truly matters to him, so tells Tempus that he may as well kill them all.Agatha once more tries to reach Wanda by telling her that if she does not act immediately, then seven Avengers will die. ‘Husbands - even children - are not the only ones you love - the only reasons to break the psychic chains that hold you! There is also your brother! There are also your friends! Remember Wanda - remember - and awaken!’ Agatha exclaims.
Suddenly, Immortus spins around, ‘Someone is here!’ he gasps, exclaiming that he can feel their presence in his brain. Agatha is aware that Immortus knows she is here and realizes that she must hurry. She addresses Wanda as her daughter and reminds her that she has lived for husband and offspring, so tells her that the time has now come for her to live for those who love her and whom she loves in turn. Immortus realizes it is Agatha who haunts his dimension and tells her that she will not defeat him in his own dimension, he then unleashes some power against her.
Agatha is struck by Immortus’ mental force and washes over her in waves of pain. ’I will handle this ghostly hag, Tempus, continue with the execution!’ Immortus orders. Tempus is about to do as his master commands, and holds his mallet high above the fallen Avengers. Agatha’s astral form is being torn apart by Immortus’ bombardment, but nevertheless continues to contact Wanda, urging her to reject those extra powers she never wanted for the sake of those who love her. ‘Reject them also for the sake of those you love!’ Suddenly, Immortus turns to Wanda - ‘The Scarlet Witch! She is awake!’ he exclaims horrified, while Agatha once more urges Wanda to reject the powers.
‘YES!’ screams the Scarlet Witch, ‘I DO REJECT THEM!’ she cries, unleashing her unwanted powers, which begin to flow around Immortus’ castle, knocking everyone aside, and preventing the Avengers from being slain. ‘I’LL HAVE THEM NO MORE!’ Wanda cries as the powers begin to billow from the castle. Agatha continues to speak to Wanda, assuring her that she has done it, Agatha exclaims that Immortus and Tempus are caught up in base confusion, while the Avengers inner torments abruptly resolve themselves in ways both fortunate and tragic - even seemingly impossible.
Quicksilver:‘Superstitious peasants burn Pietro and his sister at the stake for the simple sin of being born mutants’.
Hawkeye:‘More happily, young Hawkeye - Clint Barton - shames the Swordsman into changing his larcenous ways’.
Iron Man:‘Tony Stark dies of shrapnel, so that there will be no Iron Man’.
Wonder Man:‘Wonder Man’s deadly radiation flares up at the instant of his death, slaying all of the Avengers present, save Thor’.
Wasp:‘Janet van Dyne is disintegrated by the off-world monstrosity that slew her father’.
Henry Pym:‘While most improbably of all, Dr. Henry Pym sees his wife, Maria, suddenly sit upright upon her morgue’.
USAgent:‘And a hail of bullets impossibly misses the parents of USAgent’.
A horrified Immortus exclaims that this is all beyond belief, that these new images reveal what now must happen in all the timelines that are in his keeping. Aghast, Immortus announces that these new divergences will not only undo all that he has done, but they will wreak irreversible havoc across uncounted realities already in existence. ‘AGATHA HARKNESS! YOU HAVE DOMMED THE VERY MULTIVERSE!’ Immortus screams.
Iron Man is confused, ‘Agatha Harkness? What’s Immortus talking about?’ he asks, to which Hank remarks that if Agatha is here, then why doesn’t she make Wanda realize what it is she is doing. Wanda steps forward and assures her friends that she does remember, now. In fact, she claims that she remembers all that has happened, and it seems like some bad dream. Hawkeye is relieved to see his dear friend seems okay, ‘Thank Heaven you’re yourself again!’ he exclaims as Wonder Man announces that he is reverting to his true age.
Wanda exclaims that she can feel the last of her new powers draining out of herself with each passing second, and wonders if she perhaps concentrate she might be able to somehow draw the energy back into herself before she causes the cosmic calamity that Immortus spoke of. In the now castle-less landscape of Limbo, Wanda prepares to do so, when suddenly, a strange voice cries ‘No, Wanda Maximoff!’ Wanda asks who said that, to which the USAgent tells her to look behind herself, and motioning to the three strange beings, asks if they are friends of hers.
Wanda assures Agent that she has never seen them before, before remarking that in their presence, the mutant force which radiated out of her hangs motionless in midair - as if frozen. Wanda is still unsure as to who they are, so Immortus answers everyone’s question by exclaiming ‘Don’t you know who them, you foolish woman? They are…the Time Keepers!’ Agatha communicates with the Time Keepers, remarking that she was rather hoping that the three of them would decide to look in - or perhaps a better word would be praying.
Wanda exclaims ‘They can hear you, Agatha - just as Immortus can!’ Immortus turns to the three Time Keepers, and addressing them as his mentors, he asks them why they have come, before assuring them that he is fully capable of performing his tasks without their intervention. He begins to say something else when the first of the Time Keepers cuts him off, telling Immortus to be still, the Tim Keeper reminds him that long ago they appointed him custodian of time between 3000 BC and 4000 AD.
The second Time Keeper reminds Immortus that his duties required little more than the eventual transmutation of a particular nexus being into a power source. The third Time Keeper points out that Immortus was to use that power over probabilities to safeguard key events which must occur in various timelines in order to assure a certain future in which they have vested interest - ‘But that simple assignment seems to have proven too difficult for you to fulfill!’The Avengers have been listening intently, and Clint asks Hank if he understands any of that. Hank replies that he thinks he might be starting to, while Quicksilver asks the Time Keepers of the “nexus being” that the spoke of. ‘It was I, wasn’t it?’ Wanda asks. One of the Time Keepers replies ‘The precise one selected from several possible candidates was Immortus’ choice’. Wonder Man looks at Wanda and thinks to himself that he wishes he had a choice as to whether to not to fall in love with her, as the Time Keeper explains that Immortus could only utilize a pre-existent nexus being, not create one, but when the Scarlet Witch managed to reject her augmented hex power, they the Time Keepers were forced to intervene directly.
They explain that the reason being is that if the power were allowed to cause chaos among the timelines, and all futures would be in jeopardy - including that in which they themselves came into being. ‘Now I’ve got it! Bottom line: Your own survival!’ Hawkeye exclaims, to which the Wasp turns to Hank and asks him if Clint is correct. Hank tells Janet not to rush and judge these entities by human standards. ‘Well, I’m going to do some judging, whether anyone likes it or not!’ Wanda exclaims with determination, before looking towards Immortus, and crying ‘It was you, Immortus - you who did all those terrible things - to me, to the Vision - to everyone!’
‘It was nothing personal, woman!’ Immortus replies, before claiming that the Time Keepers did not tell him precisely what future he was ultimately protecting, that he simply had a mission to fulfill and he did that as best he could. ‘Your best, alas, was not nearly good enough!’ one of the Time Keepers exclaims, while another of them remarks that Immortus’ ego was clearly not content to rule just Limbo, so he made himself believe that he was meant to be the master of all time, rather than what they named him - the Custodian of a paltry seven millennia. Immortus reminds the Time Keepers that they promised him “Total mastery” at least - total mastery over seven thousand years!
‘I guess there’s power - and then there’s power, huh?’ Clint remarks, while Hank points out that this is just one more case of subordinate exceeding his authority. Iron Man seems rather amused by it all, and thinks to himself that after all these years of batting Immortus, who has had this top secret plan, it turns out that somebody else was pulling his strings all along. ‘Enough already!’ shouts USAgent, who tells the Time Keepers that they are to turn Immortus over to the Avengers right now for trial by the US government, or else he is going to take the three of them in too.
Hawkeye tells Agent not to get them in over their heads, to which one of the Time Keepers suggests USAgent take that advice. Another of the Time Keepers points out that their actions at least were unselfish, and that they did what they did for the greater good of the cosmos. The third Time Keeper explains that if the three of them should cease to exist because of befouled time lines, the loss to the Multiverse would be profound, adding smugly that all the force they could muster against them would not suffice to harm so much as an antenna upon their age-old, unborn heads.
‘That’s it!’ Hawkeye exclaims, firing an arrow as the USAgent tosses his trusty shield at the Time Keepers. Iron Man calls out to Clint, who just remarks that the Time Keepers got to him with all that mightier-than-thou bull. Agent bets that his shield can out-race Clint’s blast arrow, but as both weapons are hurtled towards the cosmic beings, they suddenly come to a stand-still in mid-air, and one of the Time Keepers remarks that he would actually consider it more in the nature of a tie, before asking his fellows what they think. Time itself swirls, and the second Time Keeper points to the arrow which is slightly ahead of Walker’s shield, and states that it is perhaps not strictly a tie.
The third Time Keeper points out that after all, they have only reduced their velocity by a ration of 100,000 to one. The second Time Keeper remarks that if they felt like waiting for it, he feels certain the arrow would reach them sometime during the Earth’s next ice age. The third adds that, in all honesty, the shield would take a century or so longer. Agent and Clint are shocked, and Clint remarks that it serves he and John right for trying, ‘I knew we were mixing it up with guys in Galactus’s class!’ USAgent turns to Clint, ‘All right, you’re the one with more experience dealing with cosmic-powered creepazoids, bow-slinger. So tell me - what do we do now?’ ‘Not much…unless you’ve got a deck of cards up your sleeve!’ Hawkeye replies.
Immortus suddenly exclaims that he will not stand idly by while he is robbed of the fruits of his labours, and exclaims that he has devoted whole lifetimes, both past and future, to overseeing his seven thousand years. ‘Yes - that’s what I said, my seven thousand years which you now threaten to take away from me!’ Immortus exclaims that he chose the Scarlet Witch as his vessel and found ways to secretly alter and increase her energies to suit the purpose of the Time Keepers. ‘Tell them, girl, what I did for them!’ Immortus asks Wanda. Held up by Quicksilver, Wanda swears to Immortus that if she were not so weak, then she would certainly show him.
Turning back to the Time Keepers and addressing them as “wise ones”, Immortus exclaims that, in return, they promised him continued over-lordship of those seventy centuries, and that they even hinted of greater responsibilities to come. ‘am I to be denied my reward - because some old hag of a witch whispered in a mutant female’s ear?’ Immortus asks furiously. ‘I beseech you, keepers - mentors - masters - give me my just due!’ The first Time Keeper turns to the others and remarks that there might well be justice to Immortus’ cause. The second supposes that Immortus served them as well as he could, and the third wonders if perhaps they should permit Immortus to continue serving them - but as repository of that which he himself created!
Suddenly, Immortus watches as the mutant energy expelled by Wanda no longer floats immobile in space, but flows into him! Horrified, Immortus asks the Time Keepers if they mean to destroy him, and if so, why, before suddenly exclaiming that he feel himself growing more powerful - ever more powerful as the force that controls cosmic probabilities penetrates to the very fibre of his being. ‘I shall be invincible - the true Master of Time at last!’ he boasts, when suddenly, his body twists as he realizes that something is wrong, as his whole body begins to stiffen. ‘MASTERS!’ he shouts, but the Time Keepers simply stare at him, silently.
The Avengers look at Immortus in awe, as Quicksilver points out that Immortus now stands as silent and motionless as a statue - the very fate he planned for Wanda. Wanda turns to the Time Keepers and asks them if this is to be Immortus’ final destiny. The Keepers reply that Immortus left them little choice, and tell Wanda that only in one like herself, already possessing the power to alter probability, could sufficient excess energy have been cultivated for their purpose. The Time Keepers explain that once that power existed, they had the means to turn one of Immortus’ stamina into an alternate receptacle for it. Meaning, they had secretly made him ready, just as he had secretly changed the Scarlet Witch.
Wanda asks what will happen to Immortus now, to which the Time Keepers reveal that Immortus will henceforth stand unmoving in Limbo. In one sense, he will be all-powerful, filled with such a force as they need to assure their own, and thus the Multiverse’s future, and in another sense, Immortus is now totally impotent, lacking free will - or even the ability to move. ‘He will be, in short, what he intended you to be, Wanda Maximoff’. Wonder Man exclaims sarcastically that it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, while Quicksilver declares that if ever the punishment fit the crime, this is that time.
Wanda looks towards Immortus, and half-heartedly agrees with Pietro, before placing a hand on Immortus’ face and exclaiming that despite what Immortus has tried to do with her, she cannot help but feel sorry for him. ‘Villain though he was to us - he still was noble in his own way!’ Wanda walks solemnly back towards the Avengers, while Hawkeye whispers to his teammates ‘Huh? How can she possible feel sorry for that?’ Pym tells Clint to be glad that Wanda can, for if she can feel pity for Immortus after what he did to her over the years, then maybe she is on the way to recovery. Janet tells Hank that she hopes he is right.
Agatha’s astral form hovers over the Scarlet Witch as the Time Keepers declares that it is time for they to take their leave. USAgent tells them to ‘Hold it right there!’ and that if they think they can leave them stuck in here without so much as a buss pass, then they’re crazy….But in an instant, the Avengers West Coast find themselves back in their Palos Verde Compound, and USAgent once more has his shield strapped to his hand. Wanda tells John that the Time Keepers could have done anything they wanted with them. The Wasp exclaims that it is great to be back, but that she wonders if ‘We hero types’ really accomplished anything in Limbo. ‘Yeah, or were we just along for the rides?’ Wonder Man asks.
‘You accomplished…a very great deal!’ Agatha Harkness exclaims as her astral form returns to her body. Wanda rushes over to her mentor, ‘Then you’re all right, body in body and spirit?’ she asks. Weary, Agatha replies ‘More or less’, but that without the others fierce battle with Tempus, then she would not have had the chance to help Wanda throw off Immortus’ yoke. ‘Thus, it was an Avengers victory after all!’ Wanda embraces the aged sorceress, ‘And what am I, dear Agatha - if not an Avenger!?’ Wanda exclaims. ‘you are - you have always been many other things, my dear Wanda - each of them just a wee bit more wonderful than the last!’
Lockjaw growls, and Quicksilver tells the Inhuman that he may return to the other Inhumans now if he wishes, and that after Immortus’ sleep-spell, he may take a bottle of aspirin with him. Pietro turns to Hawkeye to ask where the aspirin is kept, but seeing that Hawkeye is asleep and snoring on the couch, Wonder Man offers to find the aspirin. The Wasp smiles, ‘Hawk sat down and nature did the rest!’ she jokes. ‘What right’s he got to be tired?’ Agent asks, to which Iron Man points out that Wanda has stopped being a victim - which is enough cause for all of them to celebrate. Unsmiling, Hank thinks to himself that if he can just find a way to help the Torch and Tigra, then maybe he will also feel like sending up rockets.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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The Terminus Factor, part 4: When Titans Trash! (First story)<br> Tanks for Nothing (Third story)
First Story:‘One more time’ Dr Hank Pym announces inside a laboratory at the Palos Verdes Compound, home of the Avengers West Coast! ‘Ultra-sound scan complete. Activating laser probe - now!’ he declares as he presses a lever down. Janet van Dyne a.k.a. the Wasp flutters nearby as she informs Hank that the temperature reading is shooting up like there is no tomorrow. ‘You sure everything’s under control?’ she asks. ‘Actually…no’ Hank replies, admitting that he has never tried using lasers for sensory stimulation before. He adds that there is a first time for everything. Hank remarks that it is getting hot in the lab and hopes that it wont be the last time.
‘Watch out!’ Hank shouts as a bright light fills the lab. The Wasp motions to someone else in the lab and exclaims ‘Hank - look! His hand it’s moving - catching fire!’ The third being in the lab replies ‘And why shouldn’t it - when it belongs to the original Human Torch!’. Bright flares continue to light up the lab, while other members of the Avengers West Coast - Tony “Iron Man” Stark, John “USAgent” Walker, Simon “Wonder Man” Williams and Clint “Hawkeye” Barton, along with their ally the Machine Man, look on. ‘But since we already knew that, fella, how about turning down the heat a notch or two?’ Iron Man asks.
‘Yeah, it doesn’t much faze Iron Man and me, but these other guys are liable to wilt’ Wonder Man exclaims. The original Human Torch apologizes to everyone and shouts ‘Flame - off!’, before asking if anyone can tell him what time it is. ‘Or what day?’ he asks. ‘In act a rough estimate of the year would be greatly appreciated’. Hank informs the Golden Age hero that it has not been that long since the Scarlet Witch’s hex power deactivated him. ‘It’s still 1990’ he reveals. ‘Glad to hear that, Dr Pym. After all, my previous record for downtime is 35 years’ the Human Torch points out, before asking how the Scarlet Witch is doing, anyway.
‘As well as can be expected, under the circumstances’ Clint remarks, before introducing himself to the Human Torch. The Wasp explains that they managed to free the Scarlet Witch from Magneto, and then from a guy called Immortus, while the Human Torch was deactivated. Hank declares that hopefully the Scarlet Witch will be back to normal after a few days rest, and that her brother, Quicksilver, is with her now. ‘That silver-haired mutant? But he fought against us’ the Human Torch points out. USAgent frowns and asks Hank if they are going to have to nursemaid the “golden oldie” for the rest of his android life.
‘Please, USAgent - I’m only trying to understand -’ the Human Torch begins, before Pietro “Quicksilver” Maximoff races into the lab: ‘AVENGERS!’ he exclaims. ‘Where’s the fire? Or did you hear about the four-alarmed we had in here?’ Clint jokes. ‘This is serious, Archer!’ Quicksilver exclaims, announcing that they have received an Avengers summons from Hercules, south of San Francisco. Pietro declares that Hercules claims to have been battling hordes of metallic beats called Termini, and needs their help. ‘He said Iron Man was familiar with the creatures’ Quicksilver adds, before pointing out that he knows his Avengers status has long since lapsed, but he will go with them, if they will have him.
‘So will I! These Termini killed Peter Spaulding, a human friend of mine!’ Machine Man declares. Iron Man tells Machine Man that they will take all the help they can get. ‘Let’s go, people! I’ll fill you in on the way!’ Iron Man announces. ‘Now you’re talking, Hardhat!’ USAgent exclaims, as the Avengers West Coast and their allies leap into action.
A short time later, their Quinjet streaks across the Californian sky, while the Human Torch flies alongside it. ‘Out of cold storage for two minutes - and we’re off running!’ he tells himself. ‘My new life as an Avenger promises to be anything but dull!’ he adds, while inside the Quinjet, someone asks Quicksilver if he can add anything from Hercules’ account to what Iron Man has told them. Pietro replies that the Termini seem to have coalesced into a single entity more than one hundred and fifty feet high. ‘Oh, and one other thing: a similar colossus is fighting that one - a colossus called Terminus!’ Pietro exclaims, asking the Avengers West Coast if this makes sense to any of them.
At that moment, south of San Francisco, civilians run for their lives as Terminus battles the transformed Termini! ‘By the Medusa’s serpentine locks!’ Hercules booms as the Olympian takes in the battle raging before him. ‘Scarce had the multitude of Termini combined into a single towering behemoth - than a metallic twin to the false Terminus I once fought hath descended from out of the heavens - and now the twain do battle in the heart of San Francisco!’ Hercules exclaims.
Hercules suddenly hears Terminus speak, if that is Terminus, to the Termini. ‘So, wormling - you are the spawn of Terminus - the many who are become the one!’ Terminus exclaims. ‘I have returned from far space, having slain a Thunder God and incorporated his hammer into my own body - to learn which of us shall inherit the vengeful mantle of our long-dead creator race!’ Terminus declares. The Termini’s jagged-toothed mouth snarls in reply: ‘Then you should have stayed hidden behind some darking star. Terminus - “father”! For you have journeyed all this vast distance - only to face obliteration at the hand of your “son”!’ Termini declares, racing towards Terminus with a a strange weapon. ‘Have I? We shall see!’ Terminus replies as his weapon clangs against Termini’s.
‘By my beard the Termini-creature hath broken off its own spine-like tail - to defray the blow his elder’s lance!’ Hercules exclaims. ‘Did their creators design it thus - that it might be used as a weapon?’ he wonders. The Olympian wonders how it is that the Termini who lately did babble like infants have now fused into an entity which trades banter, as well as blows, with Terminus. Suddenly, the Quinjet lands nearby. ‘Ah! The Avengers have come!’ Hercules exclaims, hoping they can take him to some vantage point where he can enter the fray.
‘Wasp! Dr Pym! A thousand thanks for answering my clarion call!’ Hercules exclaims as he rushes towards the Avengers West Coast, where the Wasp tells Hercules that his call surprised them. ‘We figured any menace you and Thor couldn’t whip by yourselves had to be a whopper!’ Hank exclaims, adding that they were wrong: ‘It’s two whoppers!’ Hank jokes, before asking Hercules what is going on here. Iron Man, Wonder Man, Hawkeye, USAgent, the Human Torch, Quicksilver and Machine Man gather around, with Iron Man asking where Thor is. ‘Thought you two came here together’ he adds.
Hercules replies that the Son of Odin has made a miscalculation most tragic, leaving him to fight the various Termini, Thor soared into space in search of the true Terminus. Hercules continues, explaining that Terminus did return, boasting he had slain Thor and “incorporated” his hammer into Terminus’ very being. ‘Thor - dead?’ Hawkeye gasps. Hank points out that the enchantments placed on the Uru hammer should have prevented the alien from even lifting it, let alone absorbing it. ‘Terminus, my friend, is no ordinary foeman’ Hercules exclaims. ‘What’s more, while we stand here jawing - those two 15--foot leviathans are liable to total the City by the Bay!’ Iron Man exclaims as energies slam together.
‘If only Captain America and I stopped the Termini when they were tiny spores - or Machine Man and I when they were the size of animals!’ Iron Man regrets. ‘No use crying over spilled brake fluid, Avenger’ USAgent declares. ‘The Avengers West Coast are here to bring those walking erector sets down to size!’. Someone asks Walker if he has any ideas how they do that, to which USAgent clenches his fists and exclaims that they will think of a way. Machine Man points out that since Hercules and Thor both failed to defeat the enemy, it is doubtless more than brute force is called for. ‘True, Machine Man. Maybe this will help?’ Hank offers, revealing something in his hand.
‘A couple of tiny lenses? You gotta be kidding!’ Hawkeye exclaims. But Hank tells his friend not to forget that when bombarded with Pym Particles, things that were originally huge can become bit-sized and vice-versa. The lenses are increased in size, while someone exclaims ‘I know you didn’t enlarge those things so the Terminus twins could each have a monocle. What gives?’. ‘You’ll see - I hope - when both lenses are in position’. Hank asks Iron Man and Machine Man to place themselves southwest of the Termini construct. Iron Man and the Machine Man grab one side each of one of the lenses and take flight, with Machine Man asking Iron Man what Dr Pym’s plan is. ‘When he’s got one we don’t ask - we just carry it out’ Iron Man replies, adding that it is a good thing they fixed Machine Man up with a new arm.
Hank continues with his instructions, telling Wonder Man and the Human Torch to take the other lens south southeast of Terminus. ‘Nothing I’d rather do, Doc’ Simon replies, while taking flight, asking the Human Torch if he can hold up his side without melting it. The original Human Torch replies that he can, but that following orders mindlessly isn’t #1 on his personal hit parade. ‘Or do they still do “your hit parade”?’ he asks.
Hank, the Wasp, Hawkeye, Walker, Hercules and Quicksilver go into two Quinjets as Hercules exclaims that it will be a joy to fight once more alongside so valiant a mortal assemblage as the Avengers - be they of whatever Coast. The Wasp tells Hercules that this is not going to be a picnic, while USAgent announces that the Government agents who appointed him to watch-dog this team want the two Kong-types wasted. ‘So that’s what we’re gonna do period!…somehow’.
Hank looks out the window and sees that both teams are nearly on their marks, to which Quicksilver tells Hawkeye that the Avengers West Coast were fortunate to find so able a leader as Henry Pym in their moment of need. ‘Yeah, lucky us’ Clint replies, frowning, as he thinks to himself that nobody actually appointed him leader. ‘And after all, I’m the one who founded the West Coast branch. “Forgotten, but not gone” - that’s me!’ Clint thinks to himself, while Hank exclaims ‘There they are - bigger than life and an infinite number of times as ugly!’ while the Quinjet darts around the behemoths.
Nearby, the Machine Man asks Iron Man if he has noticed that even as the two Termini blast at each other, each seeking a vital spot, they have slowly edged southward from San Francisco. ‘Since we hoped they’d move away from areas of greatest population density, maybe we shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth’ Iron Man replies. ‘But yeah, now that you mention it, it almost seems they’ve each moved south according to some pre-conceived unspoken pact, even while trying to kill each other!’ Tony adds.
Nearby, the Human Torch informs Wonder Man that Dr Pym is signalling them. ‘He wants us in position the next time they -’ Simon begins, before there is a blinding light. ‘By Zeus’ beard and my own!’ Hercules exclaims inside the Quinjet. ‘What happened? Even my dark glasses didn’t keep me from being blinded’ the Wasp exclaims. ‘Wait’ll my pupils go back to being bigger than B-B’s and I’ll -’ USAgent begins, before alerting everyone to what Terminus and the Termini are doing: ‘The brothers Kong are both still moving more or less south, but now they’re moving at angles away from each other’. Walker wonders if the behemoths blinded themselves even worse than they did to the Avengers.
In the other Quinjet, Hawkeye asks Hank to clue them in to what he did. ‘Simplicity itself, Hawk’ Pym replies, explaining that the two mirror lenses, among other things, refract light on a huge scale, and since they were activated just as the Termini lost visual contact with each other for a crucial instant amid a burst of light, each now sees his opponent in a place where he isn’t. ‘In short, we’ve got them pursuing light-mirages of each other!’. Hank adds that he couldn’t be positive his ploy would work, but points out they were not having any success the other way.
Quicksilver points out that such a visual deception cannot last long, to which Dr Pym replies ‘No. But at least we’ve separated that pair. And bought a bit of time’. The two Quinjets swoop down towards one opponent each. ‘Now it’s up to the Avengers West Coast to see what we can do with it!’ someone exclaims, while the jagged-toothed Termini screeches ‘Terminus - “father” - where are you? Your “child” wishes to thank you for the gift of life - by destroying you!’.
The Termini sees Terminus up ahead: ‘Ah - there you are! How shall the old generation of killing machines give way to the - new?’ the Termini is puzzled as the trick is revealed. The Termini opens its mouth wide, showing it’s deadly razor-sharp teeth and shrieks: ‘Impertinent specks! You have sought to deceive a stage-four Terminoid with photonic images!’. Holding the lens, the Human Torch exclaims ‘Uh-oh! He must’ve figured it out - and switched on some sixth sense!’. ‘For that, your lives must be extinguished!’ the Termini booms, blasting the lens with energy, the lens shatters and Simon and the Human Torch are knocked backwards. ‘Good thing that lance-blast honed in on the lens - instead of us!’
‘I don’t know about you, Torch - but I got tired real fast of being target practice for this creep!’ Simon exclaims, before flying towards the Termini, and punching it in the jaw. ‘You dislodged a metal molar - but he’s got plenty of them to spare!’ the Human Torch exclaims, throwing some fire bolts he suggests that some heat, like Iron Man said worked against the second-stage Termini up in Seattle, might work. The Human Torch looks perplexed when nothing happens. ‘No go! If this version’s got a weakness, it’s not fire and / or ice, like the first two. But maybe we can dope out what is - while he tries to figure out which of these five Human Torches is the real McCoy!’
With that, four decoy Human Torches appear and fly towards the Termini, who immediately blasts at one of them. ‘Close, big fella - but no cigar!’ the Human Torch exclaims, while Wonder Man congratulates his teammate on a good stall. One of the Quinjets pulls up alongside them, and while the Wasp pilots the high-tech aircraft, USAgent and Hercules stand ready on the craft’s wings. ‘The old-timer’s got guts, but defense won’t win this war, right, Hercules?’ Walker asks. ‘I said right, Hercules?’ Johnny repeats himself when he gets no response.
Hercules’ mind is preoccupied, thinking to himself that “Terminoid” and the real Terminus are so like the false Terminus he faced in Antarctic realms. ‘How was it that I did best that one again?’ Hercules asks himself, as his mind wanders back to that adventure, recalling how he was hurled so that his fists penetrated the behemoth’s armored chin, then he slide down the metal torso, ripping it asunder. ‘And why should not such an assault prevail against yonder spawn of Terminus?’ Hercules shouts, hurling himself towards the Termini - only to be knocked back as his powerful form strikes the behemoth. ‘Whatever the reason - ‘twill not!’ Hercules exclaims, before crashing into the ground below.
‘Hercules is down - and that walking skyscraper doesn’t mean for him to get up again!’ Wonder Man exclaims. ‘Check! This calls for a diversion, while the Olympian escapes’ USAgent exclaims. ‘Better let me handle it’ Simon tells Walker. ‘I may be fighting out of my class - but I’m more in the ballpark than you are!’ Simon exclaims. ‘That must be why they call you “Wonder Man” - I wonder where in blazes you get off - thinking you can tell USAgent what to do?’ Walker declares as he leaps from the Quinjet wing and onto the head of the Termini. This surprises the Human Torch: ‘Wha -? That ersatz Captain America landed right on the Termini’s back!’. Wonder Man replies that he learned some time ago that the USAgent may be something of a blowhard, but he is a brave blowhard.
‘And meanwhile, good ol’ Jan gets to drive the getaway car’ the Wasp thinks to herself, knowing that diversionary tactics are usually her shtick, and with the help of the automatic pilot, it will be again. ‘After all, when you’re up against something the size of the Terminus clan, the difference between a six foot man and a 5’ 4” woman is pretty academic - and being Wasp size, complete with wings might be a downright advantage’ Janet exclaims as she flies from the Quinjet, towards the Termini, where she sees an opening between his metallic “eye” and its socket.
Jan flies inside, only to discover that the Termini seems to be hollow, but seething with some kind of energy. She is unsure of what kind of energy it might be, but knows she will not be able to do any damage in there, so flies back out of the behemoth, where USAgent is currently clinging for his life, thinking to himself that he bit off more than he can chew, this time. ‘All I can do is annoy this guy but clinging to a soft spot he can’t reach’ Johnny tells himself, before realizing that there is nothing much left to cling to - and he suddenly falls to certain doom!
‘You know. I was thinking - maybe they call me Wonder Man because I wonder why a hotshot like you needs to be rescued!’ Simon exclaims as he flies down and grabs Johnny’s hand. ‘I’ve got a perfect comeback for that crack, Williams…’ Johnny replies. ‘Which is?’ Simon asks. ‘I’ll let you know - soon as I get a hundred feet closer to the ground’ USAgent tells him.
The Termini exclaims that it has wasted enough time being led astray by these insignificant human mites. ‘He led me inland - while my parent was lured seaward - but I shall swiftly reach him - and then - and then!’ it shouts.
At that moment, the Terminus discovers also that he has been tricked. ‘By the dead race that created me!’ he exclaims, while Iron Man and the Machine Man fly towards him, alongside the other Quinjet. Hawkeye tells Hank that he thinks they have got about as much mileage out of his “it’s all done with mirrors” trick as they could expect. ‘You and me both, Hawkeye’ Pym replies, telling his friend that they should hop the Monterey Peninsula survives its latest tourist invasion, when suddenly, Quicksilver speeds from the Quinjet down to the ground. Pietro radios back to Pym, pointing out that the Quinjet can take more effective evasive action if its load is lightened.
‘Small loss, Doc! Pietro’s okay if you need somebody to play messenger boy - but as a scrapper, he’s dead weight!’ Hawkeye tells Pym, when suddenly, Terminus blasts the Quinjet with a bolt of energy. ‘Can the evaluations, Archer! We’re hit!’ Hank shouts. ‘We lose more Quinjets this way’ Hank mutters, before both men emerge from the flailing Quinjet on a sky-cycle. ‘Yeah, small wonder Tony Stark went busy a time or two, playing our sugar-daddy’ Hawkeye replies, adding that you cannot exactly replace a Quinjet by buying one off the racks. ‘Hey, speaking of Stark, do you think there’s really somebody else under this new Iron Man’s tin-can trousseau?’ Clint asks.
‘Later, Hawk!’ Hank exclaims, motioning to where some cars are driving into Big Sur. ‘Terminus is liable to step right on them - without so much as seeing them!’ Hank exclaims. ‘Then let’s give him something he can see - one of my patent-pending rocket arrows!’ Hawkeye exclaims as he shoots an arrow towards the Terminus, where it strikes him in the shoulder. ‘Uh - guess it’d take more than a two-pound payload to do him any real damage, huh?’ Hawkeye remarks. Hank tells Clint that he isn’t sure two tonws would have done any, before urging him to veer away from Terminus: ‘Don’t give him a chance to aim his - lance!’ Hank exclaims.
But too late, as Terminus strikes Hank and Clint down. Their sky-cycle crashes to the ground, and the heroes land nearby. Clint asks Hank if he is okay. ‘I don’t feel so -’ Clint begins, before asking Hank what he is looking at - ‘Believe me, Bowman - you do not want to know!’ Quicksilver as he speeds along and grabs both men - before Terminus stands on them! ‘Perhaps I have a few more uses than you have imagined’ Pietro remarks smugly. ‘Okay, you win. I just hope money-bags Stark feels like playing Mr Deep-Pockets for a recent returnee from the Great Lakes Avengers’ Clint mutters.
Hank tells Clint that what counts is that Terminus didn’t crush those motorists. ‘But we’re out of the ball game now. Our only hope now is Iron Man and Machine Man!’. Up in the sky, Iron Man and Machine Man fly towards Terminus who booms ‘A planet whose fate hangs by such frail strands is a planet already doomed!’. Iron Man tells Machine Man that Terminus has a point. ‘My repulsor rays are doing him as much harm as a water pistol!’. Machine Man replies that if Iron Man’s repulsor rays will not stop Terminus, then nothing in his arsenal will. ‘But - do you realize that Terminus words are the closest we have come to knowing either alien’s motives?’ Machine Man asks.
‘If it’s a joint statement you’re looking for - this might be your chance!’ Iron Man exclaims as the Termini approaches them, brushing off the Human Torch’s fireballs like mist. ‘Terminus! Ignore these maggots! I, who once was many, have become the foe who matters!’ Termini booms. ‘True! But our only battle - our ultimate confrontation - is with each other!’ Terminus exclaims, before the behemoths once more engage in battle.
‘This is what I was afraid of - what I was trying to prevent - those two monsters are going at it hammer and tong!’ Dr Pym exclaims. ‘So what’s the problem? Let ‘em waste each other!’ USAgent declares. ‘Don’t you understand? If Terminus journeyed all the way back to Earth to fight his offspring - there’s got to be a reason!’ Hank exclaims. ‘And whatever it is - I’m betting we’re not going to like it’ the Wasp remarks.
Wonder Man sees that the behemoths’ struggle is shaking the ground, causing a nearby mission to collapse and endanger all the people there. ‘Come on! We’ve got to go!’ But the Human Torch tells Wonder Man that there is more at stake here than a few human lives. ‘We’ve got to stay - look for an opening!’ he declares.
Terminus declares that the energy expenditure of the both of them is now at its peak. ‘You have inherited my programming - and thus you know what that means!’ Terminus exclaims. ‘YES!’ Termini declares. ‘Lord, I wish we did - but all we get to do is dodge the Termini’s lance and - huh? Terminus hurled his own lance after junior’s! But why? I thought they were the source of much of their power?’ Wonder Man asks as he and the other Avengers dodge the weapons. ‘They are, Simon. I don’t get it either!’ someone exclaims. ‘It must mean our foes feel they no longer need them!’ someone suggests.
‘Terminus doesn’t need his, that’s fore sure. He’s bout to lower the boom on his son and heir!’ Iron Man exclaims as Terminus stands over his son. ‘Correction - make that on his ex-heir! But he’s not hitting him?’ someone points out as the Termini is broken apart by Terminus’ energy. ‘Then - exactly what is Terminus doing to him?’ Iron Man wonders, unable to make out what is going on thanks to the glare. ‘He’s opening his mouth, Iron Man! Opening it wide - wider still, until - look at the Termini creature! He’s shrunk to only a fraction of his former size - and Terminus is swallowing him!’ someone declares.
‘I don’t get it!’ the Human Torch exclaims. ‘Did demon beget demon - only that the elder might devour the younger?’ Hercules asks. ‘Somehow - there must be more to it than that!’ Machine Man exclaims. ‘Hold it! Something’s happening - Terminus - he’s about to -’ USAgent exclaims as a blinding light surrounds Terminus - before there is a massive explosion, knocking the Avengers West Coast and their allies backwards.
‘Good gravy! That was the mightiest explosion I ever didn’t hear!’ the Human Torch exclaims. Hercules remarks it was like unto the conflagration when Zeus hurled his thunderbolts in the midst of Thypon’s chaos-hordes. ‘But, at least both aliens were destroyed!’ the Wasp exclaims. ‘Were they, Wasp? Then what in the blazes is that!’ USAgent exclaims. ‘Inside the maelstrom created by the blast - something lives - something huge!’ someone exclaims.
A voice booms from the maelstrom: ‘Not “something”, mortal insect - but rather, the fifth - the final - the Ultimate Terminus!’. The new, even bigger, four-armed Terminus stands in before the Avengers, before turning and walking away. ‘I - I can’t believe it!’ Wonder Man exclaims. ‘Believe, it, Simon. That Termini thing must’ve gestated inside Terminus is record time - and in bursting out, it absorbed the full mass of its parent. End result: A six-limbed titan twice as large as either one!’ Iron Man exclaims, to which USAgent declares ‘We we couldn’t stop them! How are we going to put the skids on him…?’
Meanwhile, in New York City, Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America stands before the Vision, Wendell “Quasar” Vaughn and Jennifer Walters a.k.a. the She-Hulk and concludes his re-telling of what Iron Man has just told him. ‘According to him, this “stage-5 Terminus stalked off due east’. The Vision points out that they must proceed westward from New York City at once to intercept it. ‘With the sunshine supermen headed this way, we’ll catch it in between us - and squash it like a bug!’ Quasar suggests. ‘After all, forewarned is four-armed, right?’. The Vision replies that this is hardly the time for levity.
The She-Hulk reminds the Vision that Quasar’s job description is “Protector of the Universe”, so she is sure he takes this as seriously as any of them. ‘Maybe joking about it is the way to contemplate a face-off with a 300-foot metal alien without going out of your skull!’ She-Hulk declares, hands-on-hips, before asking where the Terminus-5 will be when they meet up with their Californian teammates. Cap replies that Dr Pym has done the calculations, and points to a map: ‘We should split the difference right about…here!’….
Third Story:At the aquatic environment park called Marine World, the three mutant Atlanteans - Eel, Sharskin and Undertow - collectively known as SURF - are tunnelling beneath Marine World in an attempt to free the captive sea life, returning it to the vast oceans. ‘Dig faster, Sharkskin. We’re almost in place under the park!’ Eel declares. ‘Soon we will bring our fellow sea dwellers back from the captivity which has harmed them!’ Undertow exclaims. Suddenly, one of the tanks holding some whales cracks - and SURF emerges. ‘Flee, surface dwellers! We are SURF, and we are here to liberate our brothers! We wish to harm no one!’ Undertow exclaims, telling his teammates that they must gather the whales together, and with his water control, they can get the whales back to sea.
But sitting amongst the civilians is a rather unique individual - Bonita Juarez, formerly of the Avengers West Coast. ‘So much for my day at the park. Better call in the cavalry’ Bonita tells herself, and after rushing to a payphone, she returns to the tank - as Firebird! Bonita tells herself that she has heard of SURF, and knows they are not really outlaws, as they helped get some “surface dwellers” out of a jam during the Atlantean invasion a while back. ‘I wonder what’s got them so upset?’
Meanwhile, at the Avengers West Coast Compound in Palos Verdes, Dr Hank Pym puts the phone down, and tells himself that he is sure Firebird can prevent too much trouble from happening before the team arrives, as San Diego is not too far by Quinjet. ‘Avengers Assem - ble. Oh. ‘ Hank remarks as Clint “Hawkeye” Barton and Janet van Dyne a.k.a. the Wasp appear next to him. ‘No need to shout, Dr Pym. What’s the trouble?’ Clint asks. Moments later, the trio enter the Quinjet hangar, while Clint asks who is scheduled to pilot today. Hank replies that Clint can fly the Quinjet today, as he wants to go over the shrunken equipment that is in his pockets. ‘It pays to be prepared when you’re an Avenger, eh, Wasp?’ Hank remarks. ‘We should know, dear. We helped found the team!’ Jan replies.
Shortly, Clint tells Hank that it is great that he always had the foresight to make sure all the Avengers can fly the Quinjet. ‘But navigation’s another matter. We almost missed the park…except that you can’t miss Firebird’ Hawkeye adds, looking down at the park, he sees Firebird hovering over a pool where SURF are with some whales, he decides that it looks like a standoff.
Seconds later, Hank, Clint and Janet have made it down to the park, where Bonita asks them ‘What kept you?’. ‘We stopped at the mall’ Hawkeye jokes, while Hank asks his friend what the situation is. Firebird replies that she hasn’t been able to do anything but keep SURF detained, as she was afraid of harming the whales. Hank stands near the pool and remarks that at least the crowds have cleared out, and asks his teammates to distract SURF while he saves the whales. ‘I’ll have to get the whales out of this tank to save them’ Hank thinks to himself, deciding that the only way to do that is to reduce their size with his Pym Particles, and gently, so he doesn’t shock their systems. ‘Hey…isn’t a Bonita some kind of fish?’ Cling asks, while wondering ‘Who are these guys, anyway? Renegade Atlanteans? The sons of the Tidy Bowl Man?’. Hank places the two shrunken whales into a small sterile plastic beaker of water which he is thankful he was carrying among his items.
‘Hey! That stings!’ Sharkskin exclaims. ‘That’s why they call me the Wasp!’ Janet exclaims as she blasts Sharkskin. ‘Hold still, will ya? You’re worse than Reed Richards!’ Hawkeye shouts as he fires an arrow at Eel, but he easily dodges it, before boasting that he listens to no air-breather and dives into the pool. ‘Eel, is it? I’m gonna make sushi out of you!’ Hawkeye boasts. ‘Sharkskin can take all the stings you have, little one!’ Sharkskin exclaims, while Undertow sends some water into the air, telling Firebird that he will put out her flames, but Bonita dodges him with ease.
‘Hmmm. I suppose that’s all of them - no. One more’ Hank thinks to himself as he sees another whale. ‘Air-breather! What are you doing to our kindred?’ Undertow asks, before blasting Hank with some water. ‘Almost got - oops!’ Hank thinks to himself, before falling into the pool. ‘I’ll get him!’ Firebird and the Wasp exclaim in unison, before frowning at each other as they both descend to reach Hank. ‘Both Wasp and Firebird rushing to me…Firebird was interested in me at one point - even saved my life. And Wasp - Janet van Dyne - was my wife! Hope this isn’t awkward!’ Hank thinks to himself as Bonita and Jan pull him from the water. ‘Uh…thanks, ladies’ Hank tells them.
‘It may not be honorable to assault a lady from behind, but neither is imprisoning our kindred in these tanks!’ Undertow exclaims as he blasts drenches Firebird in water. ‘And now that your fire’s out…how would you all like to be held in a bubble of air in the depths of the sea?’ Sharkskin asks as he moves towards Dr Pym, the Wasp and Firebird. ‘Yee-ha! Catch of the day - fresh Atlantean in an electro-net!’ Hawkeye exclaims as his arrow fires the net, capturing Sharkskin - but Eel suddenly reaches up out of the water, and pulls Clint into the tank of water.
‘You’re all washed up, air-breather! Surrender our kindred!’ Undertow exclaims as he drenches Firebird once more. But Bonita manages to heat up enough, enabling her to steam off the water. ‘Okay, now I’ll teach you kids some manners!’ Firebird exclaims.
Underwater, Hawkeye holds his breath, thinking to himself ‘This guy’s like a bad date - all arms! I think he needs to lighten up’. Clint reaches for something on his belt, not sure if it will work, he holds the flare arrow tip up, blinding Eel, who releases Clint. Hawkeye thinks that he is in big trouble as he is running out of breath, only for the remaining whale to save him! ‘These whales are friendly!’ Clint exclaims riding on the back of the whale. ’Giddyup! Er, no. what do you say when you’re riding a whale? Nice fishie!’ Hawkeye exclaims.
Undertow blasts his water at Sharkskin, telling him that he cannot maintain his pedestal of water for much longer, so they must rally beneath the surface to plan anew the salvation of their kindred whales. ‘Perhaps a little water will help you regain your strength!’. On the platform, Hank has used his Pym Particles on the last of the whales and puts it in the beaker, telling Firebird to do her stuff. Firebird removes her hand from Hank’s shoulder, before covering the pool with fire. ‘I’ll bring them out. Perhaps then we can discover what the meaning of their attack has been!’ Bonita exclaims as the water temperature is heated just enough to make it uncomfortable.
Moments later, the three members of SURF all leap from the water, screaming, while Bonita collapses on the podium nearby: ‘Too much effort…worn out…’ she exclaims. Clint, Hank and Janet surround SURF: ‘Now that all the fish are out of the water, maybe we can settle this peacefully!’ Hank exclaims. ‘We meant no harm!’ Undertow declares. ‘You’d better just hope you haven’t harmed Bonita’ Clint warns them. ‘We only wish to stop the abuse of our kindred sea dwellers - we mean to take them home!’ Undertow exclaims.
‘Hey, Dr Pym? Got any aspirin? The strain gave me a headache’ Firebird declares, sitting up on the side of the pool. Hank smiles and tells Clint that he thinks Bonita will be fine. Hawkeye aims an arrow at SURF and declares that the whales are gentle creature. ‘You creeps could’ve hurt them!’. Undertow looks confused: ‘You have not harmed them?’ he asks, while Hank holds the beaker full of the shrunken whales. ‘Perhaps our concerns are mutual’ Undertow remarks.
Later, the whales have been returned to their true size and are swimming in the pool with SURF. The Avengers West Coast stand around the tank and Jan points out that since the whales have been restored to their size, they seem to welcome the Atlanteans. ‘I just hope the Atlanteans realize these tanks are for the whales’ protection, not harm’ Hank remarks, adding that they study the whales to better understand them, before asking where Firebird has gone. ‘She went to let the park officials know that the storm is over - and to ask for some aspirin’ Hawkeye replies.
‘If the whales are being kept for protection, why must they suffer the indignity of performing for food?’ Undertow asks, watching one of the whales leap into the air to collect some food. ‘That is an unnatural action for them. Possibly harmful’ Undertow declares. Hank, Clint and Janet all frown, before the members of SURF ride a wave created by Undertow, who tells the Avengers that they leave them to see that the whales in these tanks are cared for properly. ‘We will return to do our part at sea. Farewell!’ he declares, and the Atlanteans return in the same manner which they appeared…
…to the vast oceans where a diminishing population of whales swims free of captivity or the necessity to perform. Yet there are still many dangers…. Such as the whaling ship that approaches a pod of whales, its crew armed with harpoons, ready to kill the majestic creatures….


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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When Lives the Lightning
The wilderness, somewhere, a man hikes through the rugged terrain, thinking to himself that it seems like another world out here – his father's world. But, after tonight, his world,  too. He looks at a map he calls the Legion's map, and knows that the pam is the main reason he didn't find out where this place was l ong ago, the maps were all in some stupid code – but he finally cracked it, and it turned out what he was looking for was right out here in the Santa Ana Mountains, not an hour's drive from the barrio in East LA. He stands on an orange triangle etched into the dirt, and notices a jagged white line in the triangle. He thinks to himself that hikers and campers must pass within a hundred yards of this every day – and never even suspect anything. 'All they'd have to do is clear away some debris, like I have – and they'd have seen the thunderbolt' he tells himself, before realizing that lightning isn't their heritage – it's his. He puts his hand into a imprint in the triangle, and prays that the gate mechanism still works after all this time. There is a rumbling, and a large set of doors built into the side of the mountain before him open. 'A dios gracias!' the young man exclaims. He realizes that this is where it all happened – in the hidden lair of the Legion of the Living Lightning!
Meanwhile, at the Avengers West Coast Compound in Palos Verdes, Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch sits up in a bed within the medical facilities of the Compound. Physician Dr Sanford stands beside her and instructs her to take it easy for a few days and then she will be back on her feet before she knows it. Wanda smiles and tells Dr Sanford not to worry, for as eager as she is to be up and about, she has no intention of rushing things. Wanda adds that she is fully aware of how lucky she is to simply be alive. 'That's our good fortune every much as it is yours, Wanda' Janet van Dyne a.k.a. the Wasp remarks as she stands around the bed, gathered with the rest of the Avengers West Coast members Dr Henry Pym, Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man, Simon Williams a.k.a. Wonder Man, John Walker a.k.a. USAgent, Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye, as well as Wanda's mentor, the sorceress Agatha Harkness, and Wanda's brother Pietro Maximoff a.k.a. Quicksilver. Amen to that, Jannie' Hawkeye remarks.
As he packs his equipment into a bag, Dr Sanford decides that for someone with friends like this, his prognosis might have been a bit conservative. Dr Pym reports that they have arranged to have a nurse in attendance 24 hours a day here at the Compound. '25 if necessary' the Wasp jokes, to which Wanda remarks that now she knows she will have to get well fast, and adds that she is going to loathe being a burden. Dr Sanford then asks everyone to clear out, as his patient needs a good night's rest. 'Of course, doctor' Quicksilver replies, before bidding his sister a good night. Everyone files out of the room except for Wonder Man, so the nurse that was in the room with them, Daniella Tomaz, asks him if there was something he wanted. 'What? Oh...no. Nothing' Simon replies, to which Daniella points out that the others have left. Simon apologizes and starts to leave, to which Wanda tells him to wait. 'I guess we showed Immortus where he could get off, didn't we?' Wanda remarks. 'You showed him, Wanda...when you threw off all that excess power he'd secretly bred in you' Simon points out, adding that the rest of them were mostly just along for the ride. . Wanda tells Simon that sometimes he can be so silly, before bidding him good night. 'Good night' Simon replies.
Moments later, Simon arrives outside the front of the Compound, where Quicksilver walks Dr Sanford to his car and tells him that he hesitated to ask this in front of his sister, but he wants to know if her so-called hex power will return when she is stronger. Dr Sanford admits that he can't say, and adds 'Before tonight, I never before treated a – well, you know – a mutant'. Quicksilver looks angry and clenches a fist as he retorts 'You say the word “mutant” as if it were something unclean! By all that is holy, I will -' Pietro begins, before Dr Sanford tells him to hang on a minute, when Hawkeye suddenly rushes over and comes between the two. 'Chill out, Pietro! He didn't mean anything by it' Hawkeye tells Quicksilver, warning Quicksilver that if he is going to be as tough as he used to be, then he is not going to do himself or Wanda any good. Quicksilver agrees that Hawkeye is right, and apologizes to Dr Sanford. 'No harm done' the doctor responds, before Quicksilver excuses himself and speeds away. Hawkeye apologizes to Dr Sanford and explains that Quicksilver can be a bit of a hot-head at times.
'Now there was a sight – Hawkeye telling somebody else to act like a pussycat' the Wasp remarks as she approaches Hawkeye, before asking if he and Iron Man can help her and Hank hunt for Tigra. Iron Man explains that is days overdue at Stark Enterprises, so he won't be able to help, while Hawkeye asks if Tigra is still six inches tall and roaming the grounds like a wild animal. USAgent stands nearby and says nothing, while Hawkeye walks over to his sky-cycle and yells the Wasp that he will be back later, but his estranged wife, Mockingbird, is blowing into town and he promised he would meet her in Hollywood. The Wasp asks Hawkeye to give Mockingbird her love, and suggests that it is a good idea to see Mockingbird away from the Compound. 'There's probably a lesson there for all of us' the Wasp adds, glancing over to Hank Pym as he speaks to Agatha Harkness. Hawkeye takes off on his sky-cycle and bids Iron Man goodbye. 'Don't you let Tony Stark ream you  for playing hookey. We all know what a hard case he can be' Hawkeye jokes. 'Uh... right. See you soon' Iron Man replies, emotionlessly, given no one knows that Tony himself is under the armor.
At that moment, the man who found the old lair of the Legion of the Living Lightning explores the ruined base, while thinking to himself that not many people ever heard of the Legion, let alone how it tried to take control of the US – for its own good. The man's name is Miguel Santos, and he vows that he will change all that – if he can gets the device in the center of the lair to do what his father told him it used to do. 'Well, wearing his fingerprint glove opened the doors, didn't it? Why shouldn't the lightning machine work too?' he wonders, deciding that then he will finally make it up to his father. 'If only he hadn't made me stay in school in LA – then I'd have been here that day... the day he and the whole Legion – had their backs against the wall.
On that day, the Lightning Lord told the Legion of the Living Lightning that they had been neaten, but that they would destroy the army base before they died. The man thinks that the Lightning Lord would have saved America from people who didn't love it as much as his father, who had come here from Mexico, if not for that green-skinned monster, the Incredible Hulk, who, in his mad rage, blew up half this mountain. The man kneels down and finds two cables as he thinks that that the Legionnaires are all dead, even the one who escaped and told him what happened – but the Legion's dream, his father's dream, to abolish war and hatred by taking over – maybe he can revive it, by something as simple as connecting these two cables together – but as the man connects the cables, a powerful surge of electrical energy shocks him, surging through his body, and he screams.
Back at the Palos Verdes Compound, USAgent calls out to Wonder Man, telling him that he knows they promised to help look for that cat-lady the rest of them lost, but he wondered if they can have a fast game of pool, first. 'Some other time, okay?' Simon replies, informing Agent that he has a phone call to make. 'Yeah... sure. Another time' Agent mutters, while thinking to himself that this is the story of his life as an Avenger, West Coast variety, as the others resent the way that the government forced him down their throats. He wonders if he should make himself easier to swallow, and decides that it might not be too late, looking over to Hank Pym and his ex-wife the Wasp talking to Agatha Harkness, Agent realizes that the two of them haven't cold-shouldered him the way that Hawkeye did, and even Wonder Man just now.
USAgent starts to walk towards Hank and the Wasp, wondering if he should tell them how proud he is to be an Avenger, before stopping in his tracks, asking himself why he is kissing up to them – the government appointed him an Avenger, and that's good enough for him. 'Who do these bozos think they are, anyway, looking down their noses at me? Frag 'em!' Walker think to himself as he turns and strides away – although Hank Pym notices him and calls out to him, only USAgent doesn't respond. Hank tells Jan that it is funny the way USAgent insists on playing the hard-headed outsider, instead of steam player, and wonders if he will mellow in time. 'I wouldn't bet the ranch on it, Hank' Jan remarks.
Hank turns back to Agatha Harkness and tells her that she is welcome to stay on here as long as she likes, as it would do the Scarlet Witch good, since Wanda looks on her as family. 'And I her, Dr Pym' Agatha replies, before deciding that she will stay until Wanda is better. Suddenly, a black cat leaps up into Agatha's arms. 'Why, good evening, Ebony' Agatha greets her faithful cat, before remarking that the situation with the unfortunate cat woman Tigra intrigues her as well, and suggests that perhaps her far-roving familiar and she can help her locate the missing Tigra. Jan tells Agatha that that would be wonderful, before Hank excuses himself and Jan, informing Agatha that before they search for Tigra he wants  to check in on the Human Torch, who went back into downtime following their outing against the Terminus Twins, to replenish his energy. 'Of course' Agatha responds.
Making their way back into the Compound, Jan asks Hank if he thinks the Torch will ever really adjust to being an Avenger, given that as an android who has been deactivated most of the time since the 1950s, he must feel like a fifth wheel. Hank tells Jan to give the Torch time, and reminds her that it took Captain America a while to get his bearings, too, after being on ice for decades. As they pass one of the rooms within the Compound, they hear Wonder Man on the telephone: '... after all, you were Wanda's husband. Well, actually, I suppose you still are, technically...so I figured you'd want to hear we'd got her out of Magneto's clutches first...then Immortus. Yeah, Immortus. It's a long story. Believe me, you don't want to know how long!' Simon exclaims, before telling the person on the other end of the phone – the Vision, his “brother” - that he was wondering how soon he could make it out here to see Wanda, as he is sure she could use a bit of cheering up from loved ones.
At the Avengers' base on the East Coast, the android Avenger called the Vision stands near Quasar as he reminds Simon that he is not the same android that he was, and that since his reconstruction, he has no conscious memory of his life with the Scarlet Witch. 'I wish her well, of course... but I suspect it is better if she and I have no communication or confrontation for the immediate future' the Vision states, telling Wonder Man that he hopes and trusts that he understands. 'Oh, I understant, all right...you better believe I do!' Simon snaps as he crushes the telephone receiver in his hand, while Jan and Hank watch on, shocked. 'I'm in love with a woman who loves a husband who's dead to her, and always will be! So how do I fight a ghost?' Simon shouts as he smashes through a window and flies out into the night. 'He's really upset! We'd better -' Hank begins, but Jan tells him to just let Simon go, that there is nothing they can do for him tonight.
Back in the forest, the moon glows down over the trees and mountains, while in the dark lair of the Legion of the Living Lightning, a spark flickers amongst the rubble – and then a energized hand reaches up through that rubble, before sparks of energy dart about, and the man who was shocked when connecting the cables emerges, his whole body glistening with energy. 'Free! I'm free again! But the pain – I felt – I'll remember the pain as long as I live!' he thinks to himself, before looking down at his hands, and is surprised to see that they are glowing – worse, his whole body is crackling, like a toaster on the fritz. 'Que pasa? What's happening to me?' he wonders, before remembering the wires, and supposes that when he connected them, he must have plugged himself into the lightning machine somehow, and decides that if the way he is feeling is any clue, then rather than just having a working weapon, he has turned himself into one! He raises his arms, and energy darts from his hands, blasting two large columns nearby.
He looks at his hands, 'That felt great!' he thinks to himself, wondering if the Legion had a few vatos like him, instead of having to use missiles and the machine. Suddenly, he realizes that it could have been anybody who got charged up like this, even somebody who hated everything the Legion and his father stood for. He decides not anymore, and releases his newfound power on the machine, blasting it to pieces. 'I can see now – it's better this way' he thinks to himself. He flies up out of the lair, declaring to himself that from this night on, there is only one Living Lightning – and it is him, Miguel Santos!
At that moment, at the Avengers West Compound, Hank Pym and the Wasp enter a lab, and after flicking on a light, are surprised to find Ann Raymond standing in the lab, looking up at a stasis tank which has been destroyed. 'What were you doing in my lab – in the dark?' Hank enquires, before realizing the original Human Torch isn't there, and asks Ann where the Torch has gone. Ann informs Dr Pym that it wasn't dark a little while ago in here, in fact, it was bright – so bright she was blinded for a time. 'I guess I never thought to turn on the light afterward Ann adds, looking to Hank and Jan. 'After what?' Hank asks, before realizing that the cylinder the Torch rests in when he is down so turned to slag, and the glass has fused. Jan alerts Hank to a hole melted through the roof of the tank. 'Not to be pushy with a guest, Mrs Raymond, but -' Hank begins, to which Ann explains that she cam here just to look at the Torch, reminding him that her husband was the Torch's boy partner, years ago – Toro.
Ann reminds Hank and Jan that she came here out West to learn if her husband, Tom, was really dead as she was told, but the Torch told her that he didn't know, and she hoped to ask him a few more questions while he was active, but when she came into the lab here, and he woke, there was a wild look in his eyes, and while that frightened her, no more than what happened next, as the Torch shouted 'Flame on!' and shifted to his flaming form, and a moment later, without so much as look at her, he blasted through the cylinder, and the lab, and escaped. Still dazed, Ann supposes that she just went on standing here, while night fell. As the Wasp and Hank begin wrapping some bandages around Ann's arms, the Wasp asks her if she didn't realize that she had received some burns. Hank asks Ann when this all happened, approximately, to which Ann motions towards a melted clock, and points out that the clock can tell him precisely. 'Good grief!' the Wasp gasps, and Hank sees that the clock says 5:45.
Hank heads out of the lab and asks Jan if she is coming. 'You bet. But that was hours ago! The Torch could be anywhere by now!' Jan exclaims. Hank tells her that wherever the Torch is, it sounds like he is probably terribly confused, and that it might be some residual effect of Wanda's hex power that shut him down earlier. 'And you're going to try to find him – with that?' Ann asks, surprised, as Hank pulls a small object from his pocket. As they head outside, Hank uses his Pym Particles on the object, transforming it into its true size, he explains that it is Rover, his pre-shrunk flying vehicle, which snaps back to normal size when he bombards it with Pym Particles. Hank tells Jan to hurry, as they have to stop the torch before, in his dazed state, he hurts himself 'Or – someone else!' Jan exclaims.
Meanwhile, the Human Torch lights up the night sky as he flies through the darkness, looking down below himself, he assumes he is over Orange County, and remarks to himself that it sure has grown since he and Toro were here. The Torch tells himself that to  everyone else, it has been years since Toro was killed by the Mad Thinker – but Toro, alive, is the last thing he can remember before he went nova in 1954, and he has only been activated for a total of a few days since that time, 36 years ago! The Torch recalls being told that Captain America was disorientated, too, when he was revived, but at least he was human, among other things. The Torch frowns when he thinks that there is even a new generation Torch blazing around as part of the Fantastic Four, and wonders if there is no place for an android like him – either in the Avengers West Coast, or in today's world. As  he drops down towards a “Derby Donuts” restaurant, he wonders if there is no place for him, then what he would do, but decides the more pressing concern is getting some directions back to the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
As he enters the restaurant, he powers off, appearing in his orange jumpsuit costume, he decides that it is good to see some things haven't changed – doughnut shops are still the best guarded businesses on Earth. 'Always a cop on hand' the Torch tells himself as he sees a police officer at the counter talking to the staff, while other patrons are seated throughout the restaurant. The Torch remembers that he used to be a cop, and even went by the name “Jim Hammond” - but he didn't fit any better into the regular police force than he did into the rest of society. 'The other Torch is the one that's human...not me' he laments. At that moment, a man leads a woman he calls Jennifer out the door, and they get into a car. 'Buckly up. We're due over at -' the man begins, as Jennifer puts her seat belt on, while he turns the car stereo on, and the radio announcer states that a flying, glowing man, or something resembling a man, has caused fires and electrical damages in the vicinity of Fullerton.
The Torch hears this radio report, and decides that it is something up his alley, so he shouts 'Flame on!' and flies out the restaurant, which doesn't go unnoticed by the patrons. 'Hey! Is that the “glowing man” we just heard about?' a woman asks, while a man points out that it sure looks like it, but he is supposed to be miles from here. The Torch realizes that he does match the radio description, but decides  to worry about that once I figures out how to get to this “Fullerton” place.
As Hank Pym and the Wasp soar through the air in the Rover, they hear the radio report which informs them that fires and electrical damage have been caused in the vicinity of Fullerton. 'What do you think, Hank? Could they mean the Torch?' the Wasp asks. Ann Raymond leans over from the back seat and tells the Wasp that it couldn't be, and adds that Tom told her so much about the Torch that she feels that she almost knows him. 'The Torch was kind – gentle! He wouldn't go wild like that – would he?' she asks. Hank tells Mrs Raymond that they can't claim to know the Torch as well as her late husband, but that is precisely what they aim to find out. As Rover speeds on through the night sky, Ann makes a noise as if she is uncomfortable, so Hank asks the Wasp if she can find Mrs Raymond an airsick bag.
The Torch continues through the air and wonders where Fullerton is, realizing that he should have asked somebody back at the doughnut shop before he flew off half-cocked. He reminds himself that he knew New York like the back of his hand – or used to, anyway – but Southern California is a different story. Suddenly, he sees a blacked out area down below, and guesses that he has hit the jackpot, as that might be what he is looking for. 'Or, rather, that bright glow in the middle' the Torch tells himself as he flies in for a closer look, and is shocked to discover downed power lines, and a nearby gas station ablaze, while people run around in a panic. 'Don't tell me – let me guess: Fullerton!' the Torch thinks to himself, while one civilian looks up to the sky and sees the Torch, before he shouts 'Look out! He's coming back!' 'Lemme outta here!' another civilian exclaims.
The Torch calls out to them, trying to tell them that he is not who they think he is, but he realizes it is no use, as no one is listening. The Torch sets about hovering over the flames and starts to absorb them into his own body so they don't cause any more harm, which he hopes will count for something – it probably would have, if anybody on the ground had noticed. He drops to the ground and calls out to the fleeing civilians, telling them that he needs some information, but no one stops to talk to him. The Torch is then forced to take flight as one of the fleeing civilians drives their car directly at him, nearly running him down. 'Doesn't anybody remember me anymore?' the Torch wonders, joking that he would have at least thought they might have mistaken him for that hotshot in the Fantastic Four! But he realizes that maybe no one recognizes the Fantastic Four this side of the Hudson River. He wonders where the person who caused all this damage is, when suddenly, a voice shouts something at the Torch in Spanish, and fires several lightning balls towards him.
'I said keep your distance!' Living Lightning exclaims as he appears before the Human Torch, who realizes that this must be his target for tonight. The Torch tells him that that he doesn't speak Spanish, before the Living Lightning introduces himself and explains that he is testing the limits of his new powers. The Torch introduces himself and suggests that the two of them have a lot in common. He starts to make another suggestion, but the Living Lightning interrupts him and warns the Torch that he won't stop him the way that the Hulk once did the Legion. 'Legion? What Legion? Liberty? Foreign? American?' the Torch enquires. 'You're just trying to confuse me!' the Living Lightning calls back. The Torch points out that it looks like the Living Lightning has gotten a head start on that, and flies towards him throwing a fireball towards the Living Lightning, but nothing happens, as the fireball can't get through an electrical field. 'You're not taking me anywhere!' the Living Lightning shouts as he fires a blast of electrical energy towards the Torch, but the Torch is able to dodge it.
That lighting ball careens towards the road below, and lands in front of a car, where inside the car a woman screams out to the male driver, Roger, who shields his eyes, unable to see, but this causes him to crash the car into a nearby tree. The Torch flies nearby and sees that it was a couple of kids, about Toro's age, the last time he saw him. As Roger and the woman in the car emerge from the vehicle unscathed, the Torch tells himself that it is a good thing that seat belts have caught on over the past few decades, before turning his attention back to the Living Lightning, he sees that the Lightning is firing another lighting ball towards the ground, and the Torch asks him what he is trying to do. 'Do? Why – just checking out my new powers – on those human guinea pigs below!' the Lightning responds as the bolts dart towards Roger and the woman, who are running across a field. 'Noooo!' the woman cries out, before the Torch flies down between them and the bolt, which strikes him, causing a blinding flare of light.

TheTorch then crashes to the ground in front of Roger and the woman. They look over to him, 'Whoever this guy is – he took that blast that aimed at us! We gotta go to him!' Roger exclaims as he rushes over to the Torch, but the Torch tells him to get out of here, warning him that the Living Lightning is coming back for him. 'He's right! Run!' the woman tells Roger. An instant later, 'You're a fool, Torch! I got no reason to hurt those kids! It's you I wanted to try out my powers on! And one more ray ought  to -' the Living Lightning begins, before the Rover swoops in between him and the Torch. 'Well, ladies, that solves the mystery of the “flying glowing man”!' Hank Pym remarks, adding that it looks like the Torch dropped by to investigate, too. 'And nearly got his head handed to him for his trouble!' the Wasp points out. Ann Raymond tells the Avengers that the Torch needs their help, and the Wasp flits down to her insect-size, flying out of Roger, she tells Mrs Raymond that the Torch is going to get it.
'You all right?' the Wasp asks the Torch as she flies over to him. 'Oh, sure. I'm just great. My first solo outing since the Eisenhower administration – and I wind up flat on my backside!' the Torch replies, before he tells the Wasp that he hopes her ex-husband has better luck, as Pym fires a blast of acid spray from Rover towards the Living Lightning, 'I didn't know whether my electric aura would keep it off me or not!' Living Lightning exclaims, grateful that it did. The Wasp tells the Torch not to be so hard in himself, and suggests that if he isn't hurt, they should give Hank a hand. 'What good can a has-been like me do?' the Torch frowns. 'Some good, I hope – or else in a few seconds, Hank and Ann Raymond are liable to be somebody's history lesson!' the Wasp exclaims. Upon hearing that Toro's widow is aboard the Rover, the Torch looks shocked, while the Living Lightning fires a blast of energy at the Rover, sending it crashing towards the ground below.
A moment later, the Rover crashes into the ground, but the Wasp reports that Hank and Ann are okay. 'Nice one-point landing, Hank!' the Wasp calls out, before the Torch exclaims 'That human spark-plug's taking a powder!' and he powers up, flying back up towards the Living Lightning, 'Here's a present, amigo – from a firefly to a lightning bug!' the Torch jokes as he hurls a fire ball towards the Living Lightning, while supposing that the Living Lightning will probably connect in a minute, and give him a terminal shock treatment, but he can't let him escape to menace the whole countryside. The Rover opens up and Ann exclaims 'The Torch is taking on that monster alone! He'll be killed – just like Tom!' but Hank calls out to the Torch, telling him to hover in place for a second. 'We're a team – and we'll get out of this mess together!' Hank tells the Torch, hurling a cable up into the air, but the Torch misses it – and while the Living Lightning fires more energy blasts towards the Torch, the Wasp grabs the cable and carries it back up to the Torch telling him this is the nice thing about having friends.
'This is no good to me. I think I'll pass it on' the Torch jokes as he throws the cable towards the Living Lightning, who smiles as he grabs the cable, which causes a surge of electrical energy to course through his body, and he is seemingly desftroyed, the resulting flux of power travels back down the cable and blows up the Rover. 'Well, that was short and sweet! Not even time for “Reddy Kilowatt” to give out with the obligatory “ARRGH” before he got grounded and his electrical charge set off the Rover's fuel tank' the Wasp remarks. Hank asks Jan how long it takes for lightning to strike, and supposes that their foe was a personified thunderbolt. Ann Raymond asks if it is gone for good, while the Torch flies over to his companions and points out that if he can make a comeback, he wouldn't bet on anybody being down for the count, but that they have probably seen the last of him for tonight. He then thanks Jan and Dr Pym for saving him. 'We saved you?' the Wasp replies. 'You've got to be kidding!' Hank adds. 'You think we'd have beat that glow worm so handily without your years of fighting experience?' Hank points out. 'But if not for your ship arriving, I'd have been -' the Torch starts to say, before Hank shakes his hand and reminds him that he returned the favor. 'Like I said – teamwork' he points out, adding that is why they need a guy like him in the Avengers West Coast. 'You think I'll really fit in? The Torch asks, surprised.
The Wasp tells the Human Torch that he has always been more of a team player than he seems to recall – first with Toro, then gthe Invaders, and the All-Winners Squad after the war. Hank asks the Torch why he was flying down here anyway, and adds that Mrs Raymond said he acted confused when he woke up. The Torch admits that he was, at least briefly, but thinks that things are finally starting to fall into place – for the first time in a long time. Ann Raymond informs the Torch that she would really appreciate a chance to talk with him when they get back to the Compound.'That could be a while – unless of course, Hank's got a spare miniaturized Rover in his pocket' the Wasp jokes. 'Not exactly, Jan – will a Quinjet do?' Hank replies, pulling out a mini Quinjet. The Wasp smiles, and within minutes, the four are airbound, as the Wasp tells Hank that she can't always recall why she divorced him – but can usually remember why she married him!