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‘Don’t mind me, I’ll just watch!’ the android Vision announces as he enters the Avengers high-tech training room, where Captain America and Namor the Sub-Mariner are engaged in a work out. The Avengers’ butler, Edwin Jarvis also stands in the doorway with a bag of goods from Macy’s. Suddenly, Namor is knocked aside by the mechanical device that they are fighting. Captain America rushes to his teammate, thinking that Namor let himself get distracted, something that one cannot do when in combat. However Captain America knows he cannot tell Namor that the way he would tell any other Avenger, as the Prince of Atlantis doesn’t take too kindly to criticism. The Sub-Mariner declares that this is a fool thing, and after all the real opponents he has faced, he has no need to play with a combat simulation room. With that, Namor smashes the metal machine that knocked him, breaking it in two.
Angrily, Captain America scolds Namor, and is about to reveal how much money that cost Tony Stark, when he himself gets smacked over by the machine. Cap pauses for a moment, before getting back into the game, dodging some tendrils, he makes his way to a switch, and slamming it down, he tells Namor that the objective when they are in this room is to get to the kill switch, not destruction, but the demonstration of skill. Namor replies that he understands, before turning to the Vision and asking him why he interrupted them like that.
The Vision smiles and remarks that he used to interrupt quite often when he lived here, explaining that when the simulation machines were not set for his particular abilities, he could enter without great danger. The Vision tells Namor that he really must learn not to let such things distract him. Captain America smiles and agrees with the Vision, before asking the Vision if he was testing them, or just dropping by to wish them Seasons Greetings. The Vision replies that it is neither, and explains that he has been doing some thinking about something Cap said at their Thanksgiving feast last month, so he wanted to ask the both of them for first-hand information on the android who lived in this body before he did - the original Human Torch!
Technically, the Vision is no longer an Avenger, but Jarvis needed no official card to admit him, just as he now needs no word to know what the Vision, Can and Namor want for refreshment as they retire to the mansion library. ‘Whole milk, Captain America, cold spring water, your highness…and nothing for you, master Vision!’ The Vision thanks Jarvis, before Namor exclaims that his memories of the Torch mainly revolve around their many battles. Cap smiles and thinks to himself that it doesn’t seem strange any more than he was frozen after World War II and escaped decades of aging, or that Atlanteans age slowly, so even though Namor was born in the 1920’s, he is still in the prime of his life. However, trying to understand how someone he knew well, the Torch, could be rebuilt as someone he knows equally well, someone completely different. Cap also wonders why the Vision decided to look into it after all this time.
(Shown with Flashback images)
‘I hate to say this, but the Torch was always in the wrong when he fought me’ Namor boasts, explaining that he had promised to aid the Allies, but a few fools had turned on him, so he decided to show them who they were dealing with, and the Torch had had joined the New York City police. The collided one time when Namor was tearing up the George Washington Bridge. Namor remarks that as the Human Torch’s name indicates, they had no idea that he wasn’t a human Torch, and of course his being an android explains why Namor lost to him - on rare occasions.
(Present)
The Vision asks Namor and Cap if they never suspected that the Torch was synthetic until he told them, and asks if his voice wasn’t cold, or his speech patterns mechanical. Namor replies that he never noticed it, and Cap remarks that the Human Torch spoke basic American like the rest of them, with a New York accent.
(Shown with Flashback Images)
Cap declares that what he remembers best is the Human Torch’s patriotism, for Torch felt very keenly that he had to preserve freedoms for his young partner, Toro. Cap adds that the Human Torch put aside his differences with Namor, as best he could, when Churchill asked them to band together as the Invaders. Cap wanted a name that said what they really are, Protectors, Preservers, while the Human Torch wanted a name something like the Revenge Squadron, or the American Avengers.
(Present)
The Vision asks if the Human Torch ate, to which Cap replies that he did, and asks Namor if he remembers the steaks that the Human Torch broiled with his hands in Casablanca. The Vision asks if the Torch had a girlfriend, to which Namor reveals that in the 1950’s there was his police chief’s daughter, Betty, but he doesn’t think they were anything more than friends. Captain America asks the Vision why he is asking all these questions, if he is trying to see if he remembers any of it. The Vision replies that is correct, to which Cap asks if he in fact does remember any of it.
The Vision replies that he doesn’t, and remarks that he doesn’t really know what he hoped to accomplish here, as he has been enjoying his increased human-ness lately - unequivocally - but after taking his synthetic side too seriously for so long, he now wonders if he is now taking it too lightly. The Vision explains that the idea of his body being with Cap and Namor in those adventures, while he himself wasn’t, intrigues him. Not to mention the fact that the consciousness in that body was more physical than he is even now. ‘I don’t know!’ he mutters.
Meanwhile, in the home of the Vision and Scarlet Witch a.k.a. Wanda Maximoff in Leonia New Jersey, Wanda sits beside the fire place with Holly Ladonna, her new pupil. Wanda explains that the Yule Festival marks the lowest arc of the sun in their skies, and that today is the shortest day of the year, and the Ancients felt that this day marked the death and rebirth of the Sun God. Wanda adds that the Yule Log was lit to keep the fire alive in the world until the birth began.
Holly tells Wanda that she doesn’t understand, and points out that she thought she was going to be taught witchcraft, yet this sounds more like Christmas, which she already knows. Wanda explains to Holly that the birth of the sun - or the birth of the son - and that Mother Nature follows the same pattern every year, only the manifestation changes. Wanda adds that the great Persian god Mithras was also born at midwinter and explains that the point is that this is a time to put aside the problems of the waning year and celebrate new prospects - no matter who you are.
Wanda begins to say that it is a time to gather around the fire with family and friends, when the doorbell rings. Answering the door, Wanda is greeted by her sultry sister-in-law Crystalia Amaquelin Maximoff, better known as simply Crystal, one of the Royal Inhumans. Wanda greets Crystal, who informs Wanda that she came down to see if she could help her with her holiday preparations. Crystal adds that she is all finished with hers, and explains that she left her daughter Luna in Attilan with her nanny.
Wanda exclaims that this is rather embarrassing considering what she was just telling Holly about family, but that she and Holly are going to be performing a seasonal ritual meant for witches only in a little while. Wanda informs Crystal that she has been told she hasn’t been taking the craft seriously enough since she got pregnant, so she is trying to be diligent. Crystal smiles and remarks that now Wanda mentions it, Quicksilver has told her how midwinter was special to witches, but she must have forgotten. Crystal exclaims that it will be fun to wander through real snow while Wanda is busy, but Wanda tells Crystal that she can wait inside. Crystal replies that it is fine, as she has been wanting to explore Leonia anyway. Sporting an elegant green coat, Crystal makes her way down the snow-covered steps as Wanda calls out that she will see her later.
Meanwhile, at Project Pegasus, the Avengers’ liaison Raymond Sikorski is shocked by the arrival of the Vision, and exclaims that he never thought he would see him here again after the way he and Wanda left them last time. The Vision replies by telling Raymond that it was very nice of him to smooth that matter over. Raymond points out that he is one who thinks that being a liaison to the Avengers - even ex-Avengers - means helping them get what they want if it sounds at all reasonable.
Raymond reminds the Vision how he wanted to see the synthetic “evil mutants” that he and Quicksilver bested last month, so here they are. ‘Consider it a late Hannukah gift!’ Raymond exclaims, before pointing out that it wasn’t so long ago that the Vision himself was in this room. The Vision assures Raymond that he still accepts the necessity for that, and that he holds no animosity, before motioning to the synthetic Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and remarks that he was not being dismantled the way they are. Raymond pats the Vision on the shoulder, ‘You’re human, Vision - you convinced me of that!’ he exclaims, reminding the Vision that it was he who said “A human mind directing an artificial body”.
Raymond motions to where a Project Pegasus scientist is removing something from the head of “Magneto” and declares that these things are just machines, fiendishly complicated machines, based as they are on the Stranger’s science - but machines nonetheless. Raymond assures the Vision that their consciousness is only computer-generated analogs. ‘Hel-lo’ the Mastermind robot says. Raymond assures the Vision that they have removed his illusion powers, to which the Vision asks about the others. Raymond informs him that they have already been completely dismantled, and remarks that they are a fascinating study.
Raymond reveals to the Vision that the Toad refuses to help them, so they have had to figure everything out on their own. The Vision asks Raymond if he could prevail upon him once more and speak to this synthezoid alone. Raymond hesitates, unsure of what to say, to which the Vision tells him that it is very important to him. Raymond beckons for the staff to leave the lab, and warns the Vision not to muck him around here. The Vision assures Raymond that he takes full responsibility.
For a long still moment, the Vision looks into the Mastermind synthezoid’s unfocused eyes, then asks it what it can tell him about itself. ‘I am an I-Ra-Ta eight hundred X-L matrix model twenty-two dash two’ the synthezoid replies. After the Vision asks ‘What else?’ the robot simply replies in a droll tone ‘Null’. The Vision asks the robot if he eats, to which it replies that it does. When the Vision asks him what it eats, it replies ‘Power decay of unnilnonium two-fourteen’. The Vision continues with his questions, asking the Mastermind synthezoid what it remembers of its life before it came here. ‘Null’ is the response. When the Vision asks why that is, the response is ‘Artificial intelligence memory null’.
The Vision asks the synthezoid if there are any supplemental memory cards within it - anything at all to recall its life before today. ‘Null - but I remember the life to come!’ “Mastermind” declares as it increases its arm and fist, smashing the Vision across the room, then increasing the rest of its mass to match. The robot declares that its master, the Toad-King is a genius, for he alone could program them to transform themselves after one complete cycle of the moon. ‘You must have beaten us in our previous forms, but the Toad-King is always prepared!’ the robot declares as it looms over the Vision.
The Vision leaps up to his feet, exclaiming that the Toad may or may not be a genius, but that the toad couldn’t foresee his presence here, so whatever hidden resources he built into the synthezoid’s, they cannot escape his ability to alter his density. With that, the Vision plunges his hand into “Mastermind’s” chest, only to withdraw it immediately, howling in pain - and his hand is completely gone. “Mastermind” laughs, revealing that the energy matter within itself is now pure anti-matter. The large robot lumbers away from the Vision, stating that it must free its master, but it speaks as if there were more of its kind.
The Vision asks the synthezoid if it cannot see that there is only one of it left, and blasting it with his solar beam, the Vision explains to it that its consciousness is only simulated. The Vision then smashes off one of the synthezoid’s arms, ‘You’re only a body! You’re nothing like me!’ he exclaims, ‘I’m nothing like you!’ he adds as he smashes through the center of the synthezoid, causing its torso and upper body to be separated from its legs. ‘I’m human!’ the Vision shouts.
Somehow, the synthezoid’s voice continues to emanate from its legs, and it admits that the Vision is strong, but that he is useless against those who carry their memory and power in all parts of their bodies. The legs get up and begin running, declaring that its primary objective is the liberation of its master, and boasts that one way or another, it shall fulfil its instruction. With that, the legs disappear through a vent, and the Vision is unable to follow.
The Vision exit’s the lab, and calls out to Raymond, who is standing with the Guardsman, and informs them that the synthezoid has escaped into the ventilation system to free the Toad. Raymond is shocked, while the Guardsman exclaims that they heard nothing. Both follow the Vision towards an elevator, and the Guardsman remarks that this complex may be too well built well, for it is state of the art in security, including absolute soundproofing - and this is the result. ‘To the Devil with all technology!’ the Guardsman exclaims.
The Vision asks where the Toad is being held, and explains that he can pass through the walls and get there before the synthezoid does. Raymond replies that there is no chance of that, for even if he could describe the location of the Toad’s cell in this maze, he couldn’t begin to explain how to get there in a straight line. The Guardsman adds that half of the walls wouldn’t allow the Vision to take such a route, before radioing to other security personnel and issuing a red alert on the Toad.
Exiting the elevator, Raymond tells the fitter men to go ahead and he will catch up, so the Guardsman leads the Vision to the Toad’s cell, at the same moment the synthezoid legs enter the cell from the vent. The Guardsman, surprised to see just legs, tells the synthezoid to halt, and explains to it that if it breaks the beams of the force-bars, then it will destroy itself. The Toad looks up from where he is lying on a bed as the synthezoid legs leap into the force beam bars, announcing that it is not concerned with itself, and as the bars destroy it, the surge of power also knocks the Vision and the Guardsman to the ground.
The revolting Toad steps out of his cell and remarks that anyone attacking super heroes these days has to know that capture may lead to Project Pegasus, so he was ready for that eventuality. The Toad turns to the Vision and reminds him that he has devoted lots of years to mastering the Stranger’s technology and becoming the Terrible Toad-King! ‘I told you - but you haven’t yet learned to pay attention!’ with that, the Toad is beamed up in a shield. The Vision exclaims that he has seen that shield before, it is from the Toad’s space ship. The Guardsman exclaims that it is impossible, as no know technology can penetrate these walls. ‘Tell me again later!’ the Vision remarks, before phasing through the roof of Project Pegasus.
Floating out into open air, the Vision sees the toad being beamed up to his ship, and knows that once the Toad is inside it and it gets underway, he will be left behind like he is standing still. The Vision knows that the automatic system rerouting in his damaged arm is pulling a lot of power, so he must keep precise control of his density now - not too heavy, so the winds can move him, but not to light so there is something for them to move. Floating up to the Toad’s ship, the Vision latches on, but his solidification is slow from the power drain, so the ship begins to take off with him not completely attached to it. The Vision has once chance left, and it pays off as his feebly grabs the edge of the ship as it passes under him then phases into it, landing with a thud on the floor.
Back in Leonia, sitting beside a Christmas tree, Holly exclaims to Wanda that people cannot have really thought that the sun died at midwinter. Wanda asks why not, explaining that the people saw him getting weaker and weaker, and all the vegetation he had given them last summer was already dead. Looking out the window at the snow, Wanda adds that the sun was definitely a “he” and not an “it”, and that if death came to every other living thing, why should the sun be any different? Wanda explains to Holly that is the reason the people created so much ritual around the rebirth - festivals, gift giving, evergreen trees as a symbol of survival, and the Yule log ritual.
Wanda’s voice trails off, so Holly calls out to her. Wanda turns back from the window and apologizes, explaining that she is distracted as her husband should have been home now, and Crystal too for that matter. Holly asks if they should finish this for the day, but Wanda tells her no, and that she is just being silly again, for as the pregnancy goes on, she finds herself worrying more about the Vision’s safety. ‘The idea of family is growing for me, I guess - and I couldn’t bear to lose him now!’
Meanwhile, an unconscious Vision is still on the floor of the Toad’s ship as the ship flies past the moon. Various images flash through the Vision’s mind, until finally he wakes - and makes his way through the ship, finally coming to the control room, where the Toad is muttering to himself ‘Sure, they despised me once! And I let them!’ he mutters that he was so ugly and misshapen that he would endure any insult just to be around them. ‘I was pathetic!’ However, the Toad thinks that when Magneto abandoned him on the Stranger’s world, he saw that he had to make it on his own, and he has. The Toad boasts that he stole everything the Stranger hadn’t nailed down, and made himself someone to be feared, ‘but those fools just can’t adjust to that!’
Suddenly, the Vision reveals himself to the Toad, declaring ‘I can!’ The Toad turns swiftly in his hover-chair, confused to see the Vision onboard. ‘You built some amazing synthezoids, Toad, but this synthezoid was amazing forty years ago!’ the Vision exclaims, boasting that he is state of the art. The Toad agrees that the Vision is an awesome machine, ‘A machine that married my Wanda and deprived me of the only human being I ever loved!’ The Toad declares that he is glad the Vision is here, and boasts that he is going to kill him at long last.
The Vision watches as the Toad pushes a button on his hover-chair and a large energy form appears surrounding the Toad, as if he was now a much larger and powerful person. The Toad reveals that this is how he trained his synthezoids, adding that although they may lack independent minds, when he is through with them, they know who their master is ‘And no so will you!’ the Toad shouts angrily, then smashing the Vision to the ground by means of his energy form. The Vision realizes that the energy field magnifies the Toad’s own strength and durability, however thanks to the rays of the sun that passed through a panel on the spaceship, he is now back to his full power.
The Toad’s energy form grabs the Vision, and the Toad points out that the Vision is only a machine, therefore vulnerable to electric discharge like any other machine. The Vision makes a strange sound, while the Toad asks ‘Why did she take you? Why didn’t she take me?’ before tossing the Vision across the ground. ‘I’m ugly, all right! But I’m real!’ the Toad exclaims as he hovers over the Vision, while the Vision thinks that he cannot let the Toad do that move on him a second time, for he might short circuit. The Toad asks the Vision why he doesn’t act like the other machines, to which the Vision replies that he acts like himself, and transforming in size, the Vision informs the Toad that he can increase his density until he weighs ninety tons, however at that point, he can no longer move, so he stops when he reaches seventy tons.
The Vision punches the Toad’s energy form, explaining that as her destroys it, he can enjoy insulation from its energy. The Toad however boasts that nothing can destroy him, that he has survived the worst life has to offer already. ‘Wanda’s all I lack now!’ the Toad exclaims, to which the Vision tells him it is too bad, because he will never get her. The Vision punches the Toad’s energy form once more, exclaiming ‘I am a man, Toad - no less than you!’ adding that it doesn’t matter if his body’s synthetic any more than it matters that the Toad is ugly. ‘Looks don’t make a marriage!’
‘SHUT UP!’ screams the Toad as the Vision punches him again, explaining that what matters is relating to who Wanda is inside, something the Toad was never able to do. ‘SHUT UP!’ the Toad shouts again, declaring that he served the Scarlet Witch faithfully when that was all he could do - but now he has changed, now he is in control. The Vision tries to point out to the Toad that it is too late, that time has passed him by. The Toad is about to shout again, when he suddenly weakens and realizes that the Vision is beating him, though he cannot believe it. ‘But it’s my ship - I’m in control - I’m the mater of machines!’ the Toad exclaims, before blasting the Vision with some sort of shield, and trapping him, before suddenly expelling him out of the Toad’s ship.
Floating in space, the Vision thinks to himself that the Toad is not going to escape that easily, and before the shield vanishes, Vision sends a solar blast down it, which hit’s the Toad and causes the Toad’s ship to shunt along in deep space, ‘Curse you, android!’ the Toad shouts. However, the Vision does not believe it will be the last he will ever see of “the Terrible Toad-King”. Turning to the row of planets, the Vision wonders what he is to do, stranded half a million miles from Earth. However, he knows that if he were a mortal man, he would be dead already - from the cold and the lack of air - but he is not a normal man, so none of it affects him.
As the Vision is completely weightless in space, the force thrown by his solar beam is enough to propel him in the opposite direction towards home, which he begins to do. The silence around him is absolute, as is each individual font of light - each point a sun in itself. There is no way to measure the speed of his passage through that silence, the star-suns don’t appear to move and there’s no breeze to blow past his ears - but the Vision doesn’t get bored - and slowly, steadily, the vast blue ball known as “Earth” looms larger and larger below him - and then, the first bare breezes do begin to blow as the Vision drops back into Earth’s atmosphere.
Almost at once, he begins to burn, like a falling star - like a human torch - but he regulates his density to decrease the friction and the fire dies away. Through the exosphere he falls, faster and faster yet gaining control as he gains air to work with - and as he enters the stratosphere he is as much a sky-swimmer as anyone. Anyone.
‘Look, Dad, it’s Santa Claus!’ a young child exclaims pointing out the window as the Vision streaks down to his home, landing calmly on his porch, he then enters his home, where Wanda is still with Holly Ladonna and exclaims that she has been worried sick. The Vision apologizes and explains that he had no way to telephone. ’You were only going to Macy’s! Wanda reminds him, while Holly puts her coat on and thanks Wanda for a fabulous session, but that it is time for her to leave, assuring Wanda that she really got into what she was talking about tonight though. Wanda farewells Holly and tells her that she will see her soon.
Wanda smiles at the Vision and asks him to tell her where he went, to which the Vision replies ’Into my head, mostly’ as it was the same old question - how much is he a man and how much a synthezoid? And now, which synthezoid? However, the Vision assures Wanda that he found a better answer this time. ’I’m the Vision!’ he exclaims. The Vision makes a joke about the Sub-Mariner, and Wanda leans into him, so to all a good night - with one exception…
…Holly walks down the side walk, admiring how pretty the stars are tonight, she decides that she has never truly seen them before - or any of nature for that matter. Holly thinks that Wanda is so nice, not at all like a “witch” in all the stories, and Holly decides that she might ask Mrs. Herbert to reclassify some of their occult section at the Leonia Library. Holly decides that she will cut through Norm Webster’s yard and take the trail through the woods, when she is about to do so, she sees Norm exit his home - followed by Crystal! A shocked Holly watches as her mentor’s sister-in-law passionately kisses Norm Webster. ’Oh…my…gosh! Poor Wanda!’ Holly thinks to herself….


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‘Great Goddess! Here I look normal!’ exclaims Wanda Maximoff as she stands amongst people dressed as colorfully as she at a Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Wanda, also known as the Scarlet Witch, and currently a rather pregnant Scarlet Witch, turns to her android husband, the Vision, and asks him why they haven’t come to Mardi Gras before. ‘What a perfect holiday for super heroes!’ she adds. ‘We told you, Wanda!’ Glynis Zarkov a.k.a. Glamor exclaims smiling, while the Vision reminds his beautiful wife that they have been to the Rutland Halloween parties.
Making their way throughout the Mardi Gras, Wanda tells the Vision that Halloween is no holiday for her, and realizing Wanda is referring to recent bad events that have happened on Halloween, the Vision understands and agrees. Glamor’s husband Ilya, better known as “Illusion” points out that New Orleans is no Rutland, Vermont. Wanda agrees, and remarks that those parties are fun dress-up, but this is serious. Drawing attention to her elegant evening gloves, Wanda informs everyone that she has loved costumes ever since she was a little girl, long before she thought of herself as the Scarlet Witch, she dreamed of long evening gloves!
‘Eyes front, Ilya!’ Glamor exclaims to her husband. Wanda agrees with Glynis, and calls herself “Fat Tuesday”, before exclaiming that despite her current body shape, and despite the way some of the other women look here at the Mardi Gras, she is just part of the crowd.
Meanwhile, in Leonia, ‘We’re alone…all alone!’ exclaims Crystalia Amaquelin Maximoff, better known as Crystal, the wife of Quicksilver and sister-in-law of the Scarlet Witch as she makes out with her lover, Norm Webster. The comely Crystal points out that they have always had to sneak around before, what with Wanda and the Vision living so close, but now that they are on vacation, this is perfect. Handsome Norm Webster exclaims that it still seems like a dream to him, beginning with him selling Wanda and the Vision their new house, now he, just a “kid” from Jersey with Crystal, a Royal Inhuman from the Moon! ‘An elemental Inhuman, yeah’ Crystal adds.
‘Yeah…if only you weren’t married!’ Norm exclaims. Crystal gets up off the couch and reminds Norm that they promised to not talk about that. Norm follows Crystal, telling her that he knows that they did, but he has to talk about it now, as they have been doing this for three months and admits that he is pretty “far gone” on her - he has been since the moment they met at Thanksgiving. Norm puts his hands on Crystal’s shoulders, telling her that it is harder and harder to go one because of what they are doing to her husband. Angrily, Crystal exclaims that they are not doing anything to Pietro, because nobody can do anything to - or with - Pietro.
Crystal exclaims that Quicksilver spends all his time with his Militia - a Militia that is not even needed considering everyone on the Moon is an Inhuman, except him of course, but Crystal knows that is why he probably does it, to prove his worth as an outsider. Crystal declares that she is a young woman, and didn’t get married to watch her husband impress her relatives, adding that it is no better for Luna, as she never gets to see her father. Norm suggests to Crystal that she tells Quicksilver this and tells him she wants a divorce, then the two of them will be able to stop all this sneaking around.
Crystalia turns and looks at Norm, telling him it is easy for he to say, but on the other side of the coin is the scandal, for Inhumans are a close-knit group, and she is of royal blood. ‘You don’t have nearly as much to lose!’ she adds, before smiling, and telling Norm that, for now at least, it is better for her to continue telling Pietro that she misses Earth and take the anti-pollution potion, so she can continue to come down for fabulous weekends. ‘And I do mean fabulous, hunk-o!’
Back in New Orleans, ‘Vizh - do you love me as much as ever?’ Wanda asks her husband. ‘What kind of question is that? Of course I do!’ the Vision replies. ‘but I don’t look like I did before! I look like a barrel!’ Wanda exclaims. ‘A barrel full of sweets!’ the Vision assures his wife, before telling her not to be silly, as she looks like a mother-to-be and that there is nothing more beautiful than that. ‘Really?’ asks Wanda. ‘Really!’ the Vision replies, before they kiss. The Vision then leads Wanda away from the stage where Glamor and Illusion have been setting up, and reminds her that she liked it out with the crowd, and as Glynis and Ilya have to prepare for their show, the two of them don’t have to sit around in the meantime.
Wanda agrees, then turns back to her friends, ‘Break a leg, Glynis! That’s what you say, isn’t it?’ Glamor replies that is what they say, before telling Wanda that they expect to see her front row center tonight. Wanda replies that they wouldn’t miss it for anything, before turning back to the Vision - except the Vision is no where to be seen. Wanda goes into the foyer calling out to her husband, before turning to the clerk at the counter and informing him that she seems to have lost her husband. The clerk replies that it happens all the time during Mardi Gras. ‘No, its nothing like that! He’s the Vision!’ Wanda explains.
The clerk reveals that he did see the Vision and that it is just like he told her, the Vision was kissing some blonde and then they split. Wanda looks anxious and exclaims that it was somebody else, somebody dressed up as him, ‘My husband wouldn’t do that!’ Wanda supposes that the Vision must be getting something from their room, so she heads towards the elevator. ‘Okay, Ma’am’ the clerk replies, while thinking to himself ‘But that was some blonde!’
Outside though, the Vision is being led through the crowded streets by a green-clad woman. ‘Stop! Stop! I have to kiss you again!’ the Vision exclaims. ‘Do you, Vision? Why…?’ the mysterious woman asks. ‘Because I love you…Enchantress!’ the Vision exclaims as he kisses the sultry goddess on her neck. Speaking with her usual Asgardian pronunciation, the Enchantress asks the Vision if he knows who she is then why he succumbs to her charms. ‘What does it matter who you are - when you are what you are - the most alluring woman in Heaven or Earth?’ the Vision replies.
The Vision informs the Enchantress that other Avengers have warned him against her, but asks what it matters after the first touch of her velvet lips. The Enchantress remarks that it is a quite logical consideration of infatuation, but supposes that the Vision, being what he is, couldn’t respond any other way. The Enchantress exclaims that in any event, she is the Mistress of Desire, and one of her kisses will enslave any man - even a synthetic man if his soul is human. ‘Yes! Yes!’ exclaims the Vision, before the Enchantress tells him to hear her command: ‘A woman as beautiful as I must need surround herself with objects as luscious in their realms as she is in hers’.
The Enchantress continues, informing the Vision that she has come to New Orleans to obtain the Eye of Rajpur - the most exquisite emerald ever discovered on either Asgard or Migard. The Enchantress tells the Vision that, sadly, it belongs to the Countess D’Arcy and therefore she is unable to attain it through charm, ‘So thou, Avenger, shalt steal it for me!’ ‘With the greatest of pleasure, Enchantress!’ the Vision exclaims, before asking when and where. The Enchantress remarks that it is a refreshment to meet one such as the Vision, for men of Migard these days are so devious with their women - though the women are no different. Leading the Vision, the Enchantress exclaims that these are devious days, and she rarely meets one who gives his love so completely.
Wanda continues her search for the Vision after not finding him in their room nor with Glamor and Illusion. Wanda assumes that there must be trouble, for the Vision wouldn’t leave without telling her - not with one blonde - or a hundred blondes! Therefore, Wanda believes that if the Vision left, he was under duress, heading out into Bourbon Street ten minutes ago. Wanda thinks that someone must have seen where they went from here, and someone must have seen where they went after that. She knows that the odds are against her finding those “someone’s” - but what are odds to a witch? With that, Wanda casts a hex into the crowd, which signals out one man.
Wanda rushes over to the man, who is about to say something offensive to her, until he sees that she is pregnant, he stops in his tracks. Wanda tells him to “never mind” before remarking that he knows something about the Vision though. The man asks Wanda how she knows that, before informing her that he saw the Vision ten minutes ago with the most incredible blonde. ‘So I hear!’ Wanda mutters, before asking which way they went. The man motions in the direction the Vision and the blonde went, before explaining that they took a left at the lights, and he should know, because he was watching the blonde.
Wanda follows the man’s directions, and once more casts a spell to find out who knows where her husband and the mystery blonde went next. Wanda discovers that a vendor saw them and goes over to him, but after questioning him, the man replies that he hasn’t seen anything for quite some time now. Wanda is slightly taken aback, and apologizes, before telling herself that confounding the odds doesn’t mean cancelling the odds, and hopes that it will not take her long to find the right person here. ‘I’ll track you, Vizh! Hold on, my darling!’
Later, at Eight PM. The Master of Ceremonies tells the audience that the Bourbon Inn is proud to present…Glamor and Illusion. Waiting backstage, Glynis looks out and is tells Ilya that she cannot see Wanda or the Vision, which Ilya finds strange, as their friends assured them they would be here. However, being professionals in the entertainment industry, Glamor and Illusion put on their smiling faces and walk out onto the stage to a loud round of applause. Illusion thanks the audience and Glamor tells them that they are too kind.
Illusion introduces himself and tells the audience that he invites them all to watch him closely tonight, to see if they can decide where illusion begins, and ends. Glamor then introduces herself, explaining that “Glamor” is a word which now means merely beauty, but that once meant fascination and silver enchantment. As Glynis is put in a straight-jacket, Illusion informs the audience that they are beginning with one of their easier feats, as they want them to get the hang of their deceptions. Glamor tells the audience that n doubt they will see through them at once, before she is placed headfirst in a canvas bag.
Illusion then drops the bag with Glamor inside, into a vat filled with water - and closes a steel door over the top of the vat, then locks it. Ilya then proceeds to place everything inside a steel mesh cage, then locks it, before finally placing everything inside a very large sack. With Glamor locked inside the vat, Illusion turns back to the audience and offers to show them a few card tricks. Illusion blithely patters on about aces that turn into jokers while the audience begins to squirm over Glamor’s time without air.
Unbeknownst to them however, Glamor is very much alive within the sodden straight-jacket, for she can control the molecules of her body, and her husband can control the molecules of anything that he touches for one minute afterward - resulting in a small hole left in the back of the vat, with the mesh and sack lifted above it, so that Glamor, who has transformed her body into a tiny organism, slides out of it, before returning her body to normal, though she now wears a black spandex outfit, while thinking that Ilya will drive the crowd crazy before she re-appears, but in the meanwhile, she must continue to play her part right on schedule.
Glamor “paints” her face with some red markings to disguise herself, recalling what Wanda said about people in costumes being just part of the scenery during Mardi Gras. Making her way down the hallway of the hotel, Glynis thinks to herself that people are here to be part of the scenery not sit around in their hotel rooms. Once more transforming her body, she slithers through the keyhole on the door of room 722, and once inside the room, makes her way to a safe, ‘That’s certainly true in your case…Countess D’Arcy!’ she thinks as she opens the safe and reaches in to grab the glowing jewel inside.
Glamor takes the Eye of Rajpur and exit’s the room, thinking that it will bring them a pretty penny, ‘and if the world is led to believe we maintain out lifestyle through completely legal means - well - we are illusionists!’ Glynis waits backstage while Ilya remarks to the audience that he wonders why Glamor hasn’t reappeared, so announces that he will take a look. Glynis transforms herself once more into the small organism and slides along the floor, while Illusion tosses off the large sack, then removes the mesh cage and unlocks the top of the tank.
Illusion explains that he is draining the water, before opening the canvas bag - and announcing that there is no one here. Suddenly, ‘Hey, what’s the big idea throwing me around like that!’ comes a voice from under the sack. Illusion asks the audience if they heard it too, that it sounds like someone is in the sack. ‘Could it be…Glamor?!’ he exclaims, pulling up the sack and revealing Glamor, once more dressed in her regular costume. ‘Oh, Illusion - you’ve always said I couldn’t escape from a paper bag, and I guess you were right!’ Glamor jokes, while the gasps, laughter and applause rock the hall.
However, all remains quiet on the seventh floor. The Vision passes a hotel staff member and looks over his shoulder to make sure the staff member gets into the elevator, while thinking to himself that the sensation of fresh love makes him tense, and he had forgotten what it was like with Wanda. Passing easily through the door of room 722, the Vision thinks that it is funny, for Wanda meant so much to him then, but now Amora - the Enchantress - means everything. The Vision thinks that the Enchantress will be so happy when he gives her the Eye of Rajpur, and phasing his hand into the safe, recalls how incredibly beautiful the Enchantress looked when she whispered to him “Steal it for me!”
Suddenly though, the Vision sees that the safe is empty. “Steal if for me!” he hears in his head again, but the Vision declares that he can’t. “Steal it for me!” he hears again, now increasingly agitated, the Vision declares that he cannot steal it. “For me! For me!” he hears, before shouting ‘I CAN’T!’ Suddenly, the Vision snaps out of it, and realizes that he was under a spell, but that the dissonance between the Enchantress’ command and reality broke him out of it. The Vision understands that the Enchantress forced him to do one thing, but when that proved impossible, he locked up as he was forced into a logical contradiction. Realizing what he was about to do, the Vision decides that he better get out of this room, and quickly. But stepping into the hallway, he is reunited with Wanda. Wanda is relieved, ‘I found you, Vizh! I found you!’ she exclaims, before turning to him and asking who the blonde was.
Mere moments later, the Enchantress walks along by a river, thinking that the Vision should have returned now, and hopes that he has not escaped her enchantment spell. Suddenly, a wave of water splashes up from the river courtesy of Scarlet Witch’s probability altering powers and drenches the Enchantress. ‘You look so much better this way, dear!’ Wanda exclaims as she and the Vision stand over the Enchantress. Amora leaps to her feet, ‘no one may mock the Enchantress of Asgard!’ she exclaims, reaching for Wanda, only to be blocked by the Vision, who states that it remains to be seen, but that certain that no one touches his wife or unborn child.
The Enchantress remarks that she knows that even an Asgardian Goddess cannot move the Vision, but that similarly, he cannot hold back one of her spells. She then proceeds to be free of the Vision’s grasp by sending forth a spell. ‘No - that’s my job on this team!’ Wanda exclaims as she prepares a hex, revealing that she knows the Enchantress’ powers are extremely specialized, and using magic like this is not one of her strong points. The Enchantress replies that the same can be said about the Scarlet Witch, ‘Disrupting probability doth not a Dr. Strange make!’
‘I get by!’ Wanda snaps back as her powers overwhelm the Enchantress, who falls to the ground. The Enchantress exclaims that this is demeaning, and that Wanda knows as well as she does that no Midgardian, not even a mutant, can hold an Asgardian against her will. Amora adds that she can assure that her will remains forever strong. Wanda replies that she does understand, and explains that it was never her intention to capture the Enchantress - just to get a little of her own back. The Enchantress pauses, before remarking that she understands that indeed.
Amora informs Wanda and the Vision that as of late, her younger sister, Lorelei has become her competitor for the love of men, and while she wanted the Eye of Rajpur, it was in taking the Scarlet Witch’s husband she wanted to prove that the older sister had lost none of her glamor. The Vision tells Amora not to worry, for although no one could turn him from Wanda under normal circumstances, her charms seduced him completely. The Enchantress smiles and tells the Vision that it is kind of him to say so, before adding that he is a good man, and telling Wanda to treasure him. As she casts a teleportation rift, the Enchantress admits that the Scarlet Witch must be something special herself to have won the Vision without false enchantments, before exclaiming that she has other affairs to attend, and disappearing.
Wandering back amongst the crowd, Wanda tells the Vision that it was nice of him to reassure Amora about her looks, as any woman would like to hear that, before asking him if he wasn’t completely seduced. ‘Well…’ the Vision begins, before Wanda tells him not to play with her, as she knows he just had to go along with it against his will. The Vision replies that the truth is he had to go along - but that he liked it. ‘HMMPH!’ exclaims Wanda as she strides away. The Vision follows her, telling her to be logical, as he would never have kissed Amora under ordinary circumstances, but naturally he enjoyed it as she is beautiful.
‘You’re digging your grave here!’ Wanda exclaims angrily, despite the Vision assuring Wanda that the Enchantress sneaked up on him the first time. Wanda asks him why he didn’t fight free of her before she got his lips planted, or perhaps turn intangible. The Vision admits that he could have, but as he has been trying to tell Wanda, he is only human. ‘No husband’s supposed to be that human!’ Wanda snaps back infuriated before striding away. The Vision tells Wanda to wait, but Wanda informs him that she is going to catch the end of Glamor and Illusion’s show, then she is going to find another hotel room.
The Vision grabs Wanda by the arm, and tells her that he is more human than he has ever been, but that means he loves her more than ever also. He puts a hand on Wanda’s shoulder and reminds her that when the Witches of New Salem had captured them, it was she who told him how she felt about him, so he thinks that perhaps he has been remiss in not telling her how he feels. ‘You’re everything in my life - and I mean that literally!’ the Vision assures her, reminding her that before he met her, he had no more future than a past. ‘You gave me hope, then love, then marriage - then our child!’
Wanda listens intently, and they hold hands as the Vision tells Wanda that it was she who drew him forward, drew him out of what was always inside that “cold emotionless android” to make him the man he is today. ‘And men make mistakes! But this man loves you, Curly Top! This man loves you!’ Wanda looks at the Vision, then they kiss passionately. They then walk with their arms around each other, and the Vision realizes that with the Enchantress’ allure, it is lucky that he ever got to see this love again, before wondering what happened to the Eye of Rajpur as they pass a poster advertising Glamor and Illusion.
Meanwhile, back in Leonia, Crystal puts a hand to her head, and Norm asks her if she is all right. Crystal replies that she is, but the anti-pollution potion is wearing off, however she has more. As Crystal drinks more potion, Norm asks her if there is a danger of overdosing on it, to which Crystal replies that she hopes not, though no Inhuman has used it as extensively as she has lately. Crystal begins to say that her head is clearing all ready, when suddenly she falls to the ground. Norm rushes to her, and checking her pulse discovers that she is only barely breathing. He knows he must get help - but from who - as no one must know why she is here. However, he knows that she might be dying. Picking Crystalia up, a desperate Norm exclaims ‘What am I going to do?!’


[Assistant]
A Taxing Time
Spring has sprung, and the sap is beginning to rise – so even the most confirmed city-dwellers have grabbed the first sunny Sunday to head for the wide-open spaces – somewhere still out there to the West! On the New York / New Jersey bridge, the black-clad superb hero Spider-Man swings from one railing to the next thanks to his super strong webbing, and whistles a song, ‘I’m in love with a Jersey girl!’ he begins as he sings his way to work. While down in the cars below, a woman notices Spider-Man and tells her husband to look, but he quickly replies ‘You look, Trish! If I look, we’ll end up at the International House of Pancakes!’
Spider-Man sees a convertible and calls out to the driver and couple of passengers, exclaiming that he would be nuts to ride around on the top of a bus on a day like this, so offers to tell them funny stories if they will take him up to Leonia. ‘Spider-Man! Wow!’ one of the passengers exclaims. As Spider-Man lands in the backseat of the car, the driver remarks ‘Sure thing, Spidey! But why Leonia?’ ‘There’s nothing going on there!’ another passenger tells him. ‘That’s because I’m not there yet!’ Spider-Man replies, explaining that he has got some business in Leonia to take care of this afternoon. ‘Business? Oh, yeah – you super-guys never get any time off!’ one of the passengers remarks. Spider-Man replies that actually they do get time off sometimes – ‘But not in April – then we’ve got to pay Uncle Sam!’
Meanwhile, in the heart of Leonia, Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch asks Dr. Stephen Strange, her friend and physician, why she has to stay quiet. ‘What’s wrong?’ she asks. Wanda’s husband, fellow former Avenger the Vision stands in the living room also as Strange assures Wanda that nothing is wrong, she has his oath on that, adding that every physiological test that her obstetrician has run and every magickal study he has conducted on her, indicate that both she and her baby are both progressing normally.
Doctor Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme, informs Wanda and the Vision that their child is going to be a bit one, but within the normal limits, though he warns them that there is a chance the baby could come prematurely if Wanda goes romping around like a super-heroine during the last month of her pregnancy. ‘I don’t romp!’ Wanda protests. Strange turns to the Vision and tells him that he expects him to make sure Wanda stays quiet. ‘And I’d expect a Sorcerer Supreme to know the Scarlet Witch better than that, Doctor!’ the Vision jokes.
Wanda tells Stephen that she still has hundreds of things to do before the baby arrives. ‘The nursery –‘ she begins to say, until Strange tells her that if the room were any better outfitted then there would be no room for the baby, before assuring Wanda that if she has forgotten anything – which he doubts – that the stores will be open after her pregnancy. Wanda remarks that people keep asking her if she is having twins – ‘I’m not, am I?’ she exclaims. Strange replies that she isn’t, and that every mother to be thinks that in her eighth month, before letting Wanda in on a secret – ‘You’ll get even bigger before you deliver!’ he exclaims. ‘Oh, boy!’ Wanda mutters.
Wanda admits that the pregnancy is getting a little uncomfortable for the first time, and that it is hard to take a full breath. Dr. Strange replies that the child is almost fully formed and therefore taking up a lot of room now. Wanda remarks that she is ready to see the end of this process, but not prematurely, so she will be good. Vision suggests to Wanda that she might like to spend the extra time teaching Holly Ladonna witchcraft. Strange replies that is a good idea, ‘I want you quiet, but there’s no need to be bored!’ he exclaims before telling Wanda that he will check back with her next week.
The Vision escorts Strange to the back door, suggesting that if he is flying back to
Manhattan it would be best if left from the backyard, as he and Wanda try to keep a low profile in Leonia. Strange replies that he understands, before taking flight and telling the Vision to cheer up, assuring him that he is not holding anything back, and the birth should go just fine. ‘Of course!’ the Vision replies as he waves farewell to his friend, while thinking to himself that the Invisible Woman lost her second child, so these sorts of things do happen, but he decides not to think about it.
The Vision paces back towards his home, thinking to himself that Wanda has been under strain this past month since her brother Quicksilver ran out on his wife Crystal, and he vanished from the moon – no one has seen him since. The Vision recalls that Crystal recovered from her illness, possibly buoyed by Pietro’s departure, but Wanda loves her hot-headed brother. The Vision clenches his fists, thinking that wherever Quicksilver is, he has not helped his sister in this taking time, and she is the one person he thought Quicksilver would never hurt!
Wanda is on the phone, ‘Yes, Holly – this afternoon if you want’ she remarks, before telling Holly that she will see her soon. Looking out the window, Wanda thinks that her husband looks so fierce, and wishes that everyone who called him an unfeeling synthezoid could see him now – a proud and protective father to be. Wanda thinks that everyone sees her becoming primally female, but that the primal masculine comes out in fathers too – whatever their origins!
Wanda thinks that she and the Vision have been closer now than ever before, just as their family is about to become three, so she wonders how Pietro could ever leave Crystal and their daughter Luna. ‘Oh, Pietro – do you always have to fight the world?’ Wanda thinks, before remarking that Crystal’s affair with Norm Webster was wrong, but that everyone makes mistakes – even Quicksilver! Wanda knows however that Quicksilver thinks he is better than that, meaning he thinks everyone else is worse. ‘All of us, even me!’ Wanda exclaims. She thinks to herself that she cannot feel sorry for Crystal, ‘But I wish you hadn’t hurt me!’
Outside, the Vision hears his front door bell rings, so phases through the house and answers it. Peter Parker introduces himself, explaining that he is from Now Magazine and is here to take the shots for the photo layout of their house. The Vision remarks that they were expecting him an hour ago, to which Peter replies that his ride kept trying to talk him in to going to the shore. ‘Pardon me?’ the Vision asks. ‘It’s a long story’ Peter replies, before looking around the Vision’s home and exclaiming that it is very nice, not what he expected at all.
‘Pardon me?’ the Vision asks. Peter quickly apologizes, and explains that he was expecting something more like Avengers Mansion – opulent and high tech all at the same time! ‘But this is very…homey!’ Peter exclaims. The Vision smiles and explains that he and the Scarlet Witch moved to Leonia to live as much like normal people as they can. Peter begins taking photos and thinks to himself that he is trying to give up being Spider-Man, trying to find something with even a remote resemblance to a stable love life, and here the Vision is, with all of that. ‘I envy the guy!’ Peter thinks to himself, before deciding that if a synthezoid and a mutant can make it happen, then perhaps there is still some hope for Aunt May’s little nephew!
Peter turns to the Vision, admitting he is curious to know that, if he and the Scarlet Witch want to live like normal people, why then did they agree to have their house opened up to the readers of Now? ‘Don’t you know what time of year it is?’ the Vision asks, smiling. ‘Taxes?’ asks Peter. ‘Taxes!’ exclaims the Vision. The Vision informs Peter that when he and Wanda were members of the Avengers, they were each drawing salaries of $1000 per week, but since their resignation, they have been living on savings.
The Vision explains that since they made so much money last year, but aren’t making it now, he accepted Mr. Jameson’s offer. ‘J. Jonah J. offered to pay super heroes for something?’ Peter asks, shocked. The Vision begins to explain that Jonah said it would show there are normal super heroes in the world – ‘As opposed to that well-known menace, Spider-Man, yeah, I get it!’ Peter remarks, before revealing that he is taking the pictures because he needs a “buck transfusion” from Jonah also, and suggests they continue to the kitchen.
Though it is a lazy Spring Sunday in Leonia…it’s another story at the bottom of the world…where at this very present point in time, a snow storm rages. A man is pulled along on a sled by some hounds and is thinking how relieved he is that there are only three more weeks until the replacements come, for even though he has geophysical experiments to conduct, he is going stir-crazy! ‘The same eleven rooms inside the station – the same empty whiteness outside! Nothing ever changes!’
Suddenly though, the dogs are knocked one side, and a blur of blue streaks up towards surprised man – ‘You, human! Do you have a wife? Do you have a love in your life? shouts Quicksilver as he grabs the scientist by his jacket and holds him up off the ground. The astonished man asks Quicksilver where he came from. ‘One minute you weren’t there – then you were!’ he exclaims.
‘You do, don’t you?’ Quicksilver shouts. ‘Even here, at the end of the Earth, a man can have a faithful wife! But not me – No, I run alone and even here I’m an outcast!’ Quicksilver shouts that it is his choice, even though they wanted him to take her back, swallow his pride and accept that “soiled” woman back into his arms. ‘Would you do it?’ he asks the man. ‘Well…’ the man begins, until Quicksilver tosses him aside, ‘Yes, you would!’ Pietro exclaims, shouting that the pleasures of the flesh may rule other men, but now him. ‘I am lean and tight! Flesh is my enemy!’
Quicksilver babbles that once a man compromises, he can never be pure again – ever, and boasts that he is pure, ‘As the driven snow!’ Quicksilver boasts that he is unadulterated in the best sense of the word, that he has kept his integrity through everything, all these years. The scientist calls out to Quicksilver, pointing out that it is cold out here, and suggests to him that he come back to the base with him. ‘Don’t try to hold me! No man can hold Quicksilver!’ Pietro shouts, adding that with his metabolism, he can generate all the heat that he needs. He then races away, kicking up snow in the man’s face as he goes. The man looks out for him, ‘Gone – like he was never there! Can I really have seen him run away, or is my mind just overtaxed?’
Back in Leonia, Peter tells the Vision that he is about finished, and all he needs now are some photos of he and the Scarlet Witch. The Vision replies that his wife is supposed to be taking it easy, but supposes that some photos shouldn’t hurt. Before the Vision can go and get Wanda though, the doorbell rings. The Vision opens it and is greeted by a smiling Holly Ladonna, carrying a bouquet of flowers. Holly greets the Vision and asks him if he has seen how many different plants are blooming out there now. ‘Springtime this year is a lot more amazing than last!’ the young woman remarks.
The Vision makes his way up the stairs and beckons the others to follow him, introducing Peter to Holly and explaining that he is taking some pictures for Now Magazine. Peter asks Holly if she is a neighbor, to which Holly replies that she actually lives across town, but points out that Leonia isn’t that big. ‘But I am!’ Wanda jokes, overhearing their conversation. Peter shakes Wanda’s hand and Wanda apologizes for having avoided him. Peter replies that he won’t trouble Wanda and the baby for long.
A short time later, Peter is true to his word as he just about finishes taking pictures of Wanda. Holly exclaims that the photos should be great, as Peter used the sunlight on the curtains behind her very artistically. Peter thanks Holly and remarks that he likes to think he is as good a photographer as he is anything else he does. Peter thinks to himself though that he should not have put on his Spider-Man suit to come out here, as this is a day for Peter Parker and his accomplishments. The Vision asks Peter if he has a ride home, to which Peter replies that he is taking the bus.
Soon, the Vision has offered to walk Peter to the bus stop (that’s the way it is in Leonia). En route, Peter thinks to himself that more and more he is thinking of himself as Peter Parker – apart from the “black rag”, and wonders if it has something to do with changing to that new costume from the old red-and-blue one, that he is finally realizing the costume is not tattooed on him, and that in civvies, he takes good photos! Peter admits to himself though that it is rather weird pretending not to know people whom he has fought alongside in life threatening battles, and thinks that normal people – even normal synthezoids – don’t have the problems of a secret identity!
Rounding a corner, the Vision is greeted by a well-dressed woman and her husband. The Vision smiles upon seeing his friends and introduces Peter to Glynis and Ilya Zarkov, who go by the professional names Glamor and Illusion. Peter is surprised and asks if he can get a photo of them for Now Magazine, claiming that he has loved their magic shows for years, while thinking to himself that there might be another hundred dollars from Jonah.
Glamor strikes a pose and Peter begins snapping pictures, while the Vision remarks that they both look prosperous. Glamor replies that they are just back from Hong Kong, where they had a very lucrative date. Illusion admits that they splurged a bit, revealing that things are going well for them. ‘And here I am doing nip-ups over a hundred bucks!’ Peter thinks to himself. Illusion wonders what the Vision would say if they told him how he and Glamor increase their income – “Avenger, we’re high society jewel thieves” he jokes to himself. Although Ilya wonders it, he will never know because he likes the Vision too much to trouble him with that. Glamor thinks to herself that the Hong Kong fence never saw anything like the Eye of Rajpur before!
The friends part ways, with Peter telling Glamor and Illusion that it was nice to have met them, when suddenly he and the Vision bump into another of the Vision and Wanda’s friends – Norm Webster. The somewhat surprised Norm says hello to the Vision, who merely acknowledges Norm before leading Peter on. Peter glances over his shoulder and realizes that it is not all sweetness and light in this little town, while Norm tells himself that he has lost the Vision and Wanda over his affair with Crystal, and now he doesn’t have Crystal either!
Norm reminds himself that mingling with outsiders is serious business among the Inhumans, who are keeping Crystal locked up tightly. He admits that he is still crazy about her, and that knowing what he knows now, he would still do it all over again. ‘She was fire and ice, all rolled into one!’ he exclaims, before trudging along the pavement, wishing their affair did not have such a high cost. The Vision and Peter arrive at the bus stop and the Vision wishes Peter a safe trip home. ‘You too!’ Peter jokes, before hailing the bus that is approaching. The Vision turns and makes his way home, thinking that Holly was right – the variety of nature’s bounty is remarkable, when, suddenly – something large smacks him over!
‘The Toad!’ exclaims the Vision as he looks up at his assailant. ‘The Terrible Toad-King, synthezoid – now dressed for the part!’ replies the Toad from inside his new large toad-shaped armor. The Vision attacks the Toad and realizes that this new exo-skeleton is solid, as opposed to the pure energy one he wore last. The Vision learns that as the Toad’s new armor makes contact, a pulse of ball lightning follows the blow’s momentum, making it the ultimate knockout punch. Dodging another blow, the Vision tells himself that there are only another six seconds until his disrupted circuits reroute themselves.
The Toad – or rather the Terrible Toad-King – shouts that he wants his queen. ‘I want the Scarlet Witch, and by hook or by crook, I’ll have her!’ The Toad remembers how the Vision sent his ship spinning deep into space last time they fought, before declaring that he already told him he is the master of machines. ‘If you failed to believe me then, perhaps you’ll learn better now as you face my thermoblasters!’ the Toad shouts, unleashing his armor’s power against the android Avenger.
The Toad exclaims that perhaps it won’t matter anymore, because he wants the Vision where he can never threaten him again – on a lab table. ‘I am not a funny little man! I am a King!’ the Toad shouts, to which the Vision punches his armor and tells him that he is actually a walking obsession. ‘Walking, yes- and terrible! Terrible!’ Toad screams, when, suddenly – ‘Mortimer?’ someone calls out to the Toad. ‘What’s going on, buddy?’  - It’s Spider-Man!
Spider-Man swings down and tells the Toad that, in case he hadn’t notices, the Vision is one of the good guys, and yet he’s beating him up. Peter thinks to himself that if he hadn’t had to dig into his change to pay the bus fare, then he would have been home before he heard all of the commotion. Spider-Man addresses the Toad as “Morty” and asks him if he is not backsliding, as he thought they were on the same side now. The Toad stutters and exclaims that Spider-Man was not supposed to know about this, while the Vision warns his ally to be on guard, and suddenly the toad shouts ‘You weren’t ever supposed to know!’ as he smashes Spider-Man high into the air.
Peter is in pain, and although his spider-sense warned him, he ignored it, but is thankful he could roll with that punch. The Toad exclaims that this is not the way it was supposed to be, and therefore he has to retreat and make new plans. ‘Not a chance, Toad!’ the Vision exclaims, remarking that he has enough time to get his strength back as he rushes towards the toad, who reveals that he has the power to teleport – and demonstrates this ability as he touches a panel on his armor and vanishes.
‘Am I dreaming, or was that Memorex?’ Spider-Man asks, before remarking that he knew the little guy wasn’t really tightly wrapped, ‘But that was a left-field city!’ Spider-Man exclaims, adding that he is such a harmless little Toad. ‘What?’ the Vision asks, informing Spider-Man that when the Toad attacked him, Magneto and Quicksilver at Thanksgiving, he was almost maniac, and has been more powerful each time they have met since then. ‘I consider him a major threat to my life!’ the Vision exclaims. ‘What?’ asks a surprised Spider-Man, before suggesting to the Vision that they compare their notes on the Toad!
(Shown with Flashback Images)
Spider-Man  begins to tell a disbelieving Vision about Mortimer Toynbee’s attempted suicide a few months ago, beginning with how he jumped off the ledge of a 15th story building, but was rescued by Spider-Man, who swung down and told him it was against the law! The Toad’s misguided attempt at therapy led the former X-Men villain told Spider-Man that he has never had a friend in his whole life, just people who feel sorry for him, ‘No one takes me seriously!’ the Toad exclaimed. Spider-Man assured Toad that he takes him seriously, and points out that as he saved his life, in some cultures that makes him responsible for him. ‘You’d really be my friend?’ the Toad asked.
As Spider-Man explains, that conversation with the Toad led to him, several weeks later, approaching Spider-Man in his orange and grey costume telling Spider-Man that he is ready to accept his offer. ‘Offer? Oh, please, no – don’t tell me!’ Spider-Man uttered, ‘That’s right, I’m going to be your new partner, friend!’ the Toad exclaimed. But, Spider-Man and Toad got caught up with two other costumed crazies – Frog Man and (much to Spider-Man’s horror) Spider-Kid – and the last he heard of them, the three of them were going to become a team of heroes – such as they are. ‘I call them the All-Wiener Squad!’ Spider-Man informs the Vision.
As the Vision and Spider-Man rush through Leonia, the Vision exclaims that Spider-Man’s story is incredible, and informs Spider-Man that during the same period, he has faced a fanatic who wanted to kill him and claim his wife. The Vision informs Spider-Man that the Toad has always been in love with Wanda, never caring that she doesn’t reciprocate his feelings. The Vision adds that, using the alien machines which the Toad stole from the Stranger, the Toad is determined to make himself someone that he thinks will impress the Scarlet Witch – “the Terrible Toad-King”.
(Present)
‘Could there be two of them? Nah…I don’t even know why there’s one!’ Spider-Man jokes. The Vision points out that the Toad did falter when Spider-Man confronted him, which means that there must only be one of them, before pointing out that they have to track him down before this goes any further. Spider-Man tells the Vision that they don’t both have to track Toad, pointing out that if Toad didn’t teleport too far away, then he will stand a good chance of finding him on his own, which the Vision isn’t needed for. ‘But I am needed to protect Wanda!’ the Vision exclaims. The Vision remarks that with he and Wanda out of the Avengers and Spider-Man a loner, there is no telling how long they could have gone without stumbling over this. ‘You said it!’ Spider-Man exclaims, before remarking that it was lucky he happened to be on his way to the shore.
The two then part ways, and Spider-Man’s spider-sense goes wild, so he leaps away as the Terrible Toad-King comes up behind him and exclaims ‘You don’t take me seriously!’, adding that if he can teleport away, then he can teleport back. The Toad exclaims that no one took him seriously, which is why he tried to kill himself. ‘You said it would be different after you saved me, but it wasn’t!’ Spider-Man tells Toad to listen to him, pointing out that he never promised him a rose-garden. The Vision did not get far and appears behind the Toad, revealing his presence to Spider-Man as he attacks the Toad from behind.
Toad lunges at Spider-Man, ‘You promised me a friendship, but you were only tolerating me! In the end you told me to go back to my psychiatrists!’ Toad shouts. Spider-Man punches the Toad’s armor, remarking that was a friendly suggestion from him, but that he is obviously a full-time nutcase. ‘Well, nutcase or not, I need a friend! Just one friend! And if not you – then Wanda!’ the Toad exclaims as his armored fist punches the Vision, who phases just in time.
Vision and Spider-Man run circles around the Toad, who claims that he would have chosen the straight and narrow, he would have done it, but after Spider-Man sloughed him off, he knew that the Terrible Toad-King must be born. The Toad exclaims that he will no longer let his destiny lie in the hands of others, and will take what the world will not give him. ‘It’s all your fault, Spider-Man, all your fault!’ the Toad shouts, while thinking to himself that Spider-Man moves to fast.
Spider-Man swings around the Toad and wonders if the mutant is right. Spider-Man admits to himself that he did not take the Toad seriously, but he did try to do right by him. ‘Leave it to your friendly neighborhood “Dear Abby” – even when I win, I lose!’ Spider-Man thinks to himself, before telling the Toad that however he got here, he has to take him seriously now, which means he and the Vision will take him down. ‘You can try!’ the Toad replies, before informing Spider-Man that, after his previous loss to the Vision, he created a suit fit for a King and incorporating the best of his machines.
The Toad points out that Spider-Man knows about his thermo-blasters and his strength, ‘But you don’t know that Toad’s carry poison in the bumps behind their eyes!’ he shouts, before blasting Spider-Man with some poisonous gas. Spider-Man attempts to hold his breath, but he can’t for long, and eventually slips from his webbing and falls to the ground. The Toad exclaims that he only put Spider-Man under for a time, but death he reserves for the Vision!
The Vision informs the Toad that airborne toxins do not affect a man who does not breathe, to which the Toad remarks that all real men breathe, before boasting that he has another power – the ability to hop! The Vision realizes the Toad is referring to his teleportation device, and as the Vision attempts to attack him, the Toad appears behind him. ‘Miss me here!’ Miss me there!’ the Toad boasts childishly, before grabbing the Vision by his head, and shouting ‘Just so long as you miss me with all your heart!’ The Toad realizes that the Vision had no time to dematerialize, ‘Then you’re obliged to have a synthetic heart attack – the first of two, because now, the Scarlet Witch is mine!’ boasts the Toad.
Back at Wanda and the Vision’s home, Wanda asks Holly if she felt something. ‘No, should I have? Holly replies. Wanda replies that she doesn’t know what she felt, but she sure felt something! Suddenly she thinks it has something to do with the Vision and exclaims that she has to go see him, to which Holly tells her to wait, as she knows what the doctor said. ‘Holly, I’m a super heroine! If my husband’s in trouble –‘ Wanda begins, until Holly interrupts, assuring Wanda that if the Vision is in trouble then he will not want her hurting the baby.
Holly offers to go have a look at the noise, reminding Wanda that she is her students, so it’s what she is here for. Holly makes her way through Wanda’s home, thinking that it is no surprising a witch would have a magickal “feel” for her husband, but wonders what could possibly happen on a lazy day like this? Glancing out the window, Holly sees the Toad in his big armor approaching the house, ‘Ohhh boy!’ she thinks to herself as the Toad shouts ‘I’m coming for you, my beloved!’ .
Holly races back to Wanda’s room and informs her that there is something going on, but that she wants her to promise that she will stay in her room while Holly herself takes care of it. Wanda begins to protest, until Holly exclaims that they have to think of the baby. Downstairs, the Toad breaks through the front door, setting the alarm off. The Toad tries to turn it off, and with his back to the rest of the house, Holly comes up behind him, with a baseball bat and saying a prayer to God and Goddess – and whoever else might be listening, she asks for the strength to stop this “scuzzball” as she calls him, before whacking him across the head with the bat.
The Toad turns and looks at Holly. ‘Who are you, little girl?’ he asks, before lashing out at her. Holly exclaims that she is someone who isn’t a real witch yet, before rushing up stairs, calling out to Wanda, informing her she cannot stop him and that he is now coming up the stairs.
Meanwhile, the Vision begins to come round. ‘It’s been slow, but I’m recycling’ he exclaims, before asking Spider-Man how he is doing. ‘I’m…regurgitating!’ Spider-Man exclaims as he vomits.
The Toad makes his way to the top of the stairs and calls out to Wanda, announcing his presence as the one who has conquered her husband. ‘Now at last, I can claim your love!’ the Toad exclaims, before falling over. Holly pushes a dresser behind the door to prevent it from being opened, while the Toad gets to his feet and asks Wanda if she thinks her hexes can stop the Terrible Toad-King. ‘Not while he can hop!’ the Toad exclaims, before teleporting near Wanda’s room, excited that she can see how he has changed.
Holly tells the Toad to go away, that they don’t want him here, but he smashes his way into the room. ‘At last! At last we are united, my own – YUCK!’ shouts the Toad as he lays eyes upon Wanda. ‘”Yuck”?’ Wanda asks. ‘You can’t be the Wanda I love – you’re huge!’ the Toad exclaims. ‘I’m pregnant, Toad!’ Wanda informs her one-time teammate. Toad replies that he knew that, but that he had no idea she was so…huge. From inside his armor, the Toad exclaims that this is all wrong, this is not the way he saw it after all those years of waiting. ‘Where is the precious flower of maidenhood who was so sweet to me in the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants?’ the Toad asks.
‘Right in front of you, Toad – and mad enough to spit!’ Wanda snaps back before casting a spell on the Toad, forcing him out of the room. The Vision and Spider-Man arrive, and Spider-Man sees the Toad reaching for one of the buttons on his armor, but Spider-Man warns him not to. ‘You treacherous sod! I should have killed you when I had the chance!’ the Toad exclaims, to which Spider-Man warns him that if he keeps this up, then he will make him mad too.
Spider-Man begins to wrap his webbing around the Toad’s hand and exclaims ‘Listen, “Toad-Kin”, you say I led you on about being your friend – but what were you doing pretending to be a wimp?’ Spider-Man asks. ‘I am a wimp!’ the Toad exclaims in reply, quickly adding, that what he means is he’s a wimp when he tries to be nice to people. ‘But don’t you know what time it is, tough guy?’ Spider-Man asks while the Vision goes over to Wanda. ‘It’s tax time!’ Spider-Man exclaims, telling the Toad that it is time to pay for the public services.
‘You want a friend or a wife, but you aren’t willing to pay the price!’ Spider-Man points out, before telling Toad that he has to put some effort into being a friend, to make people want to be his friend. ‘You don’t get service for free! You might grumble about the price sometimes, you might not even get everything you want out of it – but that’s just the way life is – and believe me, you’re talking to a guy who knows!’ Spider-Man exclaims. The Toad replies that he no longer believes a word Spider-Man says and Holly alerts everyone to Toad’s now-free hand – then he “hops” away, disappearing without a trace.
Spider-Man thinks to himself that he might start taking the Toad a bit more seriously, before turning to Wanda and remarking that she certainly took care of the Toad, and in her state, while he and the Vision were away in “dreamland”. ‘You sure are some kinda lady!’ Spider-Man exclaims. ‘You’re darn right I am!’ Wanda replies.