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Dying to Get Out!
Birth. Re-Birth. To these four, they are one and the same…as writhing molecules congeal torturously around four pulsing points of sentient light…slowly, they take shape…and find voice.
Indeed, in one of the many dimensions of Hell, four souls find new physical form, ‘It is good to be alive again after so long!’ a large, bulking metal being exclaims. ‘After all these years!’ a blonde woman with an axe in the place of one of her hands agrees. ‘Bah! Compared to mine, your corpses were still warm!’ a blue-skinned exotic-looking woman declares, before asking who brought them back to life, and with such seeming power at their fingertips. ‘Or, in my case, instead of fingertips!’ the axe-handed woman remarks.
A man in some kind of green armor with gas floating around him exclaims ‘Yes! To breathe in air and to breathe out the -’ he is interrupted by the larger metal man, who exclaims ‘That stink! I know that infernal stink!’ The green man is shocked, ‘YOU!?’ he shouts. ‘You?!’ the metal man replies. ‘I never dared dream I would get another chance at you!’ the green man remarks. The two face each other, ready for a fight, as the metal man boasts ‘I smashed you once before - and this time, I shall not allow you the luxury of suicide!’.
Suddenly, a massive hand cuts down between the two, knocking them aside on the cliff edge where they all stand. ‘STOP!’ booms a powerful voice, to which the blue-skinned woman remarks this might be whoever it is that brought them back. The giant hand belongs to one of the myriad of Hell-dimension rulers, Satannish, who turns to a man holding a noose, standing above the others, higher up on the cliffside, and asks him how he likes the foursome - his new Lethal Legion.
‘You have to ask?’ the noose wielding man replies. The face on Satannish’s stomach grins and declares ‘You had better like them - because they’re all you’ll get!’. Hangman reveals himself and remarks that, after getting rid of the Night Shift team he would rather go solo. ‘No way the Hangman is baby-sitting these two-time losers’ he declares, causing Satannish to lunge towards him, ‘Oh? And how many times have you lost your soul, human?’ the horrid demon asks, reminding Hangman that he is giving him a final chance to recover his soul, before ordering him to be quiet as he makes the introductions.
Satannish introduces the bulky metal men as Coldsteel, the scantily-clad blue-skinned woman as Cynna, the axe-handed woman as Axe of Violence, and the green man with the gas as Zyklon. ‘You won’t welch on our deal, Satannish?’ Hangman asks as he stands by his team. ‘If we do this job for you…’ Hangman begins, to which Satannish replies ‘You’ll all regain your souls - even your lives!’ ‘All right, you’re on!’ Hangman exclaims as Satannish begins to transport the Lethal Legion out of Hell. Satannish reminds Hangman to attack his appointed prey singly, to pick them off one by one. ‘Oh. And make them feel pain before they die. If they feel pain, I’ll feel pain. And I like pain’….
Meanwhile, inside what’s left of the Palos Verdes Compound, home of the Avengers West Coast, the California-based branch of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. The team is engaged in a meeting, where founding member and long-time leader Clint “Hawkeye” Barton announces that, it hurts him to say this, but he is quitting. He assures his friends and teammates that he will stick around as member of the team but effective today, he is stepping down as chairman. Barbara “Bobbi” Morse Barton a.k.a. Mockingbird, Clint’s wife, looks at her husband proudly as he says that.
Johnny Walker a.k.a. the USAgent leans back in his chair casually, and remarks that now that is over, can they got on with any important business? This causes Julia “Spider-Woman” Carpenter to quietly ask Walker if he cannot forget his feud with Hawkeye just this once. ‘Don’t you see how hard this is for him?’ Julia asks. Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch, one of Hawkeye’s dearest friends, asks Clint if he is sure about this, while Jim Rhodes a.k.a. War Machine points out that Hawkeye has been an Avenger longer than any of them except Wanda.
‘That’s partly why I’m hanging it up’ Clint replies, reminding his teammates that he and Bobbi started this franchise years ago, and have now decided that they need a bit more time to themselves. ‘Hear hear!’ Mockingbird exclaims, smiling. Clint adds that it is no secret that in Demonica he went pretty much to pieces when Bobbi was captured. ‘As a leader, I made a good frantic husband’ Clint points out, before announcing that as his last act for chairman, he would like nominations for his replacement.
Mockingbird tells her teammates that, for the record, this was wholly Clint’s decision, but that she is in total agreement, before announcing that she nominates the Scarlet Witch as their new chair-whatever. ‘Me?’ asks a surprised Wanda. ‘You’re not going to refuse, are you?’ Bobbi asks. ‘I suppose not - but I never thought about anything like that’ the Scarlet Witch remarks.
USAgent quietly tells Spider-Woman that he is real busy, but that if she wants to nominate him, he could probably manage. Spider-Woman doesn’t respond to Walker, instead she tells Hawkeye that if there are no other nominees, then she moves Wanda be elected by acclimation. ‘Any more candidates? No? Then all in favor of the Scarlet Witch…’ Hawkeye remarks as Spider-Woman, Mockingbird and War Machine all raise their hands in agreement. ‘Looks like she’s got the job!’ Julia exclaims, but Rhodey points out that USAgent is abstaining. ‘What a shock’ mumbles Mockingbird.
Spider-Woman puts her arms around USAgent and strokes the side of his head, teasingly suggesting that he change his mind before Hawkeye decides to stay on. Johnny looks at Julia and frowns, before raising a hand and declaring that he will make it unanimous. ‘Speech, Wanda - speech!’ one of the heroes exclaims. A rather sheepish Wanda replies that they all know this is not something that she sought out, but that she will do her best to live up to their confidence in her. ‘Is that enough? I’ve never been very good at making speeches…’ Wanda remarks.
Clint tells his friend that was fine, and declares that if there is no further business, then the meeting is adjourned. The Avengers leave the meeting room and head outside, while Rhodey remarks that he would almost rather have stayed inside than come out to all this destruction. Julia agrees and remarks that it seems like it is taking forever to get the Compound cleaned up, before telling Rhodey that she did toy with the idea of nominating him as leader. Rhodey thanks Julia, and remarks that he did his time as CEO at Stark Enterprises, so he doubts that he wants to be boss of anything for a while.
While Wanda surveys the construction workers repairing the vast damages to the Palos Verdes Compound, Bobbi remarks to Clint that Wanda is awfully pensive, and offers to go over and talk to her, but Clint holds his wife back, remarking that Wanda is a big girl, before telling Bobbi that he thought for a second she was going to tell the others that they have decided to try and have a child. Bobbi replies that something are their own business, and as she kisses her husband, suggests that they get down to business tonight. ‘Anytime…’ Clint mumbles as they kiss passionately.
Spider-Woman tells War Machine that he knows what he means about responsibilities, informing him that her parents are due in town from Peru in a few days. Julia explains that she never saw much of her parents when she was kid, and them coming here has reminded her that she doesn’t want Rachel to grow up without an absentee mother either. ‘Your folks are probably sorry about it, too’ War Machine tells Spider-Woman, adding that the funny thing is, we don’t realize until it is too late. ‘I know’ Julia replies, telling Rhodey that is why she wishes he could bring himself to talk to Tony Stark, ‘You two were too good of friends’ she points out. Rhodey replies that is between he and Stark, before telling Julia that he has to go.
USAgent thinks to himself that everyone is ignoring him as per usual, and wonders why he hangs around to carry the losers anyway. ‘There’s got to be some better way to spend my time today’ he thinks to himself as he gets into his car, deciding to go and put the slam on a few of the bad guys. For he knows just where to find them!
Underneath a bridge, some thugs have surrounded a druggie, demanding that he pay them now. ‘I’m strapped people - no bull!’ the druggie replies. ‘I told Geezer you was a bad credit risk!’ one of the thugs remarks, before another declares: ‘Carve ‘im!’ The thugs pulls out their knives, to which the druggie pleads with them and exclaims that he will pay them back tomorrow. ‘Tomorrow’s been called off!’ exclaims one of the thugs as he is about to attack the druggie, when suddenly, he gets some rocks thrown at him. ‘What in the -?’ he exclaims. Everyone turns around as Johnny makes his presence known. ‘The name’s USAgent! And the first guy who calls me Captain America is gonna wish he hadn’t!’ the hero warns the low-lives.
‘We ain’t calling you nothing’!’ one of the thugs shouts as he and the others raise their guns. ‘Nothin’ but dead!’ another of them declares as they open fire. USAgent of course blocks their shots with his trusty shield, and thanks them for giving him an excuse. He leaps into the fray, kicking two of the thugs over, while grabbing another by his neck. One of the thugs pulls a large knife on USAgent, to which Johnny exclaims ‘First a gun - now a knife - really come loaded don’t you?’. ‘Get outta my face man, or I’ll -’ the thug exclaims, until Johnny asks ‘What face?’ as he shoves the thug face-first into a brick wall.
The remaining thug unleashes countless gunshots at Johnny, who ducks and covers himself with his shield, before he manages to reach his attacker, punching him in the face then the stomach, Johnny warns him that he is lucky - lucky he didn’t feel like getting real angry. With the thugs lying unconscious at his feet, Walker turns to the druggie, ‘You! Lowlife! I just cancelled your bill!’ Johnny tells him, before warning him to get out of her while he “gift-wraps” these guys - in case the cops ever show. ‘Yes, sir!’ the druggie replies before scampering away. ‘Thirsty work’ Johnny decides as he notices a convenience store across the road.
Shortly, Johnny leans on the counter inside the store, sipping a drink as the owner tells him that things are better here than in his native country. ‘Here only crook rob you - not police’ the shop owner remarks. ‘Three cheers for America the beautiful’ USAgent exclaims as an extremely scantily-clad woman enters the store, asking the owner if he has any julep 100’s. Johnny checks the woman out while she makes her purchase. Johnny asks the woman if she feels safe strolling around this neighborhood dressed like that, to which the woman replies ‘Not half as safe as I’d feel if you walked me back to my car’.
But as they walk along the rubbish-strewn sidewalk, the woman exclaims ‘Oh, darn! And I was so sure I’d left it right here! Somebody must have stolen it!’. An unimpressed Johnny replies that it has been three blocks since he stopped believing she even had a car, and asks her what her story is. ‘Make it good’ he warns her. ‘Is this good enough?’ she asks as she kisses Johnny on the lips. Johnny doesn’t really respond, so the woman asks him what the matter is. ‘Is it true what they say about all you guys who wear trunks over your tights?’.
Johnny pushes the woman away from him and asks who she is and what she is after. Suddenly, the woman begins to transform, blue skin begins to appear as she exclaims ‘They call me - Cyana! You know - as in “cyanide”!’ she grins, before asking Walker if that gives him a clue as to why she kissed him. Johnny bits his lip, then cries out in pain as he realizes that Cyana has poisoned him. ‘And the Hangman said you were a slow study’ Cyana remarks, to which Johnny, in between tears, exclaims ‘Hangman? That’s all I wanted to know - till you tell me where I can find him!’ and lunges at Cyana, who is surprised that Walker has shrugged off her kiss.
‘I’ve shrugged off worse! Now let’s see what you do with this!’ Johnny exclaims as he lunges at Cyana, his shield ready to smack her up. Cyana calls out to Zyklon and Coldsteel, who step out from the shadows. ‘Calling in reinforcements, huh?’ Coldsteel asks. Cyana tells her teammates that she is feeling generous. ‘Must come from picking up this slang so fast’ she supposes, before offering to share this kill with both of her teammates. But Zyklon tells Cyana that she failed, so it is his turn now. But Coldsteel tells Zyklon to keep out of his, and boasts that he is the one they named tanks after as he slams into USAgent, who blocks his attack with his shield.
Cyana mutters that she should have scratched USAgent when she kissed him, then she wouldn’t need the help of either of her teammates, while USAgent is thankful that steel fists will not dent his vibranium shield. However, Walker discovers that Coldsteel is faster than he looks as Coldsteel shoves him into a brink wall. Johnny collapses on the ground while Cyana exclaims that he counts as her kill. ‘Only if he had died at once!’ Zyklon remarks, ‘Which as you see, he did not’.
‘I’m gonna -’ Walker begins to say, as Zyklon bombards the hero with the deadly gas, ‘You are going to die, American! The moment you must take a breath!’. Walker covers his mouth, while the villains continue to argue about who can claim him. ‘No! He’s mine, I tell you’ Cyana exclaims, while Zyklon boasts that he will have USAgent dead before he so much as inhales. Suddenly though, Johnny makes his way through the gas without inhaling any and grabs a hold of Cyana’s wrist and flings her into Coldsteel, knocking him over. ‘Women! I always said they are only good for breeding!’ Zyklon exclaims.
Johnny rushes through the gas until he is clear of it and wonders what is going on here, as those three are acting like they are in some kind of killing contest, with him as the sacrificial lamb. Walker boasts that he could handle any one of them, maybe even two, but if he is going to go one-on-three then he needs a plan.
Coldsteel looks up at Zyklon and tells them that it is his fault. ‘We knew what to do with your kind when we captured them!’ he exclaims. ‘And we returned the favor, Coldsteel!’ Zyklon replies. This causes Cyana to ask them to stop fighting old battles. She points out that they have been at cross purposes, but now they have to unite to execute the Avenger. Zyklon replies that Cyana is right, and points out that they do now want to revert to the hands of Satannish. Suddenly, Zyklon notices where USAgent is escaping to.
Down an alley, Johnny tells himself that he is being stupid, and decides that little use he has for the rest of the Avengers, they are still a team. ‘Lord knows I’ve bailed them out of enough scrapes the past few months!’ he thinks, before grabbing his comm-card and deciding that it is time for a little payback. ‘Yo - Avengers West! Anybody read me?’ he asks, before realizing that his communications card has been bent, and supposes it was Coldsteel’s fist that caused that. Johnny realizes that there is no way of knowing if he got through to them, before deciding that he will handle this on his own after all.
However, Walker can feel the poison creeping through his system, and knows that all the running and fighting will just make it reach his heart sooner. ‘What I need is - a ride!’ Johnny tells himself as he sees a car, and shoves his fist through the window, enabling him to open the door and climb in. As he starts to hotwire the car he remarks that it has been a while since he has done this, before noticing something out of the corner of his eye. Johnny realizes that it has snaked into the front of the car, through the grill, where suddenly, whatever it was pulls out the motor of the car and takes most of the hood with it.
Deciding he better take a look, USAgent puts his head out of the window, only for a thick noose to be tossed at him and wraps around his neck, yanking Walker out of the car at an extremely fast speed, Johnny smacks into a brick wall, face first. Walker lands on the ground, blood streams from his nose and mouth while the Hangman stands over him, telling Axe of Violence that he has served up her victim, now she can carve him. ‘I’m more the chopping type, actually’ Axe of Violence remarks, before telling Hangman that she appreciates the hand, since one of hers is otherwise occupied! And with that, she lunges at USAgent, who manages to pull himself together in time to block the axe with his trusty shield.’ What is this - open season on USAgent?’ the handsome hero wonders.
‘Nice blow - but not fatal!’ Hangman tells Axe, before announcing that he declares USAgent an open target to any of the Lethal Legion. The Lethal Legion gather around Hangman as Cyana remarks that a portion of a kill is better than nothing. Walker holds his shield up while Axe of Violence hacks away at it and asks what this is to them, some kind of game? ‘I’m not exactly in the mood for playing!’ Johnny declares while knowing that he needs to get a little breathing space if he is to go on breathing. ‘Knocking down a wall usually works!’ he decides as he uses his incredible strength to bring a brick wall down upon the Lethal Legion.
Zyklon manages to force his way up out of the rubble and hovers above it, declaring that will not help USAgent escape from an airborne death as he releases more gas upon Walker, who begins to cough, but manages to evade it still. However, Axe of Violence pushes Cyana out of her way she screams that she wants a piece of him, and slashes her axe about wildly, nicking Walker just below his ribs. Walker is thankful that his outfit is partly weapon proof, otherwise, he may have received more than just a graze.
Cyana realizes that Walker is exposed, and lunges at him, injecting poison into his wound which she boasts will finish him off. USAgent flinches and realizes that he cannot take much more of this, he does however find the strength to smash what is left of his shield into Axe and Cyana, knocking the nasty women back. ‘There’s still life in him!’ Axe snarls, to which Cyana points out that makes him the better prize.
Suddenly though, Coldsteel comes up behind Walker and smashes him in the back, forcing the hero to the ground. ‘He is mine!’ the bulky villain exclaims, while Hangman tells him that this is a joint kill, but that his hands may be the first that dispatches him if he so wishes. ‘I wish!’ Coldsteel replies as he holds USAgent by the head, ready to use his hand, as a fist, to smash Walker in the head. ‘Go ahead - but remember - it took four of you!’ USAgent exclaims defiantly.
Suddenly, a Quinjet arrives overhead, its lights shine down into the alleyway as War Machine descends, ‘It’ll take a lot more than that, Agent!’ War Machine exclaims, while Hangman notices the Avengers. ‘Is that now what we want?’ Coldsteel asks. ‘Not all together!’ Hangman replies. ‘Well, here is one we need not worry about again!’ Coldsteel boasts as he smashes USAgent hard in the back of the head.
Hangman congratulates Coldsteel and the others for a first outing, before remarking that their means of avoiding a full-scale confrontation with the Avengers might be a bit more pedestrian - however, loud. Hangman presses a small device, and an explosion in a nearby building ensues. Inside the Quinjet, Hawkeye suspects that the hovering ship nearby caused the blast, while Mockingbird remarks that the creeps down below sure picked their shots, as the building is going up like a paper factory.
A large craft lands near the Lethal Legion, and Hangman tells his team that they have to admit one thing - for those who serve him by killing those hewants killed, Satannish does provide the very best in state-of-the-art getaway cars. With that, Hangman and the Lethal Legion make a quick getaway.
The Avengers West Coast are left with the raging fire, which Hawkeye and War Machine put out by knocking down a few buildings to smother the fire and keep it from spreading. Clint does this by firing arrows and pulling the buildings down, while War Machine uses his armor’s enhanced strength to do so.
Wanda, Julia and Bobbi look for USAgent, and when they find him, Bobbi exclaims that he isn’t moving. But Julia exclaims that she saw him breathe, and crouches down beside him, asking him if he can hear her. ‘Maybe…’ Johnny replies wearily, ‘Maybe what?’ Julia asks, while Wanda suggests she keep Walker talking. ‘Maybe…a good thing you didn’t back me…for chairman…you’d just have to have a new election…’ USAgent utters before passing out. Julia covers her face, a look of shock spreads over Clint’s face, War Machine hangs his head, Wanda looks sullen, while Bobbi doesn’t show her feelings. Is USAgent dead or alive….


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Time to Kill
(USAgent’s nightmare)‘Excuse me, people. But could you tell me the way to…Palos Verdes?’ gasps Johnny Walker a.k.a. the handsome, heroic USAgent, long-serving of Avengers West Coast, who has just stumbled into an odd setting, where several people are dinning outdoors, as suddenly, someone tosses their wine glass aside, shouting that they have been poisoned. ‘Well of course you have, my dear Alfonzo. What else would you expect - when you ear and drink at the table of…Lucrezia Borgia?!’.
‘Grab her! She did it!’ Walker exclaims, pointing at Lucrezia. Walker remarks that he doesn’t know what he is doing in Renaissance Italy, but he does know that Lucrezia is as guilty as sin. An attendant asks Lucrezia if she is acquainted with the intruder, to which Lucrezia replies that she is, though she thought he was dead, before remarking that her guards will help her remedy that situation by readying the USAgent for execution. ‘Like fun they will!’ Walker exclaims as he is attacked by sword-wielding guards. ‘The pig-sticker that can bring down USAgent hasn’t been made!’ Johnny boasts, just as one of the guards shoves his weapon into Johnny’s side.
The guards take hold of USAgent and call out to their mistress, ‘He’ll soon drown in his own life’s blood!’ one guard exclaims, while Walker realizes that his wound isn’t that deep, and wonders why he feels so weak. Lucrezia points out that it is not proper that so brazen a trespasser should simply bleed to death upon her courtyard stones, and declares that USAgent must be famished from his frantic, if fruitless, struggles. ‘Here, let him drink…from the same cup as the late, lamented Alfonzo!’ Lucrezia exclaims as she tips the wine glass above Johnny’s face, as a guard holds Walker’s mouth open, ‘Noooo!’ shouts Walker as the wine splashes into his mouth…
‘The poison…taking hold…’ Johnny mutters, before those around him begin to fade away. He wonders where they are going, as Lucrezia suddenly remarks ‘It is not we who are departing, Agent of the Americas…it is you!’. Indeed, USAgent begins passing through time, images flash before him, ‘Good lord! That’s an S.S. soldier - in a Nazi concentration camp!’ he gasps as he sees the aforementioned soldier standing over malnourished victims. Suddenly, time-space changes again, as Walker sees Russian peasants - farmers - being gunned down by some communist soldiers. Finally, a grisly murder scene in what looks to be the turn of the twentieth century, perhaps earlier. Johnny wonders who chopped up the man and woman and why he is passing through.
(Present / Reality)‘I’ve got to know - where am I?!’ Johnny shouts. ’Where in blazes am I?!’ - Johnny is actually in a hospital bed, thrashing his arms about, his teammates Jim “Rhodey” Rhodes a.k.a. War Machine and Julia Carpenter a.k.a. Spider-Woman hold his arms down, while telling him to take it easy. Julia tells her friend that he is at the Sunset Medical Center, before turning to Doctor Velasco and remarking that she thinks USAgent is finally starting to throw off the effects of the poison and the beating.
The Doctor remarks that when USAgent was brought in, he wouldn’t have believed any man could have survived what they say he has been through. ‘He’s a hard man to kill’ Wanda “Scarlet Witch” Maximoff remarks, complimenting her teammate. ‘Obviously’ the Doctor replies, before asking who these “Lethal Legion” people are that assaulted him. Wanda explains that even they are unclear on that, as the Avengers West Coast only arrived at the tail end of USAgent’s fight with them.
Spider-Woman remarks that USAgent took the brunt of the fight, as evidently, the Lethal Legion ambushed him downtown. Clint “Hawkeye” Barton compliments his oft-irritating teammate by admitting that USAgent is one tough cookie, but that the Lethal Legion wore him down eventually with cyanide, fists, a noose and even gas. ‘So what if they did?’ Walker snaps back defensively. ‘And how long would it have taken the Hangman’s crew to waste you, Bowman? Fifteen seconds!’ Walker exclaims angrily, sitting up in his bed.
Clint replies that he was trying to complement Walker for a change. ‘But if you want to start slinging insults around…’ he remarks. ‘That’s not all I’ll throw around soon as I’m out of here!’ Walker snaps back. ‘Oh no, here we go again!’ Bobbi Morse-Barton, better known as Hawkeye’s wife Mockingbird thinks to herself. ‘And I thought I was hot-headed!’ Hawkeye mutters, before pointing out that USAgent has everything going for him - ‘More power than I’ve got, even when I’m playing Goliath - but if you don’t learn to be a team player - you’re gonna blow the whole bit!’ he exclaims.
Suddenly, newly appointed team-leader the Scarlet Witch puts a hand on her long-time friends’ shoulder and tells Hawkeye to slow down, as this is hardly the time. Clint agrees, and apologizes, before Spider-Woman suggests that they all leave, as they are not doing Walker any good. As the Avengers West leave the hospital ward, Walker calls out to them, asking them to wait as he exclaims he will just get his outfit on, but his Doctor declares that the costume - or what is left of it - stays right where it is. ‘Incredible as your stamina is, you’ve still got a few hours, or I’m going to be filling out your death certificate!’.
The Scarlet Witch orders USAgent to remain here - ‘If you accept anybody as chairman besides yourself!’ she adds, before assuring Johnny that there will plenty for him to do after the last of the poison works its way out of his system. Mockingbird turns to USAgent and explains to him that they have a few leads to check out but that they will be back after that. ‘Don’t hurry on my account, Mockingbird!’ Walker replies.
Soon, up the Coast at Malibu, War Machine, carrying Spider-Woman, lands as Julia motions to Stella Houston’s beach hours. Rhodey replies that he remembers her, ‘She made a movie or two, didn’t she?’ he remarks. Julia replies that Stella made them with Jason Roland, that they were an item near the end of his film career and that Roland showed up here with Night Shift after he sold his soul to Satannish and became the Hangman. Julia remarks that it is not likely Stella will know where Hangman is now that he is ramrod ding an even weirder crew, but it’s worth a shot.
As they walk up the front steps, Rhodey points out that the door is open. They enter and Julia calls out to Stella, announcing who they are, Julia explains that they want to talk with her. Looking around the rooms, Julia exclaims that the place looks like something out of Currier and Ives. War Machine declares that somebody is in the next room, and entering what appears to be the living room, ‘Oh my God!’ exclaims Julia as they see furniture overturned, blood splattered against the wall, and a woman dressed in an old fashioned dress, holding a bloody axe in her hand, standing over the body of Stella Houston.
‘Come on in, Avengers…always room for one more on the chopping block!’ grins the woman as she transforms into the Lethal Legion member Axe of Violence, the axe now attached to her arm, she lashes out at the heroes as War Machine tells Spider-Woman to let him handle this, believing his armor will protect him from the blade, the deadly axe however easily slices into Rhodey’s armor. ‘Don’t bet on that medieval Sunday-go-to-meeting suit to save you from Axe of Violence!’ the nasty woman exclaims, while Julia calls out with concern for her teammate.
‘Magic! I never liked magic!’ Rhodey mutters as he hit’s the floor, while Axe of Violence stands over him, telling him that he should realize now is that magic can be a real pain in the neck - but just as she, ironically, is about to strike War Machine in the neck with her axe, Spider-Woman slams her powerful form into Axe of Violence, while urging Rhodey to clear out, while she takes care of this latter-day Lizzie Borden. ‘You know?’ shouts Axe of Violence? ‘How did you know that?’ she shouts, as she smacks Julia, hard, with her non-axe hand. Julia goes careening over the room, ‘How did I know what?’ she wonders to herself.
War Machine and Spider-Woman gather themselves and close in on Axe of Violence who is backed up against a wall now, and Rhodey remarks that it is team-up time for them, as Axe is clearly homicidal. ‘No! You’re wrong!’ Axe shouts. ‘There’s nothing the matter with me - no matter what they all said!’ she declares. Spider-Woman asks her why she murdered Stella Houston, not to mention trying to kill USAgent. Axe of Violence replies that it is the price of getting her soul back - a price she is more than willing to pay. Axe of Violence adds that Hangman wanted Stella Houston dead so that she couldn’t possibly help the Avengers against him. ‘As for you - Satannish wants you all dead!’ she reveals.
But Axe knows that she won’t gain anything by getting captured, so tosses a free axe towards the Avengers, while Julia exclaims that she is making a break for it, only for the axe to splatter into Julia’s shoulder. Rhodey calls out to his teammate, but as they stand near the body of Stella Houston, Julia assures Rhodey that the wound is not deep, as Axe was off-balance when she threw it. ‘Poor Stella! Killed just because she once loved the Hangman!’ Julia remarks, before motioning to the gaping hole in the wall and pointing out that the axe-murderess got away.
War Machine tells Spider-Woman that what she and Axe of Violence said reminded him of an old kids rhyme - “Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave father forty whacks - and when she saw what she had done…’ ‘…she gave her mother forty one!’ Spider-Woman concludes.
Nearby, in Beverly Hills, Wanda and Clint arrive at the abandoned mansion of Jason Roland, and Clint remarks that before Roland disappeared and became the Hangman must have had a fair bit of money. Wanda agrees and informs Clint that this property is worth a fortune. ‘But its locks don’t work so well. Just bad luck I guess’ she jokes as she casts a hex towards the mansion, disabling the locks and enabling them to enter the sprawling mansion.
Hawkeye remarks that he wishes Mockingbird could see this, but that there was something she said she had to do. ‘I hope she’s not trying anything crazy’ he remarks, while Wanda suggests Clint trust his wife, as she has a head on her shoulders. ‘Yeah, I know. And it doesn’t get any worse from there on down!’ Clint exclaims. ‘Still…’ he begins, before Wanda makes her way up a grand staircase, telling Clint that she will take the front, she asks him to take the back.
Wanda remembers reading about this mansion and recalls that since no body was ever found, Roland still technically owns it - prime Beverly Hills real estate just rotting away. ‘Not likely the Hangman would have any reason to come back here, of course’ Wanda decides, after all, he’s dead - or at least in some halfway state between life and death in Satannish’s thrall. Wanda knows though that it is a lot better to try finding the Hangman and his Lethal Legion, than waiting around for them to try picking the Avengers off one by one, for whatever insane reason.
Suddenly, as Wanda walks along a corridor, a door slams open, ’The Hangman said one of you might show up here…and he did so want me to show you around…before you died!’ exclaims the blue-skinned Cyana. Suddenly, everything changes before Wanda’s eyes, transforming to Renaissance Italy, and Cyana appears in her other form. ‘One moment you’re the legionnaire called Cyana, and the next you’re…’ Wanda’s voice trails off as things return to normal, and Cyana lunges at Wanda, ’…Lucrezia Borgia, at your service!’ the mad-woman screams as she only manages to claw some of Wanda’s cloak off.
Cyana exclaims that she used to work with poisons secreted in rings and bodices, but times have changed. Wanda thinks to herself that the mirage, or whatever it was, made her too disorientated to throw a hex bolt, and knows that one scratch of those deadly finger nails and she will be as dead as USAgent nearly was. Back downstairs, Clint hears a thud, and calls out for Wanda, who, back upstairs, tells herself to get it into gear, and raises a hand to cast a hex, while an annoyed Cyana shouts ‘Fool! Waving your hands around won’t -’ she doesn’t get to finish her sentence as the door behind her comes unhinged and falls forward, pushing Cyana flat on her face.
Hawkeye arrives at Wanda’s location, ‘Ok, Witchie, where’s -?’ he begins as he stands on the door. Wanda motions to the door, ‘It’s so heavy, she might be -’ Wanda remarks, when, suddenly, ‘DEAD!?’ shouts Cyana, finishing Wanda’s sentence as she leaps upwards, forcing the door off of her, she knocks Hawkeye over. ‘But of course! Since 1519 to be exact!’ Cyana exclaims. ‘So not much chance of you losers killing me all over again!’ she boasts, before turning to the Scarlet Witch and telling her to just relax into it. ‘Death, I mean. You’ll get used to it. After all, it lasts a long time!’.
But as Cyana corners Wanda, she suddenly finds herself tied up as Hawkeye fires an arrow which darts around her again and again, wrapping her in a rope. ‘You want to scratch somebody’s back, poison-lady - try your own!’ Clint exclaims. ‘It’s the only one you’re gonna be able to reach!’ Clint declares, when suddenly, he finds a large, thick noose around his neck, as the Hangman reveals himself, ‘Out of my way, Witch!’ he shouts as he runs past Wanda, towards a large window, he smacks her in the face, assuring her that he will be back to help Cyana take care of her, as soon as he breaks his fall, and Hawkeye’s neck!
With that, Hangman leaps through the glass and past a balcony, ‘Hawkeye, No!’ shouts Wanda as she gets to her feet, and Clint goes careening past her, pulled by the thick rope, which he struggles to pull from his neck. Wanda realizes that the Hangman can jump from a second story balcony because he is already dead - but Clint can be hilled by the noose, or bitting the ground - or getting impaled on jagged glass! Wanda hopes that she has re-orientated herself enough for her hex power to work, so as Hawkeye nears the deadly jagged glass, Wanda casts her hands, and the rope snaps where it is tied into the noose, and Hawkeye falls to the ground.
Wanda asks Clint if he is all right, to which Clint, gasping for breath, motions to Cyana, running towards the balcony, ‘Don’t let her get away!’ he exclaims. But as the two long-serving Avengers reach the balcony, Wanda points out that it is too late, before asking Clint if he thinks that Cyana could be who she claims to be - Lucrezia Borgia. ‘Naw, she couldn’t possible be - who?’ Clint replies.
Meanwhile, back at Sunset Medical Center, ‘Agent? Jack?’ Mockingbird calls out quietly, addressing John by his alias. ‘Millions…so many millions…all dead!’ mumbles Johnny, tossing and turning in his hospital bed, Bobbi quickly goes over to him and wakes him, telling him that he was dreaming again. ‘I was? What brings you here?’ John asks. ‘Things you cried out during your nightmares - I keep thinking they’re important somehow’ Bobbi replies, while John sits up in bed, revealing the bandages around his wounds, he admits that he cannot even remember his nightmares now that he is awake, before telling Bobbi to close her eyes (he is nearly naked after all).
Bobbi asks Johnny if he is sure he should be doing this, to which Walker, putting on his tattered costume, replies that he recuperates a lot faster than people think. ‘Wouldn’t your husband go ballistic if he found out you doubled back to nurse maid me?’ John asks. ‘That’s my problem’ Bobbi assures him as she grins and sneaks a peek at USAgent’s hot body. ‘Though not for much longer’ Bobbi adds. ‘Why not?’ Walker asks. Bobbi replies that no one knows this yet, and she doesn’t know why she is even telling him, but that she is going to be quitting the Avengers so that she and Clint can start a family.
Johnny looks at Bobbi and doesn’t say anything, causing Bobbi to ask ‘Well? No sarcastic remarks?’ ‘About what?’ John asks. ‘You know I’m all for traditional values’ he reminds Mockingbird, before announcing that all of a sudden he is starting to recall the dreams. ‘All that…death!’ he exclaims, when, suddenly, he is smacked in the face and knocked to the floor. ‘You need not strain to remember your nightmares, Avenger - not when you have their living embodiment here before you!’ exclaims the oversized Coldsteel as he looms over USAgent.
Johnny quickly gets to his feet and raises his trusty shield, ‘What is it with you guys? Get your points for wasting Avengers?’ he asks as he dodges Coldsteel’s attack. ‘And you are worth three of the one called Mockingbird!’ Coldsteel remarks, before Walker tosses him across the room, while exclaiming that he has been avoiding the truth - this really is some kind of contest - and the Avengers West are the prize!
Suddenly, ‘I would hardly call any of you mongrels a “prize”!’ exclaims someone as they bust into the room. ‘That’s got to be Zyklon!’ Walker exclaims, as indeed, Zyklon reveals himself. Coldsteel calls Zyklon a “gaseous beast” and warns him to get back. ‘I turned back your hordes once before and I shall do so again!’ Coldsteel exclaims as he gets up from the ground. Bobbi calls out to Walker, reminding him that this time round he knows what Zyklon can do, and suggests he put his gas mask on, like she does - but John doesn’t, and Bobbi mutters that USAgent is too tough to care.
Bobbi lunges at Zyklon while reminding herself that she is not able to hold her breath for minutes at a time, and she uses her battle staves to force her foe to the ground, but, suddenly, everything around her changes, as one moment she was leaping at a Legionnaire, but she has landed on top of an emaciated corpse, and there are other corpses around her also. Barbara looks at them and realizes that it is if they were starved, and then gassed. ‘It’s almost like…no! It can’t be - not THAT!’ she exclaims.
Nearby, but in “real-time” USAgent challenges Coldsteel, ‘Head to head!’ the hero declares, to which Coldsteel replies ‘You are my enemy - and I kill my enemies!’ Suddenly, as Coldsteel declares ‘Just as I had them killed’ he motions to some men strapped to chairs, blood streaming down their bodies, Coldsteel’s form has changed, to a man dressed in a uniform, he exclaims that they were plotting against him - all of them - thousands of them - but they all ended up here. Johnny realizes that this is a torture chamber, and Coldsteel is really Josef Stalin! ‘I always was!’ is the reply.
Suddenly, ‘Short of breath, dear girl?’ comes a voice behind a panel of glass, which Barbara turns to and realizes she knows who is behind it - Heinrich Himmler, the head of the Nazi S.S. Bobbi recalls that Himmler oversaw the death of millions with the Zyklon-B gas, before suddenly realizing that her gas mask has sprung a leak. ‘Another second and I’ll be…’ she doesn’t get to finish the sentence as Bobbi passes out.
A massive explosion occurs in the ward as Coldsteel blasts a hole in the wall, ‘No easy closed room victories for you, dog!’ he shouts at USAgent. ‘Did you think Moscow was Warsaw - or Stalingrad, Paris?’ Zyklon exclaims that the best way to settle old scores is by piling up a new score. ‘The woman is mine!’ he boasts as he grabs Mockingbird by the shoulder and makes away with her.
Coldsteel has a hand wrapped around USAgent’s neck and raises another above Johnny’s blood-splattered face. ‘One more blow should do it’ he exclaims, before Walker asks ‘You’re really Stalin?’ Coldsteel replies that his old pseudonym means “Man of Steel”, but that name was already taken this time around, and “Coldsteel” was more than sufficient. Suddenly, ‘What’s in a name right? I used to be called Iron Man!’ exclaims War Machine as he arrives on scene, just in time to prevent Coldsteel from smashing USAgent’s face in again. ‘And don’t be too sure that steel always stands up to iron - not when there’s War Machine on the other end!’ Rhodey exclaims as he punches Coldsteel.
‘You again? This is the second time you have stopped me from executing that fool!’ Coldsteel shouts as he grabs War Machine and tosses him into the Scarlet Witch as he exclaims ‘There will not be a third!’. However, Coldsteel then leaps through the make-shift exit he created, remarking that if he learned nothing else in his previous life it was how to beat a strategic retreat so that he could achieve the ultimate victory!.
‘You should’ve just let him kill me…’ USAgent declares as he rubs his sore neck. War Machine tells his teammate to cut the self pity, while looking for Coldsteel outside, he doesn’t see him. Hawkeye and Spider-Woman arrive on the scene and Julia asks what happened, to which Wanda replies ‘Coldsteel happened’ and made off with Mockingbird. ‘WHAT?’ shouts Hawkeye before he begins to attack USAgent, demanding to know what Bobbi was doing here with him. USAgent doesn’t fit back, just tells Clint to get it over with, but Clint stops, as he knows hitting Walker will not get Bobbi back. Johnny looks at his torn uniform, while Wanda announces that she has an idea which might get Mockingbird back. ‘Let’s hear it!’ Rhodey exclaims.
Soon, on the Palos Verdes cliffs, ‘We’re all agreed then?’ Wanda asks, as she and her team stand in a circle, linking hands. ‘What choice do we have? The Lethal Legion’s got Bobbi!’ Hawkeye replies. Julia assures her friend that they will get Mockingbird back, somehow. While USAgent motions to the book Wanda has and asks her if she is sure Agatha Harkness’ book will take them to where she thinks Mockingbird has been taken. ‘If it doesn’t, nothing will’ Wanda replies, before she begins reading unintelligible words from the arcane tome, but suddenly, as her throat grows raw and raspy, a brilliant light signals the opening of a portal above them.
‘It’s a window - a window on another world!’ Wanda exclaims. Spider-Woman points out that there are so many worlds, and wonders if it is the right one, to which Hawkeye, readying his bow and arrow, exclaims that it is the right one all right, and motions to Satannish standing near a ledge, where the Lethal Legion flank Hangman, who holds Mockingbird high above him. ‘Beware, Avengers! You may not enter…the domain of Satannish the Supreme!’ the horrid uber-demon exclaims.
The Scarlet Witch orders the dread demon to release Mockingbird and cease his attacks-by-proxy on the Avengers West Coast. ‘Or else!’ Hawkeye adds. ‘”Or else”?’ Satannish asks, before declaring that he would squash Hawkeye for merely uttering those words, but that he has chosen other souls to do his bidding on this occasion, and imbued them with substance most sinister. The true forms of the Lethal Legion are confirmed, as USAgent exclaims that it is true - they have really been going one-on-one against supernatural reincarnations of Stalin, Himmler, Lizzie Borden and that Borgia woman.
The Scarlet Witch asks Satannish why he is doing this and what he stands to gain, to which Satannish picks up Mockingbird by one of her legs and replies ‘Souls, female - souls!’. Mockingbird’s among others. ‘NO!’ shouts Hawkeye, ‘I won’t let you take her!’ he declares as he fires an arrow into the window. ‘Correction, mortal - I already have her!’ Satannish replies as the window closes and Clint is knocked to the ground.
War Machine helps Hawkeye up, as Clint asks Wanda to open the window again, exclaiming that he has to go in there. War Machine asks if it is even possible for the window to be opened again, to which Wanda replies that she thinks so, but the risk of life - even of soul - is so great, that she can’t ask anyone - ‘Who’s asking? We’re going! All five of us!’ USAgent declares, when, suddenly, a voice overhead exclaims ‘Actually, dear friends…make that six!’ As the Devil himself, Mephistopheles steps into view….


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Bloodties Part 3: Genosha, Mon Amour
The door of the meeting room where the United Nations Security Council is holding its emergency session slams open and Hawkeye bursts in, followed by his fellow Avengers Spiderwoman, Vision, Hercules, Black Widow and Giant-Man. They are flanked by a group of SHIELD agents and two Mandroids, pointing their weapons at them. Hawkeye gets right to the point, yelling that they have agreed to come along, so they can call off the armed forces now and talk about Genosha. Giant-Man advises Hawkeye to be a bit more tactful and even Hercules agrees on this; that is, as soon as they stop pretending to be captives of these armored lackeys.
The secretary tells the Avengers to show some respect for the UN Council, as under the group’s granted UN charter, they are responsible to the United Nations and not the other way around. Hawkeye, now somewhat calmer, addresses the situation in Genosha. There are people dying, mutate and non-mutate alike, and when both teams of Avengers want to go and stop this senseless slaughter, the UN sends SHIELD to stop them – why? The secretary states that General Fury already explained it to them, they can’t allow a UN sponsored group to interfere without official sanction. Hawkeye, enraged again, tells the man to stuff his sanction.
Behind him, Giant-Man asks Spider-woman why does Hawkeye have to be so... but Julia stops him; she’s with Clint on this matter. Hercules is unsure what to make of it all and the Vision tells him that, when one is perplexed, the best course of action would be to remain silent. Hawkeye now brings up Bosnia and how long it took the UN to make a decision on that. Are they really going to stand around and watch Hammer Bay turn into another Sarajevo? Now, are they allowed to join their fellow Avengers headed for Genosha or do they have to scrap their UN charter?
One of the Council members whispers to the secretary that this ultimatum truly puts them into a quandary but the secretary is not. From the expression of the Black Widow’s face, who chairs the senior branch, it is quite clear that not all of these few Avengers are in full agreement with Hawkeye and, whatever may be happening to Genosha, they might actually be witnessing the end of the Avengers.
In Hammer Bay, the remaining Avengers (Black Knight, Sersi, War Machine, Captain America, Crystal and the Scarlet Witch) stand in front of an incredibly powerful being, who has just incinerated a group of human fighters. He welcomes the Avengers, who have no idea who he might be, and asks whether they have come to help them protect the mutates from the human garbage that threatens to overwhelm them. Next, he introduces himself as Exodus, servitor of the grandiose plans of Lord Magnus, while he is incapacitated, and hopes that the Scarlet Witch, as Magneto’s daughter and fellow mutant, will sympathize to his cause.
Cap is taken aback; does the villain truly think they will believe he had no other option than to kill these humans instead of merely rendering them harmless? Crystal is more concerned about her daughter though and asks Exodus wether he has seen Luna. Exodus declares that the Avengers are asking the wrong questions and that he sees no point in reasoning with non-mutants or corrupted mutants. Accordingly, he announces to leave. However, demanding her answer first, Crystal uses her elemental powers on him but a psionic eye blast knocks her into a wall. The Avengers check on her to see if she is still alive. ‘Naturally,’ Exodus answers for them, ‘I was but defending myself. Do you think I am some human barbarian?’ Wanda says that Exodus is a disgrace to all mutants everywhere and that he should better try to build bridges to humanity. Exodus, in turn, comments that she is unworthy of her father and, for once, he is glad that Magneto is in a coma, so that he did not have to hear her words.
As Exodus takes to the air, War Machine goes after him. Having had enough of his rap, War Machine slams both fists into Exodus’ chest. Unharmed, the mutant gets angry at War Machine; how does he dare to punish him for purging the Earth of a few paltry humans… but then he sees it. War Machine is human himself and one does not send a sheep to slaughter a lamb. Such a task requires a wolf or a tiger. Backing up his statement, Exodus again uses his psionic eye blasts, knocking War Machine back, though his armor takes most of the brunt and starts to fire projectiles at his opponent. Taking the metaphor even further, War Machine says that Exodus is more like a jackal, preying on one race at the expense of another. The mutant, disintegrating the bullets before they reach him, corrects War Machine; it’s one species against another. ‘Do men think themselves murderers when they shoot vermin?’ War Machine thinks to himself that he should have known by now that one can’t argue with a racist and alerts himself to not let his emotions get the better of him. As he tells Exodus that both discussion and battle will end here and now, War Machine starts using a flame-thrower but Exodus easily holds the fire at bay and declares that he was about to say the same to him.
In the streets below, Dane helps Crystal up while Sersi recognizes that more humans are coming towards them, while a group of angry mutates is approaching from another direction. Captain America tells the Avengers to prepare for an attack, though Wanda explains to him that neither side cares a thing about the Avengers. It’s each other they want to butcher. She uses her power to cause a gas pipe to explode, momentarily keeping the combatants apart and the Black Knight and Cap enter the battle. Dane complains that times like these show him the disadvantage of wielding a sword, as he doesn’t want to kill anybody and Cap agrees. Genosha is determined to rip itself apart and the few Avengers can’t stand in its way much longer.
At the sidelines, Crystal asks Sersi what became of Exodus. The Eternal answers that War Machine is taking care of him, or at least trying to, overhead. She then says that she needs to help Cap and the Black Knight before the mob tears them apart but Crystal asks her to let her handle it. The Inhuman gestures with her hand and, using her control over wind and water, each group is blown away, leaving only the two Avengers standing on their feet. Wanda asks Crystal to let the Genoshans down easy, though she answers that she’ll let them down – period. It’s Luna she is after and if Exodus can’t tell her anything, she will have to go off on her own. Knowing that the others can handle the situation in the street by themselves, Wanda says that she’ll accompany Crystal. She thinks to herself that she will have to watch over her sister-in-law, so that she doesn’t kill anybody in the mood she’s in.
At the same time, Professor Xavier, Beast and U.S.Agent are in the tunnels beneath the city. Xavier tells the Agent that they are happy that he caught up with them, though Hank says that the Professor only speaks for himself; they don’t need a non-mutant’s help to accomplish their mission. Xavier alerts Hank that he begins to sound like some of the misguided Genoshans. U.S. Agent says that the Beast doesn’t bother him but he would like to know what they are looking for in these tunnels. Telepathically sensing something behind the wall, Xavier says ‘Hank – here!’ ‘Hear what?’ U.S.Agent asks. Punching into the wall where the professor pointed, Beast explains ‘Not hear, Avengers – here!’ The Avengers helps Beast to break through the wall, all the while they bicker at each other. However, when they finally break through, they fall quiet because of the sight in front of them.
It’s a large underground hall, filled with hundreds of mutates, held captive under inhumane conditions. U.S.Agent finds this unbelievable, though Xavier reminds him of films of Auschwitz. Jack wonders why they don’t use their powers to break out of the complex and he receives his answers in a blinding flash of light, courtesy of some energy weapon. A group of soldiers, equipped with special armory and weapons, announces that they are, what President Cortez likes to call them, the Magistrate Elite.
Just outside Hammer Bay, the X-Men are fighting a group of mutates called the Unforgiven, who protect their lord Fabian Cortez. Quicksilver has defeated one of them but another has stunned Rogue with a force-burst. A third one, shooting energy beams from his hands, manages to hit Cyclops. Levitating in the air, Jean sees her husband being hit and calls out to him but Archangel, flying above her, tells her to watch her own back. Jean replies that Scott might be hurt, though her fellow X-Man says so might she. As if to prove him correct, Jean is hit by a beam of energy that disrupts her concentration and falls out of the sky, too fast for Archangel to react. Jean lands hard on the ground, right in front of two Unforgiven. One of them, Syth, congratulates his teammate, Skelter, on the job well done. While he cut her out of the sky with his null-grav beam, Syth now will cut her up.
Gambit steps in front of Jean, telling the Unforgiven that this is no way to treat a lady. He throws one of his charged cards into Syth, knocking him backwards but Skelter uses his power on Gambit, disrupting gravity around him, and sending him up into the air. Fortunately, Rogue is there to catch him and Gambit says that he is glad that she wasn’t badly hurt by that blast before. Storm deals with the remaining Unforgiven with a few lightning bolts but she is concerned about Jean, who is lying so still. The redhead, however, says that everything is all right; it’s just that she has mentally locked onto Luna and she didn’t want to risk losing contact.
Bishop and Iceman have secured the last of the Unforgiven, leaving Cyclops free to confront Fabian Cortez. Holding his fist into his face, Scott threatens to wipe that arrogant smile off his face but Cortez answers that he can do better than that – he can wipe off his entire face. The features of “Cortez” change, and the X-Men realize that this one was just a shapechanger. The mutate explains that the true Fabian Cortez was speaking through him, just as he can hear their words right now. Cyclops then tells him, and the absent Cortez, that the X-Men will bring this dirty war to Cortez’s door and down his lying throat.
Meanwhile, back in the currently red-glowing sky above the city, Exodus asks War Machine if he is ready to admit defeat. He gloats that the Avengers should not be ashamed that Exodus proves to be his better. After all, he is a mutant, homo superior, while War Machine, despite his vaunted armor, is just plain human. Some species are born to be masters, while others are destined to be slaves. Exodus advises War Machine to accept his inferiority, as this act would liberate him from his futile attempt to prove his equality. Now majorly annoyed, War Machine puts all into one gamble and rams into Exodus at full force, yet to no avail. The mutant is tougher than War Machine thought and he now brought himself closer into his range. Exodus triumphs, he manages to play the human’s emotions like a musical instrument and, now touching his helmet, he uses his psionic powers to turn him into a flesh-and-blood vegetable, spiraling downwards, totally out of control to his inevitable doom.
Just as one Avengers plummets out of the air, another makes his presence known to Exodus. It’s Sersi and, hovering dangerously behind Exodus, her eyes crackling with energy, she announces that he has managed to defeat a human, but what about a different species. ‘How about going a few round with an Eternal?’


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Avengers West Coast: Terminated a.k.a. “The Avengers West Coast are Finished!”
‘The Avengers West Coast are FINISHED!’ exclaims the android Avenger known as the Vision in a very tense meeting being held deep within Avengers Mansion in New York. The Vision stands up at the round table and thanks the Avengers’ Chairperson, Natasha Romanova a.k.a. the Black Widow for allowing him to chair this extraordinary meeting. Sitting alongside the Vision are his teammates Steve Rogers, better known as Captain America, the sultry Sersi, Dane Whitman the handsome Black Knight, Hank Pym in his Giant Man guise, Olympian God Hercules, and the Royal Inhuman Crystalia “Crystal” Amaquelin.
The Vision announces that recent events have shown it is imperative that they review the viability of the West Coast division, and as progenitor of the concept, he feels it is his duty to conduct the post-mortem on this experimental team which - ‘POST-MORTEM?’ shouts the Vision’s long-estranged wife and leader of the Avengers West Coast, Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. the mighty Scarlet Witch. Wanda motions to her teammates beside her - Julia Carpenter a.k.a. Spider Woman, James Rhodes a.k.a. War Machine and John Walker a.k.a. the handsome USAgent - and tells the Vision that if he hadn’t noticed, there are four living, breathing members of the West Coast team right here in front of him.
Sporting a new elegant and revealing dress-style costume, and with her hair straightened and shorter, Wanda remarks ‘You insist we attend this meeting and then you refer to us as if we’re terminated!’ She declares that as West Coast chairperson, she demands a full explanation. The USAgent stands up and exclaims ‘Darn straight! Are we allied teams? Or is this some blasted kangaroo court-martial?’ Captain America tells his “lesser” to sit down and let the Vision continue.
The Vision states that any assessment of the West Coast performance must conclude that it is an understudy operation, overshadowed by the power and competence of the original Avengers. The Vision adds that the West Coast branch’s fluctuating membership has robbed it of any consistency and reliability in the field, and that those in attendance today represent a sadly depleted force. He remarks that while Hawkeye’s absence is understandable, Wonder Man is a baffling absentee. The Vision reveals that Wonder Man’s last known location was the third-world state of Kanem, where he engaged the Hulk, and declares that his cavalier behavior seems characteristic of the West Coast team’s priorities.
While former long-time West Coast Avenger Hank Pym looks at his West Coast teammates, the Vision tells the Avengers West to consider the vulnerability of the West Coast Compound, as it is under constant attack, and not it is in a demolished state. He reminds Spider Woman that her daughter was in constant jeopardy. ‘Pardon me for being fertile!’ snaps Julia. The Vision asks Julia to forgive him, as there was no intended discourtesy and claims that his observations are intended as an objective evaluation and not as a personal slight on her.
‘It sure as heck sounds personal to me!’ shouts the USAgent as he stands up and defends his friend. Wanda tells him that there is no need to shout, ‘That’s my job! I don’t believe what I’m hearing!’ she exclaims, declaring that the Vision’s sanctimonious attitude is equaled only by his blindness to what they regularly achieve. The Vision doesn’t answer his ex-wife, so the Black Widow tells Wanda that the aim of this meeting is to reconcile the situation, not drive them apart with bitter recriminations.
The Vision addresses Wanda formally and tells her that she accuses him of blindness, but surely she is failing to see the problems that beset the West Coast operation, reminding her that their Compound has been severely damaged by attacks that might have been avoided, and the cost of rebuilding will be scarcely met by their ailing finances - only the continued support of the Stark Foundation is preventing bankruptcy. The Vision asks if such financial extravagance is justifiable to maintain a four-person roster that is clearly not the most powerful in the world? ‘That’s hardly surprising…your team always gets the gods’ Wanda mutters angrily.
Captain America goes over to a large screen and tells his long-time friend to be reasonable, reminding her that the team has always been what they make of it, and asking her if that wasn’t the cast when the “Mighty Avengers” consisted of the two of them, Quicksilver and Hawkeye? The screen flicks on and Captain America suggests they take a look at their recent mission with the X-Men to Genosha. Images of War Machine fighting Exodus, and the USAgent flash on, and Captain America reminds War Machine that when he battled Exodus he allowed him to defeat him spiritually.
Captain America reminds Rhodey that Exodus tore him apart psychologically - not physically, but his taunts of racial superiority were used to goad and weaken him. Turning to the USAgent, Captain America remarks that he was chosen to accompany Professor Xavier to Genosha for his sheer brute force - and at no time was he required to exercise his famous powers of composure and diplomacy. Each of the Avengers West listen and watch intently, until the screen goes blank.
The Vision thanks Captain America and remarks that the problems are becoming abundantly clear. ‘Avengers West has failed, conceptually and practically’. He states that the logical response is to wind up the operation and re-absorb the membership into the East Coast organization. The Vision declares that re-evaluation will be necessary for certain individuals, and until then, they will be placed on reservist status. Wanda gets to her feet again. ‘Reservist?’ she asks, asking if all they are going to do is odd jobs. ‘Are we such an embarrassment? Has your work been so much more important than ours?’
Hank Pym exclaims that this bickering isn’t necessary, that there must be a solution agreeable to all. He suggests that they create a governing committee of long-serving members to administrate both teams, that way they can coordinate the Avengers as a whole and have a role for everybody. Julia asks Hank who the “we” is, to which he replies ‘Veteran members such as Cap…Vision…’ when suddenly, a furious Wanda shouts ‘I’ve served longer than the Vision! Just then, another Avenger enters the room, and in support of Wanda exclaims ‘And I’ve served longer than Captain America!’
‘You!’ exclaims Cap as he looks at the newcomer, ‘Ha! Reinforcements!’ remarks USAgent. Iron Man walks over to his former teammates and declares that it seems to him that the notion of what an Avenger is has changed for each of them over the years. He suggests that they should be taking a long hard look at every aspect of the operation, rather than just singling out the Avengers West. ‘Him, great’ mutters War Machine, while Cap asks Tony Stark if he honestly believes this to be an anti-West Coast vendetta.
The Vision greets Iron Man and remarks that they were not expecting his attendance. Iron Man replies that he hopes it doesn’t mean he is not invited, and tells Captain America than in answer to his question, he is afraid that he does think this is an anti-West Coast vendetta, remarking that not all Avengers are of a like mind - and Galactic Storm showed them that. He reminds everyone that the team was split over the decision to eliminate the Supreme Intelligence. He adds that none of them who participated in that mission regret their actions, as the Supreme Intelligence was monstrously dangerous and had to be stopped forever.
Iron Man recalls that on that day, Captain America said the Avengers would never be the same again - and he was right - though not because they decided to kill, as he thought, but because they began to question the traditional philosophies of the Avengers. ‘Discord exists already…the entire Avengers concept needs rethinking!’
Captain America stands up and declares that Galactic Storm didn’t question their traditions, it nearly destroyed them! ‘So you’d still let a genocidal killer walk free?’ Agent asks Cap. Captain America tells USAgent not to goad him, as he doesn’t like it. ‘Blast you and your superior attitude, Rogers!’ John exclaims, slamming his fists into the table and cracking it. Hercules leaps up and asks Agent if he wants to settle this with brawn, but Captain America tells him to sit down and not to give Agent the pleasure. ‘Not here. Not now. Not ever!’ Iron Man whispers to Agent.
Hercules declares that there has been enough debate, so they should cast their vote. ‘Why bother? What’s to vote about?’ asks Sersi. Black Widow calls to her team members, when suddenly, Edwin Jarvis enters the chamber, informing them that luncheon is served on the patio.
Shortly, Sersi leans against a table laden with food, while Hercules remarks that USAgent is an ill-tempered lout who should be taught a lesson. Captain America asks Hercules what that would achieve, and points out that this is going badly as it is. The Black Widow tells her teammates that she has never seen Wanda so angry, but somehow, she doesn’t blame her. Standing in the middle of the room, Crystal and Dane are supporting Hank, as Dane remarks that this cannot be easy for him. Hank remarks that there must be something he can say, as he was part of their team for so long.
On the other side of the room, Agent, Wanda and Julia are gathered together, and Wanda declares that she is still shaking, as this is so unfair. ‘Unfair? This bites!’ Julia exclaims. As Iron Man enters the room, Jarvis asks War Machine if he is sure he won’t have anything to eat. Noticing Iron Man, Rhodey replies that he has just lost his appetite. Iron Man passes the Avengers West Coast as USAgent asks him what the story is. ‘This mean you’re back in the team?’ Spider Woman asks. Iron Man tells them that he will explain later, and noticing Hank wants to say something, he tells him ‘Not now’. ‘But, Tony, I -’ ‘He’s not listening’ Crystal tells him.
Iron Man approaches Jarvis and thanks him for the timely intervention back in the conference room, as things were getting a bit heated. Jarvis tells his employer that he is at a loss as to know what to think, for he is torn between to him, to the Avengers here at the mansion…’What will happen, sir? Tell me it will be all right!’ Iron Man assures Jarvis not to worry, and that his place is here, for it is his home and these people here need him, they’re his family now.
Tony goes over to War Machine and asks him if they can talk. Rhodey calls Tony something offensive and tells him to back off, asking him when he is finally going to understand that the time for talking is long gone. War Machine declares that to make it perfectly clear, he wants Tony to know that he doesn’t appreciate this cheap bit of theatrics, and asks him if he is trying to make him look like some second-rate imitation of the real thing. Iron Man tells James that this thing is bigger than any beef he has with him, and puts his hand on War Machine’s shoulder, only for Rhodey to exclaim that he has had enough of Iron Man’s endless spandex politics.
‘You and your Avengers can do what you like - I’m outta here! I quit!’ War Machine declares as he takes to the air and flies off, despite Iron Man calling to him and asking him to wait. ‘Looks like things are worse than I thought!’ Iron Man then remarks. Captain America asks Tony what happened, to which Iron Man tells Cap to leave it alone, as it was personal, and War Machine has quit the Avengers because of a conflict of interests. ‘What? The Avengers’ newest member walks and you say “just forget about it”?’ Cap asks, before reminding Tony that the Avengers depend on team spirit, and that if he and Rhodes have had a disagreement, they should discuss it, not drive him away.
Captain America declares that they cannot have another Galactic Storm, that they must talk things out. Iron Man begins to protest, when USAgent remarks to Wanda and Spider Woman that he doesn’t believe Captain America, before storming over there and asking him why he cannot let that Galactic Storm business go. ‘You’re still steamed because their actions were louder than your words!’ Captain America mutters that it is typical of USAgent, remarking that he would like to solve every problem with physical violence - even this argument no doubt.
Agent declares that Captain America makes him sick, and claims that he was prepared to talk, but as “Mister high and mighty” is always right…’I’d hate to disappoint you!’ John declares, raising his fist to Captain America - only for Iron Man to grab, and pulling him aside tells him that he meant what he said earlier - ‘Not here. Not now. Not ever’. Wanda glances at Agent and suggests that everyone calms down, or else they will never get any sense into this ridiculous situation. ‘Well said, Wanda’ declares Giant Man, suggesting that they reconvene this meeting and try to reach a decision before anything else happens. Julia quietly says to Agent that whacking Cap wouldn’t have accomplished a lot, would it? ‘Nope, but it sure would have felt good!’ Agent replies.
Soon, everyone is back in the conference room, and the Vision brings the meeting back to order, announcing that there are several more evaluations he would like to make, when Iron Man suddenly tells the Vision that he thinks he has said everything that needs to be said, so he suggests they stop procrastinating and put it to a vote. The Vision glances at the Black Widow, who tells him to do as Iron Man says. ‘Very well. All those in favor of disbanding the Avengers West Coast operation?’
Captain America and the Black Widow both show their support for the Vision and announce that they agree. Wanda gives a very firm ‘Nay’, Somewhat unsure, the Black Knight exclaims ‘Yes…I suppose’. Leaning back in his chair, the USAgent swears as he exclaims ‘No way!’ Crystal abstains, while Sersi smiles as she declares that she votes against - as she doesn’t want “these people” cluttering up the mansion. ‘Nice vote, lousy motive’ Julia tells Sersi, before stating that she is also a “nay”. Hank Pym also says no, for he believes that there must be another way. Hercules is another “aye”, and the Vision announces that he also votes affirmative, meaning they have five for and five against, with one abstention.
The Vision turns to Iron Man and asks him if he wishes to exercise his voting privilege, to which Tony replies ‘Darn right I do. I VOTE WE DISBAND THE AVENGERS WEST COAST!’ The Vision carries the motion as everyone turns to Tony, ‘What the -’ exclaims Julia, as Captain America tells Iron Man that he surprises him, and asks why. Iron Man explains that the team cannot continue to function with the resentment and lack of support from the East Coast team. He adds that there will be no going back and suggests that they just end it cleanly.
‘Then it’s settled!’ Cap exclaims, before suggesting that they discuss the mechanics of the break-up. He points out that they will need to issue a press-statement and work out how the West Coast membership can be absorbed into the East Coast on a reservist status. ‘RESERVIST?’ shouts Wanda. ‘After all this time as an Avenger? For the record, ladies and gentlemen - the Scarlet Witch just QUIT!’ With that, Wanda tosses her identification card onto the table, and storms away, though Cap asks her to wait, she ignores him.
Iron Man tells the shocked Cap that Wanda means business - she won’t be back - and neither will he! Tony places his identification card on the table too, to which Cap asks him why he is quitting, for he supported the break up of the West Coast branch. ‘Yes, I did. But I didn’t mean I was going to stay’ Tony explains. As he walks out of the room also, Tony remarks that he knows it sounds corny, but that he believes it is better this way. With that, he simply says goodbye. ‘Tony! After all we’ve been through!’ Hank exclaims.
Black Widow looks at USAgent, who says ‘Get real, Widow…do you really even need to ask?’ Hank exclaims that he cannot believe this is happening, and asks Julia to stay with them - with the Avengers, as they are not trying to drive her away. Julia stands up and thanks Hank, before remarking that if there is no room in this outfit for the likes of Iron Man or the Scarlet Witch, then she doesn’t think she is going to be up to their exacting standards. Tossing her card on the table next to the other three, Julia tells them its been real. The other Avengers look at Hank, ‘That went really well, didn’t it?’ he remarks, quite upset.
Outside, Wanda and Iron Man are standing together, and Tony motions to Julia, remarking to Wanda that it looks like it was a clean sweep of resignations. Wanda asks Tony why he did it - ‘Why did you vote that way?’ As Julia joins them, Tony explains that it was time for a change, that they were going no where as an imitation of the main group, and their only future lies in an identity of their own. He tells the women that he has some ideas he would like to share with them both if they will meet him at their Palos Verdes Compound in two days, where he will explain everything. With that, Iron Man takes off into the air.
The other Avengers suddenly approach Wanda and Spider Woman and ask them to reconsider. Hank suggests that they take a Quinjet back to the West Coast and think it over for a couple of days. Sternly, Wanda declares that their minds are made up. ‘And we’ll make our own way now, thanks’. Captain America agrees with Hank, and asks the women to give it some thought. The Vision looks at his ex-wife with no emotion, then Wanda and Julia turn their backs on the Avengers and walk away. Julia asks Wanda if they did the right thing, for she has never felt so scared! ‘Ask me again in six months…’ Wanda replies.
Elsewhere, ‘Ask me again in six months…’ Wanda reply is being shown on a view screen. Someone announces that scanner resolution is now at optimum - the world below them is totally exposed to their inquisition, The mysterious person exclaims that he will activate the bio-spore tracer if Hala is willing to find their quarrels in a few short hours. Someone else declares that it doesn’t matter how long it takes, for they will be patient until they find them - and then they will act. ‘Are you sure these are the two we were told of?’ Looking at images of Wonder Man and the Vision, the first being replies ’Oh, yes. Quite sure!’
The wind is cold out here in the shadow of Liberty. The ferry rocks on the grey tide, its motors thudding. There is a salt-tang in the air, like the taste of tears. It is like the end of a marriage, when there’s nothing left to be said, and there’s nothing left to do but walk away…walk away and try to forget what could have been. USAgent looks at his shield, with his uniform strapped underneath it. He thinks that he didn’t want it to end like this, and while he wasn’t always happy working with them, it was the best he ever had. Tossing his shield and costume into the ocean, it almost breaks his heart. ’It’s over, blast it…and I don’t believe in anything anymore’. As the ferry draws closer to Liberty Island, John’s shield sinks.
Epilogue: Avengers West Compound, Palos Verdes, California. A figure slowly drops down from the sky, landing on the grounds of the badly demolished complex that used to be home to one league of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. It’s Simon Williams a.k.a. Wonder Man. He calls out to Wanda and Julia, but getting no response, he enters the compound and wonders where they all are, not to mention what happened to this place. ‘Oh for goodness’ sake…I’m back, Wonder Man is back!’
He exclaims that he is ready rejoin Avengers West, when Iron Man reveals his presence, and informs Simon that it will not be possible. Wonder Man is surprised by Tony’s presence, and asks him what is going on here. Iron Man tells Wonder Man that there is no easy way to say it…but the West Coast Avenger’s don’t exist anymore. ‘I’m sorry’. ‘So am I…so am I…’
The End…and just the Beginning…