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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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Red Heat
He was a Soviet super weapon until the wall came crashing down. Then he found employment as an enforcer for the government of Slorenia, an Eastern European nation riven by civil war. There are many of him - robot drones each as merciless as the master that commands them. This is the dismal northern sector of the Slorenian capital, Tblunka. He is Black Brigade. And this is just business as usual. ‘Attention, citizens! That was a warning shot! Your assembly here defies martial law dictate 173. Disperse now!’ Black Brigade announces in Slorene, after firing a burst of energy from his armory. He and his drones trudge across the snow-covered ground, towards a Red Cross vehicle, where volunteers are handing out aid parcels to the locals, specifically, to the impoverished Dudak ethnic minority.
It was a harmless, desperate humanitarian gathering that now finds itself stamped on by a steel-shod foot. Most of the Dudak run, but anger impels others to turn and vent their outrage. ‘Slorene butchers! State murderers! There shall be freedom for the Dudak! You cannot kill us all!’ a man shouts. ‘Watch me try’ Black Brigade replies, before one of the angry civilians throws a Molotov cocktail, leaving a searing trail like a comet. Black Brigade feels the flames that lick about his metal bulk. He has walked - unfazed - through artillery assaults in Zagreb and Kabul. He has shrugged off 105mm shells and the depleted uranium rounds of tank-buster aircraft. Not to mention torn the guts out of T-62’s and Abrams alike.
‘Dudak vermin! You had your warnings!’ Black Brigade shouts, as, engulfed by the flames, his glove cowling spits out a series of concussive pulses, and the protestors collapse in agony, battered and bruised by the assault, helpless and ready for interrogation. Nearby, amongst the crowd, a voice suddenly calls out ‘Cripes, Witch! We gotta help ‘em!’, but Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch tells John Walker a.k.a. USAgent not to. Both are dressed in simple peasant clothing, to blend in with the locals. But the two powerful members of the American super team known as Force Works are anything but. ‘But…Wanda!’ USAgent utters as Black Brigade and his drones set upon the Dudak protestors. ‘I said no’ Wanda exclaims, assuring her teammate that she wants to help those people as much as he does, which is why they are here. She points out that if they blow their cover now, thousands more may suffer. She tells the handsome hero to let it go and think of the bigger picture. Wanda then drags Walker back into the anonymity of the dispersing crowd.
Meantime, other, more public events are unfolding on the far side of the city, at the Slorene Parliament building itself. Reporters have gathered at a stage, where several well-dressed officials stand, in front of a Stark Enterprises helicopter. ‘And after months of negotiation, I am proud to announce the formalization of a trade agreement between our government and the American industrial giant, Stark Enterprises’ Councillor Boshlovor announces. He adds that he speaks on behalf of the entire Tabissara Assembly when he saus that this is a monumental day for Slorenia, and one that ushers in a new dawn of industrial prosperity. Councillor Boshlovor tells the ladies and gentlemen of the Press Corps that it gives him great pleasure inviting to the rostrum their highly esteemed guest - Mr Anthony Stark.
Tony Stark - not wearing his Iron Man armor of course - steps forward and thanks the Councillor. At his side, Julia “Spider-Woman” Carpenter is wearing very plain business attire and glasses. Tony addresses the audience, remarking that the fact he, an American businessman, can stand here on Slorene soil and contemplate a trade agreement speaks volumes for international diplomacy, the thawing of the Cold War, and the tenacity of the Slorenian nation. ‘You’ve seen hard times the last few years, but you’ve struggled on for your country’s welfare…I’m sure that Stark’s manufacturing program here in Slorenia can help boost the economy, offer jobs, and strengthen your international relations’.
Tony smiles as he declares that there is a saying “Never mix business with pleasure”, and remarks that he would add to that “Unless you’re doing business with the brave people of Slorenia”. ‘Bravo! Bravo!’ someone calls out, while others shout out things in their native language. With the press conference over, Tony and Julia turn away with Councillor Boshlovor and his officials, and Boshlover tells Mr Stark that he said fine words and welcome sentiments. ‘Now, perhaps I may escort you and your charming aide, Ms Carpenter, out of this chill wind! The guest suites have been prepared’ he announces. Tony thanks Boshlover, while Julia whispers under her breath ‘At last’.
Following Boshlover through a sprawling corridor, Tony and Julia listen to him as he informs them that the state banquet in Tony’s honor has been arranged for 8 o’clock tonight, which should give them time to rest after their long flight. He adds that in their suites they shall find the traditional Slorene gifts of welcome samples of local industry - a ceremonial rapier of the finest Slorene steel, and a case of aniseed vodka. ‘How very…kind’ Tony replies, adding that he has brought gifts of their own for he and the members of the Tabissara, samples of their local industries. Tony hands to Boshlovor the gift of a combination wrist-watch / micro TV unit - one of Stark’s latest products, a small token of his esteem.
‘Wonderful! Wonderful!’ Boshlovor exclaims with delight as he puts the watch on. Tony tells the Councillor that he is pleased he likes it, as it is just the sort of technology Stark Factories based here might soon be manufacturing. ‘So…can you get MTV on these?’ Boshlovor enquires as he, Tony and the officials carry on down the corridor, while Julia holds back somewhat. She smiles to herself and discretely reaches for her Force Works communication stud, contacting her teammate Century, informing him that they are in.
High above Slorenia, the Hex Ship called Pegasus holds its position, stealthily invisible to ground-based radars and detectors, a ghost-presence on the edge of orbital space. ‘Understood, Spider-Woman’ the alien Century replies, before informing her that they are maintaining a geo-synchronous position above them, and that he is ready to provide assistance the moment it is required. ‘Good to know, Century’ Julia replies, before revealing that Tony has passed one of the watch-TV’s to their “friend” Boshlovor. ‘Are you picking up its signal?’ Julia asks. ‘Confirmed. The surveillance device is functioning correctly’ Century replies. Century adds that he has received a message from the Scarlet Witch and USAgent, and that they have successfully infiltrated the Dudak sector of the city. Century assures Julia that he will keep her appraised, and asks her to be careful, before signing off. During this time, the enigmatic Recorder has watched Century. That is his task. He watches, and assesses, and waits.
Below, in one of the suites, Julia tells Tony that this is an enchanting suite, and points out that it would be ideal for his “Hello” Magazine photo-shoot. Tony tells Julia to drop the personal assistant routine now, as he sit’s a table, laptop computer in front of him, he tells Julia that the portable scrambler should be foxing any bugs that have been placed in the rooms, so they can talk freely. Julia holds up the gifts of vodka and the sword, and asks Tony what will it be - a duel at dawn or vodka slammers all around? When she gets no response she calls out ‘Earth calling Tony -?’, to which Tony tells Julia that he is sorry, but he has a lot on his mind, and doesn’t like this cloak and dagger one bit.
Tony falls silent, remembering the Force Works’ last visit to Slorenia, responding to a Chaos Alert triggered by the civil war. The ruling Slorenes and Dudak ethnic minority were at each other’s throats, and it seemed the Dudak mystical champion Ember was the main cause of all the bloodshed. When Ember a.k.a. Pavel Chenklo, the Dudak historian the Ember spirit had possessed, fell to his death in the ruins of the old palace, taking with him the ancient triptych that had given him its powers, Stark believed this bloody crisis to be over. But the others, particularly the Scarlet Witch, claimed Tony was wrong to order a withdrawal. Wanda was sure there was more to the situation than Ember’s barbaric attacks.
The Scarlet Witch cited the ruthless methods of the Slorene state protector Black Brigade as proof. But the last thing Stark wanted was to cause the type of diplomatic incident that War Machine had recently sparked in Imaya. Weeks passed, and while Stark was away in Russia, Wanda got a call from War Machine, who had just visited Slorenia himself. What War Machine had to say shed a whole new light on the Slorene situation. Rhodey told Wanda about the ethnic cleansing - of how the Slorene Tabissara were using a breed of genetic super soldiers called the Targoth - the Brutal Ones - to exterminate the Dudak. In Stark’s absence, Force Works voted to return to Slorenia and investigate further.
Standing behind a screen as she changes clothes, Julia tells Tony, who is adjusting his tie while looking out the window, that like it or not, they are here. ‘If you’d wanted to debate the issue, you shouldn’t have gone to Russia’ Julia points out, before telling Tony not to blame himself for his double life. ‘I don’t’ Tony replies, adding that, given Rhodey’s tip-off, he is sure he would have agreed to this mission anyway, but that doesn’t change the facts, one false move on their part and they can kiss their careers goodbye. Julia peers out from behind the screen and declares that is why they are playing it so carefully with this whole under cover number - so they can be sure of the situation before they show their hand. Julia adds that she thought Wanda’s suggestion to come in clandestinely was a good call.
Tony agrees, and remarks that Wanda is really thinking like a leader now, but that it puts them under double pressure. Julia supposes that the sooner they can check out Rhodey’s horror story the better. ‘You know, it’s funny…last time it was my concerns over Rhodes that made me pull the team out of Slorenia. Seems like we’ve come full circle - Jim and I have patched things up enough for him to trust me on this…and we’re getting involved here because of him rather than despite him’ Tony declares as he continues to look out the window.
Suddenly, there is a knock at the door. Spider-Woman remains behind the screen, while Tony calls out ‘Come in!’, and an official enters the room, informing Tony that the banquet is about to start. Tony thanks the official and replies that he will be down at once, before asking the official to tell Councillor Boshlovor that his assistant will not be attending, as she is jet-lagged. ‘Certainly’ the official replies. When the official leaves, Tony asks Julia if she is decent. Now wearing her Spider-Woman costume, Julia steps out from behind the screen and replies ‘Matter of opinion’, before telling Tony to have a nice time at the banquet. ‘Right. Just be careful snooping around…real careful’ Tony warns Julia as she climbs out the window, and crawls down the side of the castle.
Meantime, in a dark and echoing place, the air smells of damp rock, rubber cabling, ozone and bare metal, all scrubbed raw by the reek of disinfectant. Behind that, there is another, less definable scent lingering in the air - despair, maybe hopelessness, perhaps grief. It is a dark, echoing place…six hundred meters straight down beneath the parliament building…. In amongst the various scientific equipment, wires connect to platforms, where civilians are held prisoners. From a ledge, Councillor Boshlovor stands with the mysterious Supreme Commander, informing him that at the banquet tonight he intends to press Stark over the precise details of the arrangement. The Supreme Commander replies that he looks forward to Boshlover’s report.
Hidden in shadows, the Supreme Commander adds that it is strange, ho foreign interlopers add speed to their purpose. He declares that if it had not been for the visit of the meddling Yankee super heroes, Force Works, they could not have advanced the completion of this facility where they now stand. The Supreme Commander adds that now the progam itself will become a thousand times more efficient thanks to the apparatus Stark can supply. Boshlovor declares that Stark is full of technological marvels. ‘See these television-watches?’ he asks, handing the device to the Commander, adding that there are gifts for each one of them in the eleven-fold. ‘Most impressive -’ the Supreme Commander remarks, before he keels over.
Bosholovor calls out to the Supreme Commander, who leans against the railing. ‘Black Brigade! Attend me!’ the Supreme Commander orders. Black Brigade rushes over, and the Supreme Commander announces that his power is waning, that he feels weak and unsteady. He orders Black Brigade to take a squad of Targoth to the northern quarter and harvest a fresh supply of Dudak citizens. ‘The program must be kept fully charged!’ the Supreme Commander orders, while demanding Boshlovor help him to the receptor, where he will renew his power. ‘At once, Supreme Commander!’ Boshlovor replies, leading the Supreme Commander to a chamber.
At the northern quarter, in the dead of night, on a filthy side street stands the little welfare mission, offering meager food and shelter to the Dudak poor. ‘You’ve taken an awful risk coming here’ Dr Ireno Renko remarks as she sits at a table with Wanda and USAgent, the trio huddled in their cloaks while holding mugs of hot drink. ‘Like we don’t know that’ USAgent mutters, while Wanda tells Dr Renko that their information is that she is one of the foremost aid workers in T’blunka, and that she runs this mission almost single-handedly. ‘We thought you might have seen things…things that the official channels might want to keep quiet’ Wanda remarks.
Dr Renko replies that she has seen plenty. ‘Spend any time in this madman’s war and you can’t help but witness things…’. She adds that she has seen Ember massacre innocents, seen bombs in Red Cross parcels, has seen Dudak refugees rounded up and away by those Targoth monsters. Dr Renko addresses Wanda and Walker as “Westerners” and explains to them that this is an ancient conflict, that the two tribes - Dudak and Slorene - the old champions, Ember and Volkhvy - ‘Who’s Volkvhy?’ USAgent interrupts. Dr Renko reveals that thousands of years ago, a racial feud turned into an eternal conflict when it became infected with mystical power, so now, neither side can win.
Dr Renko continues, explaining that as one side grows in power, the other shrinks, then the balance is reversed. She declares that until one side lays down its arms, they are doomed to blood-shed. Suddenly, there is a massive KRASHHH sound. ‘What the-?’ USAgent asks as he and Wanda leap to their feet. ‘Oh my God - the TARGOTHI!’ someone shouts as the oversized, strange looking Targoth enter the Red Cross sanctuary, and begin whipping the Dudak civilians. ‘They’re tearing the mission apart! Rounding up more victims for the Slorene labour camps!’ Dr Renko declares. USAgent leaps into action, ‘C’mon, Witch - we gotta -’ he shouts, but the Scarlet Witch holds him back. ‘HUH?’ Walker declares. Wanda points a finger at USAgent and reminds him that they came here to win the war, not the battle.
Wanda tells Walker that they want to get to the Slorene camps and learn the truth. ‘So I suggest we let the Slorenians take us right there’ Wanda declares. ‘Hurry them aboard! Come on!’ Black Brigade orders the Targoth, who use laser-prods on the Dudak. ‘This had better work’ USAgent tells Wanda as they and Dr Renko huddle onto one of the trucks that the Dudak are shipped away on. The trucks roll out into the cold Slorene night, and ominous glowing green eyes watch them go.
Meantime, beneath the Tblunka Parliament, Spider-Woman slides down into the blackness. According to the computer trace, ten of the eleven surveillance devices are upstairs in the banquet hall. One is down here in the cavernous cellars. Julia lands after climbing down, and examining her surroundings, remarks that this place is so old and grim. ‘And what is that smell? Like something really decayed’ she remarks, before noticing the bugged watch resting on a bench. ‘But no sign of any…’ Julia begins as she picks the watch up, only for a door to creak open behind her - and a horrid, scar-faced being enters.
‘You have taken a wrong turn, golden-hair...and seen far, far too much!’ he declares. He wears red, yellow and grey armor, and carries a sword, glowing with energy. Blue energy pours from the being’s eyes. Julia looks shocked, and shouts over the communicator: ‘Spider-Woman to Hex-Ship! Century! Come in! This is an emergency! I need that back-up! NOW, Century!’ Julia pleads.
But Julia gets no answers. ‘Century? Answer me!’ she calls out once more, but Century cannot reply, because he is slumped over the console of the Hex Ship. The Recorder stands over Century’s unmoving body, a wrench in his hand ‘Command: Computer. Prepare mobile video drones for release. Target on the positions of all deployed Force Workers as relayed by their collar studs’ the Recorder states. He presses a button on the control panel and releases the drones. The Recorder looks at a map of the globe, which focuses in on Slorenia and declares that a massive probability spike has just flared next to the last known as position of USAgent and the Scarlet Witch. The Recorder almost smiles as he states that he hopes the cameras get there in time.
Back inside the parliament building, Tony enters and calls out to Julia, telling her he is sorry that he is late as the banquet dragged on - but Tony soon realizes that Julia is not back yet. Tony checks his lapotop, which shows the chaos spike alert in Slorenia. ‘Guess the gloves are off’ Tony tells himself, before realizing he cannot raise anyone on the comm-studs, not even the Pegasus. He dons his Iron Man armor and decides that he best scout the parliament area and try to locate Spider-Woman.
But, Tony doesn’t get very far, as a blast of energy knocks him to the ground. Black Brigade and a drone approach Iron Man, and Black Brigade tells the drone to relay a message to Tabissara control, to inform them that he has apprehended a spy. ‘You’ve got this wrong, Brigade!’ Iron Man exclaims. ‘Not this time, little man’ Black Brigade retorts.
In the transport vehicles, USAgent asks ‘How often do they round people up like this?’ Dr Renko replies that it is every week, or every couple of days, and informs her new companions that she fears they will be dead before dawn - fodder for the labour camp’s genocide machines. Suddenly, there is a massive blast of green energy, and the vehicles are knocked over. Wanda helps Dr Renko up, asking her if she is all right, while USAgent peers around from behind the wreckage and announces that they are being rescued: ‘By Ember!’ Walker declares as the Dudak champion appears before them, taking down the Targoth, while speaking in his native tongue. ‘But…isn’t he dead?’ Wanda asks….


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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Green Fire!
Green fire lights up the Slorene nights. Mere yards away from the camp fence, the prison trucks are attacked and overturned. Slorenian troops and their brutish Targoth slave-beasts spring to the defense. The Dudak champion, Ember, cuts them down like ripped corn with his green energies. Soldiers fall to the ground, and the Targoth try to tear Ember apart, while the prison trucks are overturned in the chaos. ‘Ember! It’s Ember!’ gasps Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch as she takes cover alongside her teammate Johnny Walker a.k.a. USAgent and their associate Dr Ireno Renko, while the other prisoners huddle behind them. ‘How is that possible? We saw him die!’ Wanda gasps.
‘That which does not truly live cannot die, Ms Maximoff! Ember is the immortal champion of my people!’ Dr Renko states. USAgent pulls his disguise away, revealing his costume beneath and tells Wanda it is time to get involved. ‘Agreed!’ Wanda exclaims as she tears her cloak away and the experienced heroes leap into action. ‘Grost mey!’ Dr Renko gasps in surprise. ‘Rock and roll, Witch! AT LAST!’ USAgent shouts. ‘Heads up, fang-face!’ Walker shouts as he arrives near Ember, while Wanda calls out to him, asking him if he remembers them. Ember looks up from the Targoth, speaking his native Dudak dialect, something flashes in the green fire - something like recognition.
Suddenly, Ember explodes away through the perimeter fence into the Slorene parliament compound. ‘Man! It’s like he wants us to follow him!’ USAgent points out, to which Wanda announces that is what they will do. The green fire subsides as Ember approaches the Parliament, smashing his way through several soldiers. Wanda tells Johnny that they need to contain Ember before he murders everyone in sight. Suddenly, one of the Dudak prisoners calls out to Dr Renko, telling her that Ember has given them a chance at freedom. ‘We must flee!’ he shouts. Dr Renko tells the man to go on, while she intends to find out what is beyond the grim fences, and climbs over the downed chain fences, following her American allies. However, she does not even notice the remote camera watching them all.
A mile away, steel clashes in the courtyard of the Parliament building. Searching for the missing Spider-Woman, Tony “Iron Man” Stark finds himself in the grasp of Black Brigade. ‘Call your drones off, mister! You’ve got this all wrong!’ Iron Man tells Black Brigade, while being held back by the drones. ‘Wrong? What is to get wrong? You are a foreign interloper who is meddling in the affairs of the Slorene nation’ Black Brigade states, adding that this is the second time Iron Man has trespassed on Slorene soil. ‘Or did you forget how I fought you to a standstill on your last visit?’ Black Brigade asks, before boasting that now he will finish the job.
Black Brigade tells his drones to hold the interloper still while he delivers the final blow and punch the interloper’s head off. But with his arms held out at either side, Iron Man is able to release repulsor beams, which knock the drones backwards. ‘Not this interloper, friend’ Iron Man declares. Tony then flies upwards, to avert a punch from Black Brigade, which shatters the concrete ground. ‘Another second and I’d have been mush’ Tony tells himself, while thinking that Brigade is ex-Soviet military hardware and at least as strong as he is. Tony hates to think of what Brigade’s upper strength limits might be. Suddenly, Wanda’s voice can be heard over the communicator. ‘Wanda! Go ahead!’ Tony tells his teammate.
Iron Man flies up and dodges a beam of energy fired at him by Black Brigade. The energy strikes the side of the parliament building, while Wanda informs Tony that Ember has reappeared, and that she and Walker have proof of the Slorenians’ genetic atrocities. ‘Are you all right? You sound…breathless’ Wanda tells Tony, who replies that he is a little busy, but will be with her as soon as he can. Tony flies around, and thinks to himself that he feels assured that Force Works’s presence here is justified, and that means that diplomacy takes a back seat. For the first time, Iron Man does not have to hold back against the brutish Black Brigade, which pleases Tony - a lot. With that, Tony flies directly into Black Brigade, knocking him to the ground. Unseen by both of them is the remote camera, which records every moment of the bone-jarring clash.
The recordings are broadcast to the Hex-Ship, which hangs in the whisper-thin atmosphere above the Baltic state. ‘Yes. Yes. Yes’ states the mysterious Recorder, inside the Hex-Ship as he watches what is being played on the monitors - Ember fighting one of the Targoth, Wanda and USAgent, Dr Renko, and Iron Man battling Black Brigade. The Recorder states that he (“this”) is a non-cellular life-form, created to think and to record. He adds that he has elected to document the human behavioral trait known as heroism. The Recorder wishes to observe how said trait is manifested in the human group known as Force Works.
With the alien member of Force Works known as Century lying motionless, slumped over a console, while the Recorder almost smiles as he state that he was denied the opportunity to record Force Works’s endeavors on the recent Chinese mission, this crisis seems a more than adequate alternate. ‘The resulting material…pleases me’ the Recorder remarks, when suddenly, Century begins to stir.
At that moment, the final member of Force Works, Julia “Spider-Woman” Carpenter, also regains consciousness. ‘Where am I? My head hurts like a - YOU!’ Julia gasps as she finds herself strung up alongside Dudak prisoners, attached to a powerful machine, and the scar-faced Supreme Commander, grinning over her. ‘You are awake, good. It would be so unfortunate to spend the last precious moments of one’s life unconscious’ the Supreme Commander remarks. ‘Who are you? What in Heaven’s name is going on here?’ Julia enquires. The Supreme Commander introduces himself as Volkhvy, the Eternal One, boasting that he is the lord-champion of the Slorene race. ‘And Heaven, I assure you, has nothing to do with this place’ he adds.
Volkhvy’s eyes glow blue, and he informs Spider-Woman that she is a guest of the program, a sacred, beautiful mechanism. Volkhvy explains that the mechanism collects power from the life-energy of his foes and distils it. He adds that with this power source, he can perform many wonders, and can transmute human cattle into devoutly loyal Targoth slaves. ‘And more importantly, it feeds me!’ he booms. Volkhvy informs Spider-Woman that the Dudak / Slorene feud has lasted for centuries, as he and his accursed adversary, Ember, struggle for superiority. Volkhvy boasts that now he has the program, he has the power, and Ember cannot hope to match him. ‘The feud is mere hours from conclusion!’ the Supreme Commander declares.
‘You’re mad!’ Julia tells the Supreme Commander. ‘You presume too much!’ he responds, smacking Julia in the face and causing her to scream. Suddenly, glass covers slide down over Julia and the other prisoners, keeping them in place. ‘No! Wait! You can’t do -’ Julia shouts, but Volkhvy just orders the coils to be energized. Volkhvy pulls a lever and the wires overhead all light up with blue energy. ‘I will savor your life essence in particular, Golden-Hair - as it courses through my veins!’ Volkhvy shouts. The machine powers up - and Spider-Woman screams.
Suddenly, Ember bursts into the room, shouting in Dudak. ‘Ember? Here?’ Volkhvy gasps, before asking Ember if he longs for death that he has come seeking it. ‘Step close, and I will provide!’ Volkhvy declares. The two beings clash in a blur of light and power. When they reach each other, the chamber itself shakes. Eternal adversaries, Dudak and Slorene locked in a centuries-old cycle of hatred and destruction. They are the living personification of the Slorenian civil war. Their terrible blood-feud has just reached a new pitch of unbridled fury.
At that moment, ‘Back of, Targoth!’ USAgent shouts as he slams his photon shield into one of the Targoth, while Wanda casts a beam of energy at a scientist. ‘My God, Witch! Look at Ember go! But who’s the freak with the sword?’ Walker asks. While Ember and his foe continue to battle, Wanda replies that she would assume it to be the mysterious Volkhvy that Dr Renko mentioned. Wanda begins to ask Walker to keep driving the Slorene troops back, when suddenly, she notices Julia strung up in that machine, and wonders what it is doing to her.
Wanda rushes over to the machine to rescue her good friend, and calls out to Dr Renko, asking her to help free the other prisoners. ‘Yes!’ Dr Renko replies nervously as she begins to act. ‘Wanda…fell so…weak…numb…’ Julia utters as Wanda helps her up. Wanda tells Julia that it is okay and that she has her. The Scarlet Witch tells Walker and Dr Renko to get all the refugees to the surface and to take Spider-Woman with her. ‘And what’ll you be doing?’ Walker asks. ‘I’ll be destroying this foul machine forever!’ Wanda replies.
Back up at Parliament Square, Iron Man is no longer pulling his punches, and yet Black Brigade still refuses to go down. ‘How much more punishment can he take?’ Tony wonders, before telling Black Brigade to get smart and call it quits. ‘Quit - NEVER!’ Black Brigade booms as he falls backwards.
Far above, aboard the Hex-Ship Pegasus. Century has woken and strides towards the Recorder, telling him to step away from the communicator station. The alien states that though he can think of no rational reason, he is forced to conclude that it was the Recorder who struck him down. ‘Why?’ Century demands. ‘Statement: Because you were in my way’ the Recorder replies. The Recorder adds that if he had not rendered Century unconscious, he would have undoubtedly transported to Spider-Woman’s aid, which would have significantly reduced the potential jeopardy.
The Recorder cautions Century not to approach him, and states that he will not allow his work to be interfered with. Century looks at the images on the monitor and declares that his comrades are fighting for their lives. ‘What have you done, Recorder?’ Century demands. The Recorder responds by smacking Century hard in the face, knocking him backwards. Century gathers himself and exclaims ‘That’s it. Say your orisons / votive offerings / prayers Recorder…I am going to tear you apart!’ Century warns the Recorder.
Back in Parliament Square, Iron Man tells Black Brigade once more to give it up, to which Black Brigade responds ‘While I still have breath, American dog, I will rip your living heart from -’, but he is interrupted when Iron Man rips a piece of equipment from Black Brigades armor. ‘Enough of this trash talk!’ Iron Man shouts, before pointing out that Black Brigade doesn’t have a choice. ‘I just tore out your armor’s central cybernet processor. I doubt you can even move now’. Black Brigade’s face plate has been destroyed, and the human inside the armor looks up, and the man inside utters ‘So, at least you have the courage to claim victory with a death blow…the armor is the man…as it dies, I die with it…better that than the shame of defeat…’.
‘WHAT?’ Iron Man exclaims, surprised, as the chill of realization grips Ton’s heart. Black Brigade’s Soviet creators fused the man to the armor, making him dependent upon it for life support. By destroying the armor’s control systems, Tony has doomed the man inside. ‘What are…you doing?’ the man asks as Stark begins tinkering with the armor. Stark announces that he is trying to reconnect the life-function control. ‘Blast it, Brigade, don’t die on me!’ Tony declares. Black Brigade asks Iron Man why he bothers. ‘I would not have shown you such mercy’ he admits. ‘That’s what makes us all different, pal’ Tony replies, while realizing that Black Brigade will be dead in less than a minute unless he can figure out the specs of the Soviet design. ‘Talk about irony!’ Tony decides. ‘I fight to keep him alive, but this little act of compassion…is keeping me from the team and whatever mess they’re now in!’
Ember shouts something in Dudak at Volkhvy, who retorts ‘Spare me your curses, vermin! They will mean nothing when I grind your bones beneath my feet!’ While the arch-foes continue to battle, energies radiating all around them, Walker, Wanda and Dr Renko are busy at the machine controls. ‘Sit rep, people! Looks like old green eyes is gonna take the trophy!’ Walker announces, while Wanda declares that there must be a way to shut down this equipment so they can disable it safely. ‘Dr Renko?’ Wanda asks, to which Ireno replies ‘Your guess is as good as mine, Scarlet Witch’, before explaining that the control marked “gerkoi” is clearly the “on” switch.
Suddenly, Volkhvy cries out in pain as Ember destroys some of his armor. Walker tells Wanda to quit it with the machine for a moment. ‘Ember’s got Dracula on the ropes but good!’ he declares, as Ember looms over Volhvy and punches him hard in the face, before grabbing his head, and green energy pours into the Supreme Commander, who shouts ‘No! Noooo! It cannot end this way! It cannot end!’ Dr Renko, USAgent and the Scarlet witch look on in horror as momentous history is played out before them. The eternal enmity, the long bitter warfare, the ceaseless unforgiving blood-hate ends here, ends now.
Ember, the Dudak champion grasps the skull of his mystical Slorene adversary and like a leech, sucks the formidable energy from Volkhvy’s shuddering form. In a heartbeat, all that remains is a corpse, and another so powerful that it approximates a God. As Volkhvy’s withered form drops to the floor, an empowered Ember stands over him, arms outstretched, energy flowing around him. ‘I don’t know squat about any mystic mumbo jumbo…but I’d say Ember just won!’ Walker declares, but Dr Renko announces that he hasn’t, and reveals that this has happened before, too many times to count. ‘What?’ Wanda asks. Ireno explains that it is the accused cyclic balance of the feud.
Dr Renko continues, explaining that one side gains control for a while, then the other usurps his place, and that last time it was Volkhvy who bested Ember, an act which led to generations of Slorene tyranny. She adds that now Ember is in the ascendant, and no doubt his rule will be just as bloody until Volkhvy rises once more. The Scarlet Witch steps towards Ember, with USAgent, Spider-Woman and Dr Renko standing behind her. Wanda tells Ember that they want freedom for Dudak and Slorene alike - not some corrupt reversal of the situation.
Wanda calls out to Ember, asking him if he can hear her, understand her. She tells him that she met Pavel Chenklo, the human form that he inhabits, and that he was a good man who wanted to end the bloodshed. Wanda asks Ember to reach inside himself, to find that part of him that is Pavel, to let him show the way to set down his power in the name of peace. ‘I hear you, witch woman! But there is no Pavel Chenklo here…there is no one but EMBER!’ the powerful being announces, releasing his green energy over Wanda, Walker, Julia and Dr Renko. ‘He’s crazy! Drunk with power!’ Walker declares, before he is overwhelmed by the energy.
Aboard the Pegasus, the Recorder punches Century in the face, forcing him to the ground once more. ‘Statement: You will cease your attempts to injure me, now, Century. You are making me miss all the best bits!’ the Recorder declares. But Century responds by kicking the Recorder in the face, and exclaims ‘You are insane / deranged / faulty, machine! It was you who looked on while Wonder Man gave his life! Was that one of your “best bits” too?’. Century then tells the Recorder that he will not allow another member of this team to die for the Recorder’s entertainment. ‘Statement: You’re finished!’ Century mocks as he uses Parallax to slice off the Recorder’s head. Century announces that he will be back to dance upon the Recorder’s scattered components, and orders Parallax to transport him planet-side.
Back in the chamber, the heroes and Dr Renko are held in stasis by Ember, who asks ‘Don’t you understand? You will be the first Westerners to feed me!’ when suddenly, Iron Man bursts in through the wall. ‘Force Works!’ he shouts, before ordering Ember to release them no. ‘NYED!’ Ember responds as he douses Iron Man in the green energy. Ember speaks in his native Dudak tongue once more, just as Century materializes behind him through a portal created by Parallax. Century then uses Parallax to slice Ember in the back. ‘Ember…eat stick and die!’ Century exclaims, while Century is flung across the chamber.
With Ember down, he loses his grasp over Force Works. ‘So that’s where you’ve been, Blue…practicing your one-liners!’ Spider-Woman exclaims, before alerting everyone to the fact that Ember has gone face-first into the pod-bank of the machinery. Julia releases a psi-web to hold Ember there, but tells the others that it won’t last long. Julia’s psionic webbing wraps around Ember, who protests. ‘Ay smart ideas? Anyone? Like now!’ Julia declares as she knows she will lose hold soon. ‘Just one, Spi…shield! Tight focus! Release!’ Walker shouts as he releases his photon-shield, aiming it at a large red button on the control panel.
‘You said that “gerkoi” was Slorene for “on”, right Doc?’ Walker asks, before the photon shield slams into the red button. Volkhvy’s program bursts into life. It was designed to rip the life-power from those placed in the pods…it was not deigned to handle power on this scale. ‘Out, Force Works! Get out now!’ Someone shouts, as Ember is engulfed in the energy from the machine. Force Works and Dr Renko escape the facility, which bursts into flame moments later. ‘Keep moving! Don’t look back!’ the Scarlet Witch encourages everyone. ‘Shake your tail, Doc!’ Walker tells Ireno.
Later, a newsreader announces ‘…more on that late breaking Slorenian story…the state of emergency has effectively brought the long-term civil war to a standstill…with both sides in the conflict united in coping with disaster’. She adds that the massive explosion that levelled the center of the capital city of T’Blunka is now thought to have been caused by an earthquake, and that the Slorenian parliament building was destroyed in the blast. She tells viewers that the American super-team, Force Works, is in the area assisting with the rescue work. The reporter adds that a statement issued in the last hours reports that an interim government has been established under the leadership of the noted humanitarian worker, Ireno Renko.
Meantime, inside the Hex Ship, Wanda declares that they were right down to the wire there, and that it was a miracle they pulled it off. Century states that he does not believe in miracles, to which Julia announces that she does, and adds that Slorenia is going to need a fine one to pull itself together. Tony looks at Wanda and remarks that at least they have got a fighting chance now, and adds that the future of Slorenia is looking brighter without those crazy butchers around. Tony admits that he may have been wrong when he pulled the team out last time, and tells Wanda that he should have trusted her instincts. ‘Maybe you will, next time’ Wanda replies, before asking about Black Brigade.
Tony reveals that Black Brigade was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery, and that Dr Renko has promised to oversee his rehabilitation. Tony adds that he is going to supply technical support to help free Black Brigade from his suit. Julia points out that their other loose end is their little helpmate, the Recorder. ‘Can we leave him in a bat part of town and hope they strip him for parts?’ she asks. ‘I wish’ Iron Man replies, before remarking that he has no explanations for the Recorder’s aberrant behavior, and that he will run some diagnostics on him when they get home.
Century holds up the Recorder’s head and announces ‘He does not deserve your attention. He would have reveled in your deaths. I am glad I broke him!’ The Scarlet Witch agrees with Century that the Recorder has caused enough trouble, and suggests they put him where he can do no harm - in the Vault!
Epilogue: Detention level six, the Vault Maximum Security Facility. They call this the B.E.M. wing - only non-terrestrials are interned here. A Guardsman patrols the area, where several aliens are engaging in exercise. ‘Ah, Commander. Didn’t see you there’ a blue-skinned alien remarks as he looks up from the weights machine he is working out on. ‘As you were, Bar. Maintaining combat fitness, I see. Excellent’ the Commander replies, looking up at the Guardsman he adds ‘Who knows when we may need the old skills again’. Bar asks the Commander if he has something in mind, to which the Commander smirks and replies ‘Most definitely, Bar. Most definitely…’.


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War Crimes
Space, where a small spacecraft is suddenly under attack. ‘We’ve been hit again, Captain Kkon!’ one of the crew calls out. Another crew member reports that the tertiary stabilizers are out, and they are losing fotel drive. ‘Visual!’ the captain orders. But an officer aboard the alien vessel explains that there is no visual, that the sensors paint nothing out there. The captain climbs into his chair and declares that there must be something they can fix their weapons on. Another of the crew replies that the weapons system just went down anyway. ‘It’s him, isn’t it? It’s got to be him!’ the captain declares. Suddenly, a much larger vessel materializes in space overhead, and a transmission can be heard, a voice orders Captain Kkon to hold his position, as there is nowhere left to run, the game is over. ‘It’s time to do business’ the voice declares.
‘He’s de-cloaking behind us!’ one of the crew exclaims. The captain tells the ensign that his he now blind, before stating that they have no choice, and orders the data to be transmitted. ‘Give him what he wants’ the captain mutters, rubbing his hand against his head. ‘Aye, Sir!’ one of the crew replies nervously. The larger ship responds, announcing that the data has been received, and thanks Captain Kkon, but one of the crew quickly informs their captain that the other ship is powering up its weapon banks. ‘Please! We gave you what you wanted! Why are you doing this?’ Captain Kkon calls out - but he doesn’t get a response, as the larger ship fires at Kkon’s ship, destroying it.
In the meantime, on Earth, the Scarlet Witch a.k.a. Wanda Maximoff is in the middle of a sentence - an angry sentence - when a pain goes off inside her mind like a flare robbing her of sensible speech. It starts as a line of fire and then blossoms into a jagged orchid of hurt, migraine-fierce. ‘Ohhh!’ Wanda utters as she clutches her head in agony. Dull, mauve, pain-shapes flutter across the backlids of her eyes And suddenly, it is gone, just as fast. That is the third time this week that it has caught the Scarlet Witch like this, and Wanda wishes to God she knew what was causing it.
‘Hey, Wanda!’ USAgent a.k.a. Johnny Walker calls out. ‘Are you all right, Scarlet Witch?’ Tony “Iron Man” Stark enquires. Wanda tells herself that she should say she is fine, to not let them see she is worried, and still clutching her head, she replies that she is fine, claiming it is a migraine, brought on by the two of them and their antics. Wanda frowns at her long-time teammate and tells USAgent that she would like to know what he was doing with that disappearance act of his. ‘Like I said, it was a personal thing, tied up with the stuff I was doing before I ever joined Force Works’ Walker replies, adding that he got involved with Hawkeye and War Machine down in San Revilla, but that it is over now, a done deal.
‘Is that all you’re gonna tell us?’ Wanda asks. ‘Yeah. But you should know that it made me take a long hard look at myself…and thanks to that…I know my place is here. With the team’ Walker replies. ‘Fine sentiments, Agent. But that’s not the point! You deserted us -’ Iron Man begins, until Wanda interrupts him: ‘That’s enough from you, Iron Man!’ she declares, before pointing out that USAgent may have left for a few days, but that at least he seems to know he did wrong. She declares that Tony, on the other hand, persists in going off and doing his own thing. ‘How am I supposed to keep the team functioning if I don’t know where you are from one day to the next?’
‘That’s hardly fair, Wanda! I’ve never made a secret of my personal career…’ Iron Man replies, while peering around the corner into the room is Rachel Carpenter, who whispers to herself ‘Oh, boy…’, while Wanda points a finger at Iron Man and tells him that a secret is just what it is. ‘You lead a double life, Tony, and sometimes you treat us like a weekend hobby!’ Wanda exclaims. Turning to Walker, she tells him to lose his grin, as she has not finished with him yet, either.
‘Mom? Mom?’ Rachel calls out to her mother, Julia “Spider-Woman” Carpenter. Rachel runs along a corridor, and into another room, asking ‘Mom? Why are the others -’, but she is interrupted by Julia, who tells Rachel ‘Not now, honey…Mommy’s working’. Rachel goes over to the console where her mother and the alien Century are standing, and Century informs Rachel that her mother is dealing with a Chaos Alert. ‘It’s peaking at two-seven-nine! I’m configuring the location…’ Julia announces. ‘But, Mom!’ Rachel protests. Spider-Woman turns to Century and suggests he summon the others, as the Chaos Computer has located the crisis site. ‘Is it bad, Mom?’ Rachel asks. ‘Worse than bad, honey…it’s the Vault!’ Julia announces.
At that moment, ‘Waden Jzemlico! Sir?’ a voice calls out from within the Vault. ‘I’m thinking, Robbins!’ the Warden retorts from inside a control booth. The Warden asks if there is any joy getting the command systems back on line, to which the female officer, Robbins, replies ‘Negative!’ and announces that they are now locked out of their own security management system. Another officer, Anders tells the Warden that it is looking bad on the BEM wing. Robbins reports that security has crashed down there, and the Kree prisoners are running wild. ‘Oh geez! We’re all gonna die!’ Anders exclaims nervously.
The Warden puts on a head-piece communicator and tells Anders that there will be no more talk of that, and asks him to try and raise the Avengers - anyone - as they need assistance of a priority one level. The Warden announces that he is going out there to get the measure of things. ‘Nice one, Anders - Jzemlico might pop you before the Kree do!’ Robbins whispers to her colleague. ‘Crazy! Rather you than me!’ Anders tells the Warden. Exiting the control booth, the Warden encounters two more officers, Reeder and Harriman, and asks them where are the Guardsmen who are assigned to this wing. ‘See for yourself, Warden!’ one of the officers replies, motioning to a Guardsman, slumped against a wall.
The other officer explains that whatever took out the computer control has immobilized the Guardsman suits as well. ‘Easy, son. We’ll soon have you out of there’ the Warden tells the unmoving Guardsman as he kneels down beside him. Suddenly, there is weapons fire, and Harriman is shot at. ‘Oh, man!’ mutters Reeder, while down below the platform that runs around the edge of the wing, the armed aliens look up. ‘You there, human scum! I am Major Kalum Lo of the Kree Star-Stealth!’ one of the Kree shouts, before warning ‘Lead us to the exit…or burn!’
Suddenly, the Kree detect something phasing in behind them - ‘Tremble, Kree - Century has not forgotten your crimes!’ Century declares as he materializes behind the warriors, and attacks them with his staff, Parallax. ‘For the memory of Simon Williams, I spit on your treachery!’ Century declares, while the Kree who are struck by the staff cry out in agony. ‘You!’ the Major exclaims as he sees Century, he then takes hold of the Warden. ‘I know you, grey-skin! You were one of those who defeated us…who caused us to be locked in this hell-hole!’ Holding his weapon to the Warden’s face, Major Lo warns Century not to come any closer.
‘How would you like your brains…scrambled or fried?’ Wanda asks the Major as she holds two fingers to his head, like a gun. ‘Eh?’ the Major mutters, glancing at Wanda, who warns the Major to drop the weapon, and not to doubt for a second that she wouldn’t use her power on him. ‘Oh, thank you, God!’ the Warden exclaims as the Kree leader releases him. ‘Well done, you two’ Iron Man tells Wanda and Century as he enters the wing, while asking ordering the officers to round the Kree up. ‘Thank goodness you Avengers arrived when you did!’ the Warden exclaims, glancing at Iron Man and the Scarlet Witch, while the officers round up the Kree. ‘We’re not the Avengers’ Iron Man replies, while Wanda asks the Warden if he could fill then in on the situation.
The Warden explains that something has locked them out of their computer systems, and that the Vault will blow wide open unless they regain control, and fast, too. ‘Given the Vault’s safeguards, that’ll be possible!’ Iron Man declares, to which Wanda turns to Century and tells him to teleport directly to the Vault’s computer core and see what he can find. Wanda asks Iron Man to escort the Warden to the control room. ‘You got it’ Tony replies. ‘At once’ Century declares. Wanda touches her collar stud communicator, and feels the headache sweeping over her once more. ‘Not now!’ she tells herself, before calling out to Spider-Woman and USAgent, asking them to report.
While USAgent reaches behind himself and grabs the throat of a Kree, using his photon shield to deflect weapons fire, Spider-Woman smacks one of the Kree in the face, and informs Wanda that they are in the cell-blocks, but it is a free-for-all down here. Wanda races down a flight of stairs and tells her friend to hold the Kree back as best she can. ‘I’m on my way!’ Wanda announces, but she feels the pain in her head, she cannot think straight. ‘Looks like we broke ‘em! They’re running away!’ USAgent points out as the Kree suddenly run from the heroes. ‘Yeah…but too late for this Guardsman. The Kree butchered him while he was helpless in his suit’ Julia remarks, kneeling beside the fallen Guardsman. ‘Oh, man…that tears it! Shields - twin release!’ USAgent shouts, releasing both photon shields at once.
In the control room, Iron Man contacts Century, and explains that he is using a gauntlet link to plug directly into the Vault’s systems. ‘Any moment now I’ll tell you precisely where the problem is’ Tony states. Robbins looks up at Iron Man and exclaims ‘Sir - can I just say how great it is to be working with you Avengers?’, to which Iron Man quickly replies ‘We’re not the Avengers’. Tony then informs Century that he is almost there with the data, and to standby. ‘No need, Iron Man. I have located / smoked out / found the problem’ Century replies, announcing that it is the Recorder!
Hooked up to the computer system, the Recorder smirks, and declares ‘Statement: Of all the computer cores in the world, you had to walk into mine. Missed me, ol’ pal…? Well…did you?’ Century just raises Parallax and reminds the Recorder that e killed him once, so will be able to do so again. ‘Statement: Given that I am hardwired into the installation’s computer core, and have complete control over its security force fields…that seems unlikely’. Century then falls backwards as the force field appears in front of him. ‘Century! Are you okay down there?’ Iron Man calls out over the communicator. ‘Sucker-punched, but alive, Iron Man’ the alien replies.
Iron Man reports that he will try to short-circuit the Recorder by flooding the computer system with an electromagnetic overload, and tells Century to stand back. An instant later, the Recorder cries out in agony. ‘Congratulations, Iron Man - you have, as the saying goes, aced the scuzzball!’
Deep in the B.E.M. wing, Wanda is fighting the claws of pain in her head, and praying that she is not too late - but as she races into the main area of the wing, she finds Guardsmen and officers rounding up the Kree, and Spider-Woman and USAgent standing over the fallen Kree warriors. ‘Hi, Wanda. Show’s over!’ Julia exclaims. USAgent adds that Iron Man just regained control of the Vault’s systems, with the Guardsmen back on line, it was a piece of cake.
Wanda’s head clears as the danger lifts, but as the Guardsmen round up the Kree prisoners, Force Works are still left with a lot of unanswered questions. Wanda turns to the Warden and tells him that when they left the Recorder here for safekeeping he was dysfunctional, as Century had decapitated him. The Warden glances around as he admits that they underestimated the Recorder’s capacity for self-repair, and reveals that once he got himself back together it had to be child’s play for him to hijack the Vault’s command and control mechanisms. The Warden adds that the administration trustees will no doubt want his resignation. ‘A breakout of this magnitude…’ he mutters, his voice trailing off. One of the Gaurdsmen assures the Warden that the administrators will consider the circumstances.
But the Warden declares that they won’t want excuses. ‘The cost of the damages…the compensation of the families of the staff we lost. Six good men for God-sake!’ he exclaims. Iron Man offers for Force Works to cover the repair bill, after all, they brought the Recorder here in the first place. Wanda announces that she is concerned the Recorder chose to spring the Kree, as they brought him to Earth originally. Julia asks her friend if she thinks that the Kree may have tampered with the Recorder’s programming. ‘That would explain a whole lot…’ Julia points out.
‘Sure would’ Iron Man agrees, and remarks that in light of this fiasco, he will run a full diagnosis of that psychotic machine. ‘Now we know what that thing is capable of, we can confine him more securely. I’m just glad you Avengers were here to -’ one of the Guardsmen announces, but Iron Man interrupts: ‘Guardsmen…we’re not the Avengers’. Suddenly, ‘Nay…but we most surely are!’ a voice booms - and Force Works turn to see five of the Avengers! The powerful Hercules stands at the front of the group, flanked by Dr Henry Pym a.k.a. Giant Man, Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. the Black Widow, as well as the Scarlet Witch’s brother Pietro “Quicksilver” Maximoff, and his wife, the elemental Inhuman called Crystal.
‘So, Force Workers…we meet professionally at last…’ Hank tells his former Avengers West Coast teammates. The stern Black Widow remarks that she takes that the situation is well in hand, adding that they came as soon as they got the priority call. ‘But it looks like you beat us to the punch’ Natasha adds. ‘Good to see you, Hank’ Iron Man remarks, while Spider-Woman greets Quicksilver and Crystal, who points out that it has been a while. Pietro tells Spider-Woman that she looks well. The Scarlet Witch smirks at the Black Widow and asks her what kept her, to which Natasha tells Wanda to try and not crow about it, assuring her that Force Works has nothing to prove as fat as she is concerned.
‘However, I’d love to know how you got here so fast’ the Black Widow remarks. ‘Ha! Well met, old friend!’ Hercules exclaims, slapping USAgent on the back. ‘Yeah, whatever’ USAgent replies, before excusing himself, he walks over to the Black Widow and tells her that you either have the edge like Force Works, or you ain’t. ‘And from where I stand…’ John’s voice trails off as the Black Widow tells him to stop there if she was him. ‘You people did manage to contain the escape, but I checked with the Vault registry. Four of the Kree internees are unaccounted for’ Natasha announces.
‘Oh’ the Scarlet Witch replies, coldly. Her brother smiles and declares that it seems Force Works weren’t so throughout as USAgent thought. ‘Hello, sister’ Pietro adds. The Black Widow announces that the Avengers will organize a search pattern and bring the escaped Kree in. ‘Thanks for your assistance’ she tells Wanda, who suggests they pool their considerable resources and maximize the effort. When she gets no response, Wanda asks Natasha if she a problem with cooperation. ‘Of course not. It’s an excellent sug-’ the Black Widow begins to reply, when suddenly, there is a strange noise BWEEEG which sounds behind the heroes. ‘What in the world?’ USAgent asks, turning around, he and the other heroes are confronted by several aliens. ‘SKRULLS!’ Walker gasps. ‘A bunch of Skrulls! Who teleported these ugly gimboids?’ USAgent asks.
The Skrulls are flanked by two bizarre looking purple-skinned aliens in orange cloaks, and one of the Skrulls shouts: ‘Attend! I am Major Hokk Algol of the glorious Sixth Legion. It is my honor to command the War-Crimes Tribunal Mission here in the outworlds’. He adds that he trusts the Starstealth butchers are ready for extradition. ‘Well? Do not disappoint me, Black Widow!’ the Major exclaims. The Black Widow turns to Major Algol and tells him that it would have been better if he stayed on the ship as she requested. ‘While our scanners show us the Kree scum escaping? Impossible!’ the Major retorts. ‘Extradition? How dare you!?’ Wanda demands, turning to the Black Widow.
‘Sorry, Witch…but we’ve been in talks with Major Algol’s tribunal for weeks now, and the Kree are to be extradited for an off-planet trial. USAgent lunges forward, shouting that this stinks, as those dogs killed Wonder Man and they have to stand trial here on Earth. ‘Agent! Back off!’ Iron Man declares, holding Walker back. ‘Restrain your puppy, metal-skin. I do not wish to soil my clothing with his blood’ the Major mutters. The Black Widow explains that it has all been agreed - the Major’s mission is to prosecute renegade Kree war criminals on behalf of the Fringe-World’s they violated. Natasha adds that if Earth wants to take its place in the galactic community, they have to learn to play along.
Motioning to the Major, Natasha explains that he represents the bigger picture. ‘Hand over the Kree barbarians. Human patience is not amongst my virtues!’ Major Algol declares. Suddenly, one of the strange purple aliens remarks ‘If we might interject’. ‘And you are?’ Wanda asks, hands on hips. The alien reveals that the are the Quo Modari, a race dedicated to the arts of diplomacy and inter-species community. The alien explains that they join this mission to facilitate tolerance and understanding. The alien adds that the Kree interned here are wanted on 16 worlds for 907 counts of slaughter with intent to terminate a species. ‘These beings must be made to answer for their crimes. You humans must understand the cosmic implications of such a trial’ the alien declares.
‘Sure we do…but this still sucks’ Spider-Woman remarks. ‘Spider-Woman!’ Hercules exclaims, to which Julia declares ‘Well, excuse me, but it does!’, while Major Algol declares that “the human female” annoys him with her chatter. He announces that if the Kree are not in custody within six hours, he will employ his own troops to secure their capture. Wanda turns from the others: ‘A word, Natasha - in private’ she declares. ‘Of course, Wanda’ the Black Widow replies. Hercules and Iron Man have to hold back USAgent as he attempts to lunge at the Skrulls, while Wanda and Natasha walk away from their teams.
Wanda announces that they have two concerns here - the immediate problem of the escapees and the extradition order. Wanda suggests that they go with pooling resources and draw up two mission teams, one which will go after the fugitives, and the other to discuss the Skrull proposal. The Black Widow turns away from Wanda, but agrees, suggesting that should at least calm things down. ‘I can see why Anthony put you in charge’ she adds. ‘It’s a shame he can’t’ Wanda replies. This causes the Black Widow to smirk, and declare ‘Ouch. Did I just hit a raw nerve?’, to which Wanda tells her to skip it.
They return to their teams, and the Black Widow tells Hercules, Quicksilver and Crystal to start searching for the escaped Kree. The Scarlet Witch informs Iron Man and USAgent that they will be working with them. ‘We’ll take the Quinjet. You can ride with us, or follow in your own transport, if you choose’ Pietro declares. But Iron Man folds his arms across his chest and informs Quicksilver that the Hex-Ship has a far greater range. ‘I should now’ Tony mutters. ‘This is going to be rough’ Wanda mutters. ‘Tell me something I don’t know’ Natasha agrees.
Menatime, at the Chatwin Falls Freight Yard, in Colorado. It is the biggest railhead in the Western Rockies. Day and night, trucks and locos growl in and out through the steam and diesel fumes. The door to a large truck suddenly opens, and the motionless body of the driver falls from the cabin. ‘Thanks for the ride’ a voice declares, as the four escaped Kree emerge from the large truck. ‘Which way from here, Bo’sun…?’ one of them asks. Bo’sun announces that it is down here, in the freight holding area, right where they left it. ‘Trust Commander Lo to prepare to thoroughly’ one of them remarks. ‘That is why he is the commander, fool! First rule of warfare…always have a good contingency plan. Always have something held in reserve’ one of the others declares.
A large cloth is pulled from an alien craft, stored in the yard, and Bo’sun tells everyone to get inside the supply pod. ‘I want you combat-ready in five!’ the Kree orders. Moments pass, and the four stearstealth warriors re-emerge - in heavy-duty armor. Their war-suits are hybrids, customized devices, engineered from battle-junk, captured weaponry munition spares and the salvaged parts of several sentry robots, crippled in the Kree / Shi’ar War. At such a makeshift ingenuity, the starsteath commandos excel. The warsuits were left here under wraps…an ace in the hole should the Kree’s primary mission fail. Now, they will be instruments of revenge. ‘Follow me, boys…the long day closes and there’s bloody work to be done!’….


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The Fires of Sunrise
A Force Works Hex Ship hovers in the dark-blue sky. Inside, representatives from both Earth Mightiest Heroes, the Avengers, and Earth’s newest super team, the proactive Force Works are assembled. ‘What’s our location, Crystal?’ someone calls out to the elemental Inhuman member of the Avengers. Crystal announces that they are over Chatwin Falls, and that they are coming to a freight yard. Crystal turns to Iron Man a.k.a. Tony Stark, of Force Works, who declares that the non-terrestrial radiation signature of the Kree is a clinch to track. ‘We’re close’ he reports. The Olympian Avenger Hercules remarks that it is about time, to which the aggressive Force Works member John Walker a.k.a. USAgent asks him mockingly ‘Gee, sorry, Herc. Were we boring you?’
Iron Man tells his teammate to stop sniping, before turning to the Pietro “Quicksilver” Maximoff of the Avengers, as he realizes something is wrong. Quicksilver quickly reports that something is powering up on the ground. Suddenly, there is weapons fire, and the Hex Ship’s right wing is blown apart. ‘Emergency stations! Someone just tanked us but good! Everybody out…unless ya especially enjoy nose-dives!’ USAgent orders. Iron Man takes to the air, while Crystal lowers herself and Quicksilver to the ground on a gust of wind. Hercules leaps to the ground, his super strength to cushion his fall.
Iron Man orders USAgent to get the Hex Ship down the best he can, while telling his former Avengers teammates that it looks like the Kree have got their hands on some weird off-world hardware. However, as he fires some repulsor beams at the Kree soldiers, Tony tells himself that going into action with the Avengers again after all this time feels strange - almost weird. ‘Who does Iron Man think he is? Giving orders to the Avengers?’ Quicksilver mutters to his wife, who reminds Quicksilver that Iron Man is the most experienced person here. Crystal asks Pietro to just do as Iron Man says, as they need to work together if they are going to stand a chance against these aliens.
‘Cursed Kree butchers! I know not from whence you obtained your killing machines, but by Olympus, I shall crush you all the same!’ Hercules boasts as the heroes near the four Kree warriors, three armed with various weapons, and the fourth inside a large pod-like tank. ‘The human warriors have found us, Bo’sun! How did they manage that so fast?’ the warrior inside the tank enquires. ‘Who on Hala cares, Zamsed! Shut your trap and burn their bones!’ Bo’sun shouts, reminding his comrades that they are Starstealth, baptized in blood and that the stars themselves hide their faces when the four of them pass by.
At that moment, upwards from Earth, the Skrull Tribunal Ship is nearly two miles from its rounded nose to its fluked stern. It coasts through orbital space like some mythic leviathan basking in the tides of light. Several beings materialize on the ship, and the Skrull, Major Algol is greeted. He is accompanied by the mysterious aliens called the Quo Modari, as well as five heroes from Earth - Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch, Julia “Spider-Woman” Carpenter and Century, all of Force Works, and two Avengers - Dr Henry Pym a.k.a. Giant Man, and Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow. They blink at the harsh light of the tele-mat excursion bay. Despite the many wonders they have seen in their illustrious careers, the sheer scale and power of the Skrull technology leaves them awestruck.
Major Algol tells his crew to register their bio scans in the central database, and explains that they are here to formally witness the extradition proceedings. ‘Perhaps the Quo Modari would care to supervise their stay on this vessel?’ the Major suggests. One of the Qui Modari looks down at the Earth heroes and replies ‘Certainly. You shall now meet the other delegates. Each represents a race that has suffered at the hands of the Kree Starstealth’. Wanda looks up at the tall alien and asks him to lead the way, remarking that they will have plenty in common.
In the Tribunal Ship’s laboratory, a Rigellian is monitoring the defective Recorder, who is strung up to various pieces of equipment. The Rigellian states that the sub-cortal matrices have been customized, as he thinks the human term is. ‘These implants are not standard Rigellian components’ he remarks, adding that they seem to be behavioral “inhibitors” and countermand relays placed in series along the primary command-ware. ‘You mean someone has stripped out the Recorder’s central net and hot-wired him into the maniac we know and loathe?’ Giant Man asks. ‘That would explain / disclose / account for a great deal’ Century remarks. The Rigellian states that it is upsetting, and turns to Major Algol, stating that as the Rigellian delegate, he requests permission to relay these facts to his people at once.
‘As you like, delegate’ the Major replies. The Rigellian announces that the Rigellian command will not take kindly to such abuse of on of its Recorder units. ‘The entire passive nature of its objectivity parameters has been perverted!’ the Rigellian declares, while motioning to Century and Giant Man the causal adjunct to the cerebellum which has been blocked. Major Algol turns from the others and speaks into his wrist communicator, asking for a report. Another Skrull replies that the Kree fugitives have been located and engaged planet-side. Algol orders for his strike-elite to be assembled at the tele-mat, and he will join them momentarily.
Elsewhere, Wanda, Julia and Natasha are taken to one of the refugee bays aboard the ship. The Quo Modari regrets that conditions are poor, explaining that it is all their meager resources can afford. He adds that in the dying days of the Kree-Shi’ar War, when Hala had fallen, the Star-Stealth made certain they would not be the only race wounded and homeless amid the stars. He adds that the dispossessed of a dozen worlds shelter here, and that they have suffered immeasurably at the hands of the Kree. The Quo Modari tells the powerful trio that as the Tribunal mission passed through the out-worlds, the refugees flocked to them, nursing their manifold woes and begging them for aid.
‘God…it’s appalling!’ Spider-Woman gasps. A young alien child rushes towards them, carrying an empty bowl, while another alien pulls him back. Julia and Wanda don’t understand the language the aliens speak, so the Quo Modari explains that the fatherless child craves food. ‘And his mother -’ he begins, but Wanda interrupts: ‘I get the picture’ she states, while the Black Widow asks the Scarlet Witch if she now sees why they agreed to extradition. ‘I…’ Wanda begins, before her communicator goes off. She excuses herself from the Black Widow, while USAgent announces that they have found the Kree, and that everything is hitting the fan.
‘Understood. I’ll grab the others and beam down immediately’ Wanda replies. Walker tells Wanda to make it snappy, just as the Hex Ship Pegasus crashes into the freight yard, but with minimal damage to anything thanks to Walker’s experienced piloting skills. ‘Perfect parking’ Walker mutters as he emerges from the ship unscathed. Walker sees some of the freight yard workers nearby and tells them to take his advice and run for it. They do so, as the battle between Iron Man, the Avengers and the Kree soldiers moves closer. ‘Burn them! Blister their souls!’ Bo’sun orders his men. ‘Make them scream all the way to the after-life!’ he shouts as he fires a weapon at Iron Man, striking the amored hero as he flies down towards him.
Iron Man is blasted back, and smacks into the wall of a nearby building. Hercules sees this happen, and attacks one of the other Kree. ‘You’ll pay in blood!’ he shouts. The Kree struggles back, and Crystal calls out to her teammate, telling him not to be a fool. ‘He’s too dangerous’ Crystal begins to say, but Hercules smacks the Kree over, using his mighty strength to grab the Kree’s flaming weapon. ‘Is it foolish to avenge the fallen, Crystal? Are we not the AVENGERS?’ Hercules asks. He forces the alien backwards, asking ‘Is it foolish to best the foe in combat…and crush the weapons that he wields against us?’ Eventually, Hercules’s strength destroys the Kree’s flaming weapon. ‘You have defeated and disarmed me, warrior. But I shall not yield!’ the Kree warrior booms as he initiates his self-destruct sequence.
The resulting explosion sends Hercules careening backwards. Crystal rushes over to him, but another of the Kree steps between her and the unconscious god. ‘…has fallen, pretty one…and left you alone on the battlefield!’ the Kree warns Crystal. He tells her not to make him spoil her eye-pleasing figure and give up, assuring her that she will be treated well. Energy beams burst from the Kree’s armor, but Crystal is able to dodge the beams, and tells the alien that she cares neither for his offer, nor his patronizing tone, before announcing that she is far from alone. Crystal announces that she can call upon the elements as allies, and casting her hand, causes beams of geothermal energy to rise from the ground beneath the Kree warrior, knocking him backwards. ‘Two down…on both sides. I wonder how Pietro is…?’ Crystal thinks to herself, before looking over to where her husband speeds around the Kree inside the large tank. ‘Bo’sun! This human moves too fast!’ the Kree calls out. ‘Then use your blitz-laser, Zamsed!’ Bo’sun retorts. ‘If you can’t it him with a clean shot…bury him in debris!’
Zamsed fires the tank’s weapon system, and sends beams of energy directly at the ground, and at full force, they cause the ground to break up and knock into Quicksilver, striking him in the face. ‘PIETRO!’ Crystal screams. USAgent rushes over to her and asks ‘Lemme guess! We’re taking a pasting, right, Crys?’ Suddenly, ‘Agent! Behind us!’ Crystal exclaims as Major Algol and several Skrulls arrive via teleport. ‘I thought you Skrulls were meant to stay outta this?’ Walker asks, turning to them. ‘And I thought you humans were meant to be capable of taking the fugitives down’ Algol replies, before telling his strike-elite to fan out and engage the foe. ‘I suggest you two stand back - and leave it to the experts’ the Major suggests to Walker and Crystal.
‘Hey! No little green man tells me what to do!’ USAgent shouts. ‘Xenophobic bigot! We are trained for situations such as -’ the Major begins, but he is interrupted when one of his squad is shot by the Kree in the tank. ‘Now Skrull-spawn hound us too!’ Bo’sun exclaims as he unleashes weapons fire too, while telling Zamsed to fall back. ‘Aye, sir…but…to where, sir?’ Zamsed enquires. Bo’sun orders Zamsed to wipe his defeatist tone from his voice, and to scan this locale and find a building that they can defend, or a route out of here. Zamsed replies that he has tried that, but that the Skrulls are all around them. ‘Then we fight to our last breath -’ Bo’sun begins, when suddenly, they are tele-matted away.
‘That’s impossible! They have no base ship…and we know not of any tele-mat technology on this planet!’ Major Algol declares. ‘Impossible, maybe, but they’ve done it, Major!’ Crystal points out. Algol tells her to be silent, and orders one of his men to contact the ship at once, to see if the Kree can be traced. The Skrull informs the Major that the ship is not responding to his hails. ‘Eh? But that’s…’ Major Algol begins, to which USAgent shouts ‘Impossible? You keep using the wod, but I don’t think you know what it means!’ While Crystal goes over to the fallen Quicksilver, and Iron Man and Hercules nurse their injuries and walk towards the Skrulls, USAgent tells the Major that perhaps the Skrulls are not quite the experts they thought they were.
In the silence of high orbit, one of the Skrulls announces that they have lost contact with Major Algol’s strike team. ‘I cannot explain this!’ the Skrull announces. Wanda, Julia, Hank, Natasha and Century are gathered around a console, and Wanda tells the Skrull to see if he can locate them using the ship’s sensors. Natasha adds that Algol had no business transporting down in the first place. ‘He swore he’s leave this operation in our hands!’ she declares. ‘What’s the matter?’ Wanda asks one of the Skrulls, who exclaims that the controls are not responding. He adds that either the central computer has shut down, or they have been denied access to it. ‘Where have we heard that already today?’ Spider-Woman mutters. ‘I hope you’re not thinking what I’m thinking, Spi…’ Wanda tells her good friend, before turning to Hank and Century, and asking them where they left the Recorder. ‘In the tech-lab’ Century explains, while Hank tells Wanda to take it easy, as the Recorder was in pieces. ‘Since when has that stopped him?’ someone asks.
‘Oh, man’ Hank mutters as he and Century return to the lab, only to find it trashed, and the Rigellian delegate lying motionless on the floor. Century contacts the Scarlet Witch, informing her that the Recorder has gone and that the Rigellian delegate is dead. Wanda orders Century to search the area, while they see if they can re-establish control here. Wanda rubs a fist against her forehead and remarks that they could sure use Iron Man’s technical knowledge right now, and that she could use a break from this migraine, as it seems to be getting worse by the minute.
Back in the lab, Hank examines the Rigellian. ‘The poor guy, didn’t deserve this’ he remarks, when suddenly, the sliding door to the lab closes automatically, locking Century and Giant Man inside. The Recorder’s image then appears on a monitor overhead. ‘Life-forms…your attention, please’ the Recorder states. ‘Like we have a choice’ Hank mutters. ‘We could block our ears’ Century suggests. ‘That’s not what I meant’ Hank explains. The Recorder’s image appears on the monitors on the deck, and Wanda, Julia, the Black Widow and the Skrulls are forced to listen to him. The Recorder announces that he has seized control of this vessel, and that all of its command functions are now under his authority.
‘Statement: I now desire the security codes needed to release the star-stealth prisoners. I will then give the ship to them’ the Recorder declares. Wanda calls out to the Recorder, asking him to reconsider, she points out that this is contrary to his basic programming. ‘Silence! I no longer answer to those simplistic Rigellian directives! The Kree loaded new commands into my brain-stem, and I am following those to the letter’ the Recorder explains. ‘Observation: If you wish to negotiate, do so with the star-stealth I am T-matting to guard you’ the Recorder Suddenly, Bo’sun and Zamsed materialize on the deck. ‘Oh, God! The renegades! He’s brought them here!’ Wanda gasps.
Bo’sun calls the women “human fools” and declares that they should have executed he and his men when they had the chance. ‘Al the while we live, we never relent!’ he declares, adding that their ally the Recorder has given them a new chance to complete this mission, and that with this ship’s firepower, they will exact their blood-vengeance on planet Earth. One of the Quo Modari steps forward and tells Bo’sun that he feels this matter may be resolved without further life-loss - but before he can continue, the alien screams in pain as Bo’sun fires his weapon at him, close range. Some of the Skrulls ready their weapons, while Bo’sun raises his gun to the Scarlet Witch and asks ‘Who’s next? You perhaps, woman? Will you, too, waste your last breath with timid pleading?’
Wanda stands her ground and replies that she wouldn’t waste her breath on Bo’sun, period. ‘As you seem intent on killing all of us, I may as well be next’ she remarks, daring Bo’sun to pull the trigger on his weapon. ‘If I dare? I’ll show you what I dare!’ he exclaims, as he rests his finger on the trigger. Julia urges Wanda not to provoke Bo’sun, ‘Well?’ Wanda frowns, when suddenly, Bo’sun’s weapon explodes in his hand. ‘Next time you don’t point your weapon at a hex-mutant, Kree - don’t give her time to alter the chances of that weapon misfiring!’ Wanda suggests.
‘Not that you’ll be doing much pointing after this!’ Wanda adds, while Bo’sun cries out for his hand. ‘Skeps’ ghost! Kill them! Zamsed - kill them all!’ Bo’sun order as crouches on the ground, nursing his maimed arm. However, Century teleports into the room, and up onto the top of the tank. ‘I’m afraid Zamsed is a little busy right now!’ Century declares, while Zamsed cries out for Bo’sun to help him. He adds that he cannot angle the cannons, as Century is too close, before shouting ‘NOOO!’ as Century shoves his staff, Parallax, through the tank window. Wanda thanks Century and tells him that his timing, as ever, is impeccable.
Century pulls Zamsed from the tank, and tells him to stop struggling. ‘My blade is still sharp’ Century warns the Kree. The Recorder speaks up over the chaos, ‘Observation: To think I once found your heroism entertaining, Century! Qualification: Curse you! Curse you and the Scarlet Witch’ he shouts over the monitors. Wanda smiles, before asking Century if he can identify the Recorder’s location. Century informs Wanda that Parallax has already traced and mapped the Recorder’s energy signature, and announces that he is in the auxiliary computer annex on deck sixteen. ‘Take me to him’ Wanda orders.
And instant later, Century and the Scarlet Witch teleport to the computer annex. ‘Salutations, Scarlet Witch! And Big Blue, too! So nice of you to drop by!’ the Recorder declares, before making an observation, suggesting they watch their heads, as this chamber as designed with the stunted Skrull physique in mind. ‘Spare us the amenities, construct. Disengage your hardware links and surrender!’ the Scarlet Witch orders. The Recorder tells the Scarlet Witch that he never thought of her as the team’s clown, but that she does say the funniest things. ‘Evaluation: You can’t touch me. I have spent the last year studying you in detail’ the Recorder announces.
The Recorder tells the Scarlet Witch that he knows her powers and abilities inside out and back to front, so there is nothing she or stick-boy can do that he will not anticipate. ‘It’s you who should surrender’ the Recorder declares. Wanda moans and touches her forehead once more, causing Century to as her what the matter is. ‘My headache. It may just kill me before this robot freak does!’ Wanda replies, before asking the Recorder why he is doing this. The Recorder replies that he was close to terminal dysfunction when the star-stealth found him, floating in orbit above the corpse of their world. ‘Someone had left me there, loaded with new orders for the star-stealth…orders to locate and exterminate the architects of Hala’s destruction: Wonder Man and the Vision!’ the Recorder reveals.
The Recorder explains that when the mission failed, he hid among Force Works, orchestrating dramas that he could study and ingest - the Mandarin, Slorenia. ‘If only you’d known…’ he remarks, adding that he lives for experience, and that was experience undreamed of. ‘Then you locked me in the Vault and I sensed the approaching Skrull ship…my primary programming overtook me again: free the star-stealth and ensure they could complete their mission’ the Recorder announces. Wanda and Century look shocked, and Century declares that the abhorrence of the Recorder’s crimes is matched only by their senseless nature! He has played games with us from the start!’
Wanda is furious, and goes wide-eyed as she tells the Recorder that toying with them as he has resulted in death and untold pain - all because of some second-hand motive he doesn’t understand. ‘It shall stop, Recorder. Right here. Now!’ Wanda declares. The Recorder grins wickedly and asks ‘Oh, really? And who’s going to stop me?’, to which Wanda replies ‘I am’, and suddenly, his robot-form begins to crack, and he nervously asks ‘What are you doing to me, Witch? Stop it!’, before he screams ‘Noooo!’, and Wanda stands her ground, replying ‘Natural obsolescence, Recorder. Someday, even you would wear out and break down. I’m hexing the natural stress and fatigue in your body from a probable when to a positive now’.
‘Goodbye, Recorder’ Wanda announces, as she drops to her knees, continuing to release her hex power against her foe. It takes everything she has and more besides. It is the most powerful, most comprehensive spell she has ever conjured. She exploits every minute crack, every tiny flaw in the machine’s body, and rattles it apart. In five seconds, the magnified wear and tear of give thousand years takes its appalling toll. Explosively. And with that, the Recorder shatters and scatters into dust. Wanda looks up as Century announces ‘I am impressed / startled / awestruck’. Wanda tells him that he is not the only one, as she wasn’t sure she could do that. ‘My hex has never been so focused. So entire’ Wanda explains, before announcing that her headache has gone, as if it was never there.
Forty minutes and a tele-mat transmission later, Force Works, the Avengers, the Skrulls and the Quo Modari are gathered. ‘With mine bare hands!’ Hercules boasts to Spider-Woman as the heroes mingle. ‘Gee…you don’t say…’ Julia replies, unimpressed. Crystal fawns over her husband and tells him that he should get the medics to look at him. Giant Man tells the Quo Modari that their gratitude is much appreciated, but that Century and Wanda deserve the lion’s share of it. ‘Please explain the involvement of this “lion”?’ the Quo Modari asks. ‘Don’t look now, Shellhead, but I think old Algol there is sulking’ USAgent tells Iron Man, while Algol hangs his head and mutters and expletive.
The Black Widow tells Wanda that there is still the other matter to deal with, and turns to Force Works. ‘Now look, Widow…’ Iron Man begins, but the Scarlet Witch points out that the Widow was talking to her, and steps forward to the Avengers’ leader, telling her that she has decided they must abide by the Tribunal’s ruling and allow the star-stealth to be extradited. ‘I realize it’s essential they’re made to face the off-world charges against them’ Wanda explains. ‘But for the record, I want you to know that my previous objections were prompted by shock and hurt. Force Works had a right to know about this before it happened. I hope this kind of oversight won’t occur again’ Wanda declares.
‘As if we dare!’ Giant Man exclaims, while the Black Widow puts her hands on the Scarlet Witch’s shoulders and thanks her. ‘You have my word it won’t’ she adds. Iron Man and the Black Widow step away from the others and Tony asks Natasha what this means - a new spirit of cooperation between their teams?’ The Black Widow replies that it is for the best and is long overdue. ‘You’ve got a remarkable leader in Wanda. She did things today I didn’t know she was capable of’ the Black Widow admits. Natasha reminds Tony that they have known each other for years, so she is sure he won’t mind her saying this, and suggests to Tony that he start giving Wanda some more credit and freedom. ‘You wouldn’t want to get on her wrong side…now would you?’ the Black Widow smiles. ‘Or her on mine…’ Iron Man mutters cryptically.
‘Hey, there, party pooper! You did good today…real good!’ Julia exclaims as she goes over to Century, who has remained away from everyone else, staring out the window of the ship down to Earth. ‘Why so thoughtful?’ Julia enquires. Century replies that this is the first chance he has had to actually see the world that has become his foster home. ‘I am wondering if my home is as beautiful as this’ he adds. Spider-Woman asks Century if he was thinking of leaving them. ‘Just when we’re getting used to having you around?’ she asks. ‘Of course not, Julia. After all…where would I go?’ Century asks, and they both smile.
Coda…eight parasecs from Earth, a great ship hangs in the gravity of the gas giant Arabellum. Probing ribbons of coherent energy lash down through the cloud cover, sucking super-heavy elements from the planetary core. The planet shudders as it’s life-blood’s leeched away for fuel. The atmosphere boils, and apocalyptic storm-cancers flare and seethe. The great ship pulls in its fueling beams and swings around out of orbit. There is a majesty in its vast, silent progress. There is no majesty in the way Arabellum dies. The plundered world convulses…and spits out a shock halo of expanding gas and meteoric rubble, which flows through open space. A warp gate opens and the great ship soars away towards it’s appointed destiny. In its wake, there is nothing left of Arabellum but dissipating clouds of dust….