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I Sing of Arms and Heroes…
‘Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea after all’ the golden armored former Avenger Iron Man thinks to himself as he stands before four very angry members of the Californian-based Avengers West Coast. Iron Man thinks that he wasn’t really sure what he expected since he has become more dependent on his armor, but he thought that at least returning to the Avengers was a logical way to at least deal with his situation. He tells himself that as long as he is forced to use his armor so much, he might as well be putting it to good use a greater portion of the time - except he had forgotten how much things have changed here. Seemed changed and really changed.
Janet Van Dyne a.k.a. the Wasp, in her pint-sized form flits beside Simon Williams a.k.a. Wonder Man, who tells Iron Man that it is time for some serious explaining. ‘You came zooming in here as if you expected us to welcome you with open arms!’ Doctor Hank Pym tells Iron Man that he surely must have realized that it wasn’t going to be that simple. The USAgent however tells Pym ‘You said a mouthful’ before declaring that the whole world knows Iron Man was one of the founding members of the Avengers, and points out that they know he was killed and replaced with whoever is in that “tin-can” suit now.
Pointing at Iron Man, the USAgent informs him that the rights and privileges of Avengers membership do not come with the armor automatically. Iron Man tells USAgent that he fully appreciates that, and announces that he is prepared to stand for any initiation the members of the team determine necessary. The Wasp flies over to her lover Dr. Pym and asks him what he thinks. She points out that they know who used to be in the Iron Man costume, but this guy doesn’t sound like him. Hank points out that Iron Man never did sound like who was inside him, as the voice modulator built into the helmet made it impossible to know whose voice they are really hearing.
Wonder Man reminds his teammates that they know of at least one other man has subbed for the original Iron Man over the years, before USAgent declares that there is only one way to handle this, and storms off, announcing that he is going to contact Washington and get their input on the situation. A moment passes, then Hank exclaims that now the stranger in their midst has departed, they can solve this in the most straight-forward manner. ‘We know you used to be Tony Stark, Iron Man. And we know Stark isn’t dead. So tell us now…are you Stark?’ Iron Man pauses, before replying ‘I…can’t tell you. I’m sorry’.
Meanwhile, to the west and across the vast sprawling Palos Verdes Compound which is home and headquarters to the Avengers West Coast. The eerie white ghost-like Vision walks with his wife, the beautiful Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. the mighty Scarlet Witch. The Vision, in his now cold and empty voice tells Wanda that it surprises him she did not wish to stay for the meeting with Iron Man. ‘I am curious as to your reason’. Barely looking at her recently-rebuilt husband, Wanda tells him that she knows he is programmed to use words like “surprised” and “curious”, but she wishes he wouldn’t, as it only emphasizes how much more robotic he has become.
The Vision apologizes and explains that it was his impression that she wished him to sound as human as possible. ‘Human? Why would I wish that, husband? Why would any mutant worthy of the name wish to associate herself with humans?’ The Vision states that Wanda is a mutant, and points out that for years she has gladly associated herself with the Avengers, most of whom are human. ‘A passing weakness, Vision’ Wanda mutters harshly, and is about to say something else when she opens the door to their quarters, and sees someone else inside. Wanda readies her mutant hex powers, when the intruder, an elderly woman holding a black cat, exclaims ‘Come, child…it has not been so long you have forgotten me, has it?’
Wanda is shocked to say the least at the sudden appearance of the aged woman, ‘Agatha Harkness!’ Wanda gasps, ‘But you’re dead! You were burned at the stake!’ ‘And a terrible inconvenience it was, my dear, even for a true witch such as myself’. Agatha replies, before remarking that she is not here to discuss that. Pointing to a cot across the room, Agatha exclaims ‘It is your children which concern me!’ Wanda goes over to her twin children and asks Agatha what she wants of them. ‘To understand them, child. To understand their precise nature’ Agatha states.
‘What nature? They are only children. Normal in every way!’ Wanda replies. ‘Normal, Wanda? With a mother who is a mutant and a father who is a synthezoid?’ Agatha declares that the children of the Scarlet Witch are far from normal, ‘And had I not been busy with the matter of my resurrection, I would have sensed as much sooner!’ Agatha adds that Wanda already knows that when she is not thinking about her children they…disappear!
A surprised Vision turns to Wanda and asks if this is true. ‘No! Of course not!’ Wanda snaps back, exclaiming how could it be true when she is their mother, so there is never a moment when they are not in her thoughts. Agatha declares that there are many such moments, and remarks that in the danger-fraught life Wanda leads as an Avenger, there are many times when her concentration must turn wholly to the task of survival - even times when the action of some miscreant has rendered her insensate, ‘And at such time, Thomas and William simply cease to exist!’
Agatha points out that Wanda has already fired half a dozen governesses, all conscientious women whose only failing was that they tried to tell Wanda this themselves. Wanda covers her ears with her hands and turning away from her former mentor and robot-husband, she shouts ‘No! No! I won’t hear this again! I…won’t…’. The Vision calls out to Wanda, and Agatha suggests to him that he hold her, for more now more than ever she needs his strength and love. Agatha adds that all her senses tell her that the worst is yet to come.
Nearby, flying over the Palos Verdes Compound is the newest member of the Avengers West Coast, the recently resurrected original Human Torch. The Golden Age hero exclaims that Dr. Pym wasn’t kidding when he told him that he would find the world a different place from the last time he saw it. The Human Torch remarks that just cruising over the country-side for the last half hour he has seen more changes than he would have ever expected to find, that it is as if he has been asleep for four hundred years instead of forty.
As the Human Torch approaches the main part of the Avengers West Compound, he thinks that “asleep” is not really the right word for his condition all those years, as he was deactivated - as close as an android such as himself can come to being dead - that is until the Scarlet Witch’s probability altering hex power turned him back on. Landing, the Human Torch excitedly declares that he is not only alive, but was asked by the Avengers West Coast to join them.
Suddenly, a woman standing by the large building calls out ‘T-Tom?’ The Human Torch turns off his flame, and stands before the woman, wearing his orange and yellow outfit, and looking remarkably well for an android his age. ‘Er, no, ma’am, I’m the Human Torch’ he informs her, adding that he supposes he should say he is the original Human Torch. The woman replies ‘Of course, it’s just…some how…when I saw you come blazing down like that…’ her voice trails off and she covers her face with her hands. The Human Torch asks her if she is okay, or if he can get her a glass of water.
The woman replies that she will be fine, that she just has to force herself back into accepting the fact that Tom is really gone. The Human Torch is intrigued, ‘Tom…? Say…you don’t by any chance mean Tom Raymond? Toro?’ The Woman replies that she does, and introduces herself as Ann Raymond, his wife - or rather, his widow. The Human Torch is stunned, ‘Toro…dead?’ Ann asks if he is all right, when suddenly, from the roof of the Avengers West Compound, dozens of demon creatures leap towards the unsuspecting mourners. Ann screams, while the Human Torch exclaims ‘Flaming fireballs! Demons!’, before they are both knocked into the large swimming pool.
Inside the Compound, the Wasp hears Ann’s scream, and Hank orders everyone outside, ‘Avengers Assemble!’ he exclaims. But en route, they find themselves attacked by the demons. An enormous green creature reaches out for the Wasp, who blasts back with her sting. Dodging the creatures enormous claws, she tells it to back off before she gives it a manicure right up to its elbow. Wonder Man fends his opponents off with his super strength, and exclaims that there are dozens of them, before asking where they came from.
Hank Pym begins firing at his opponents with a gun, ‘You know the answer to that one as well as I do, Simon!’ he calls out, before pointing out that there is only one villain who has access to demons in abundance and who would be interested in them. Pym thinks to himself that he isn’t sure if any of his weapons that he normally keeps shrunken in his pockets will be of any use against mystical foes such as this, but nevertheless he has to give it a shot. ‘You mean it’s Master Pandemonium?’ Iron Man asks as he blasts several demons, reminding his allies that the last time they saw Master Pandemonium he was swept away by the River of Oblivion - which was deep in the realm of Mephisto!
Hank Pym continues to fire away at his foes, before revealing that although that may be the last they saw of him, the Fantastic Four reported encountering him on Earth just a few months ago. Hank thinks to himself that Iron Man knowing about their last encounter with Pandemonium raises an interesting point - did Stark brief him on all his Avengers exploits, or is there something else going on here?’ Suddenly, USAgent re-enters the area and asks what in blue blazes is going on out here. The Wasp calls out to Agent, telling him to look out, as another green creature approaches him. ‘Thanks, Wasp’ Agent mutters as he casually slams his shield into the creature.
By now, the battle has made its way out towards the patio and pool, and Agent declares that it is time to finish off these creepazoids, and fast. The Human Torch and Ann Raymond emerge from the swimming pool, and as the Torch prepares to get into the battle, Ann tells him to be careful, pointing out that he is still wet. The Human Torch tells her not to worry about him, as it takes more than a quick dip to douse his power. The Human Torch uses his powers, heating up, the film of water covering his body begins to boil away, a burst of steam covers him, then he shouts “Flame On!” and he is ready for battle. In a burst of flame, the Human Torch flies into battle, boasting that he will show these demonic delinquents how he used to deal with their kind back in the 1950’s!.
The Wasp flies over to Hank and asks him if it is just her imagination, or does there seem to be no point to this battle. Hank tells his lover that she is right, as the demons don’t seem particularly intent on killing them - they just seem to want to keep them all occupied.
Back in Wanda’s quarters, the Scarlet Witch is slumped in a chair, and the Vision kneels beside her, telling her to be calm, that there is nothing to upset herself over. ‘Of course you’d say that, Vision! In your present emotionless state you can’t begin to understand all I’ve been through in the past few weeks!’ Wanda snaps back. She lists some of the things that have contributed to her attitude - seeing the Vision disassembled and his memory erased, then learning that he is not really the original Human Torch, before being kidnapped by a band of madmen and brainwashed - then to have these accusations about her children thrown at her….
Suddenly, ‘A demon horde!’ cries Agatha as demons begin to break into Wanda’s bungalow. Wanda and the Vision get to their feet, and the Vision tells his wife and Agatha to get behind him, as he will deal with these creatures. However, Agatha takes command, and the room lights up with her powers as she tells the Vision that his science-spawned powers are of little use against mystic beings. Agatha tells the Avengers to stand clear so the demons can get a taste of her witchcraft, when suddenly, ‘Save your spells, old woman!’ exclaims Master Pandemonium as he enters the bungalow.
Fire leaps from Pandemonium’s mouth and engulfs Agatha’s spells as he boasts that her powers are feathers on the wind before his own consummate powers. Agatha screams as the demon-fire hits her, so the Vision approaches Master Pandemonium, telling him that his flame cannot harm one who has no mortal soul. The Vision plunges his intangible hand into the chest of Master Pandemonium, who casually tells him that in a lesser foe, such an act would cause the heart to flutter - ‘But there is no heart within my body!’
Demons begin to pour from Master Pandemonium’s sleeves as he asks if Henry Pym forgot to reprogram the Vision with the true meaning of his name? ‘Pandemonium is the abode of demons!’ he exclaims, when suddenly, Wanda steps up to the play, ‘You boast and brag too much, villain!’ she exclaims, before pointing out that science and sorcery may have both failed, but that she is a product of both - ‘And nothing can stand before my hex power!’ With that, Wanda casts forth her mighty powers, unaware that several demons approach her children.
Wanda powers on as Agatha exclaims that it seems to be working, that Wanda is driving Master Pandemonium back. The Vision suggests that they should combine their powers, and aims his laser beam at Pandemonium also. Master Pandemonium calls out to his demons, ordering them to fall back and rejoin their master, and they do as they are commanded, returning into his large sleeves, while Pandemonium declares that their mission here is done, and in a flash of red light, he is gone.
Agatha exclaims that it is as if he was never here, as there remains not even a trace of his presence upon the mystic ether. The Vision remarks that he wonders what Master Pandemonium meant when he said that his mission here was done, to which the Scarlet Witch points out that they drove him away before - suddenly, she stops short in her sentence, glancing over to where her children are supposed to be, a horrified Wanda exclaims ’The children! They’re gone…they’re gone!’
Indeed, they are gone, and now the twin boys are held in the air by some mystical power, as Master Pandemonium sits upon his throne in a dark and eerie realm. ‘Do you hear that, children?’ Pandemonium asks them. ‘The agonized cry of a mother who has realized her offspring have been stolen from her!’ He remarks that it is a pity the children cannot appreciate the delicious irony of this situation - no more than they can appreciate the complex chain of events which has brought he and the two of them to this place and time, and thus Master Pandemonium begins to tell his tale…
(Shown with Flashback Images)It began with the accident that robbed Master Pandemonium, then known as Martin Preston, of his right arm. As he hung there from the seat of his car, upside down, the only thing holding him in place was the seat belt that saved his life, then he appeared - Mephisto, Lord of the Netherworld. Mephisto proceeded to replace both of Martin’s arms with limbs torn from his demon slaves, however he exacted a price for his benevolence by tearing the soul from Martin Preston’s body and leaving him marked by a gaping pentagram in the middle of his torso. Mephisto then took the stolen stole and tore it into five pieces, then scattered them across the world.
(Present)Master Pandemonium reveals that he has recovered one piece, and that he now plans to replace the others - ‘I have a means in mind of far greater efficiency than scouring all the paths of darkness…a means not even the accursed Avengers can stand against!’
Back at Avengers West Compound, the other Avengers and Iron Man have arrived at Wanda’s bungalow, and find her being consoled by the Vision and Agatha Harkness. Standing amongst the mess that was left of Wanda’s quarters, Hank Pym tells Agatha that he hates to keep pounding the same point, but he thinks that in view of all that has happened, she owes them an explanation of her return somewhat more complete than “I got better”. Monotonously, Agatha replies ‘Really now, Doctor! Surely a scientist such as yourself…a man dedicated to logic…should realize none of the traditional means of executing those accused of witchcraft would work on a real witch!’
Wonder Man supports Agatha, informing everyone that there was even an episode of the old “Bewitched” television series that made the same point. Simon is about to explain what happened in the episode, when Wanda shouts ‘Are you all out of your minds? My children have been kidnapped by Master Pandemonium…and you stand about discussing television shows?!’ The Wasp flies over to her friend and assures her that they are not being hard hearted about it, and explains to Wanda that there is so much for them to understand, now the least being if her children really were kidnapped - or if they have just vanished again.
The Wasp reminds Wanda that they were together the first time one of her governesses reported - suddenly, Wanda interrupts the Wasp shouting ‘Oh, shut up!’ and swatting her miniature friend to the ground. ‘Stupid, prattling, ineffectual humans!’ Wanda shouts, ‘My babies have been stolen! Either help me find them…or get out of my way!’
Hank picks up Jan, asking her if she is okay. Jan replies that she is, explaining that her small size cushioned her like it would a real wasp, before asking what that was Wanda said about “humans”. Wanda goes over to Agatha, and addressing her formally, as “Miss Harkness”, she gabs her by the shawl and exclaims ‘You can help me! You must help me!’ Wanda points out that Agatha can open the mystic pathways and follow Pandemonium wherever he has taken her children.
Agatha gets to her feet, ‘Yes’ she replies, informing everyone that Master Pandemonium did all he could to obscure the path he took, but at the moment of arrival, she reveals she took a step to be sure she would be able to follow him if the need arose. Agatha informs Wanda that she must understand the way will be hard and fraught with great peril, so she cannot go alone. Hank exclaims that the Avengers wouldn’t let Wanda go alone, ‘The Scarlet Witch is one of us!’ Wonder Man declares, ‘Where she goes, we go!’ USAgent adds.
A bright green light fills the Scarlet Witch’s quarters and a portal opens ‘Then let the travel spells be wrought!’ the aged witch cries, ‘Let the dark corridors open once more!’ Agatha explains that the portal is open, but that Master Pandemonium has placed blocks within the aperture, so she needs Wanda’s powers to complete the enchantment.
‘BLAST!’ cries the being known as Immortus as he watches the Scarlet Witch’s predicament unfold from his base of operations. ‘Again the timelines slip from my grasp! Again the threads unravel and diverse! And Immortus is powerless to stop them!’ Immortus begins to fly through his base, remarking that the realms into which Master Pandemonium has transported the Scarlet Witch’s children is outside his scope of intervention, meaning that if anything should threaten Wanda while she was there, he could do nothing to protect her. ‘All my years of careful scheming…would have been for naught!’
Back at Avengers West Compound, Hank Pym suggests to the Human Torch that he remain here, as none of them are familiar with fighting in close areas with someone with his powers, adding that someone needs to stay behind and hold the fort. The Human Torch replies that he agrees, though none too willingly. ‘One by one then, Avengers! Tread carefully, for we know not what lies beyond the portal!’ Agatha exclaims, as the seven mighty heroes enter the green portal…
…and in an instant, they re-appear, in a green field surrounded by a forest. Wonder Man remarks that he doesn’t know what he was expecting, but this isn’t it. Iron Man points out that it all looks so peaceful, when Agatha’s image appears in the space above them, informing the Avengers that the tranquillity they see is but a mask for darkness older than humankind. Pym is surprised that Agatha is with them, but the old woman explains that she is only here in spirit, the same way that she communicated with Wanda during the period of her apparent death. Agatha warns the heroes to be cautious, as they could be attacked at any moment.
‘Not just any moment…looks like this moment!’ USAgent announces, and as the trees, ground and other natural aspects rise up to attack the Avengers, Wonder Man exclaims that the whole landscape is alive. ‘Not just alive, Wonder Man…’ begins Iron Man as he dodges a large tree, ‘…the Walt Disney nightmare is decidedly hostile!’ He adds that these things can only be more of Pandemonium’s demons. USAgent smashes his shield into an army of toadstools telling the Avengers not to waste time analyzing, but to just ‘smash them before they smash you!’
The Wasp blasts her opponent with her sting before motioning over toward the horizon, asking if there is some sort of structure over there. With a flight-pack on his back, Hank replies that there is a building, and supposes that is where Pandemonium is hiding. Wonder Man uses his incredible strength to pull up some vines, exclaiming that it makes sense, as these demonic things are fighting their hardest to keep them all away from the building. The Vision uses his solar beam to cut a path through the unliving creatures as the heroes rush towards the large building.
Arriving out front, Wanda casts forth her powers at the door, declaring that no door ever made can stand long before her hex power. She remarks that Pandemonium may have used the most impervious material known, but she can warp probabilities to make it collapse under its own weight. The Avenger stand in the doorway as Pym warns everyone to be careful, for if this is Pandemonium’s lair, he is bound to be ready for them.
‘That I am, Avengers!’ cries Pandemonium as he stands before the western branch of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. He boasts that he is ready to sweep them all out of existence, for as they can plainly see, his scheme has borne a sweeter fruit than he ever dared dream. Shockingly, in replace of Master Pandemonium’s demon arms, are the Scarlet Witch’s children. ‘Now Master Pandemonium is unbeatable…!’


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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Fragments of a Greater Darkness
‘NO! NOOOOOO!!’ screams Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. the mighty Scarlet Witch as she stands in the palace of the diabolical Master Pandemonium who has appeared before her and the rest of the Avengers West Coast, only this time, he has replaced his demon-arms with the children of the Scarlet Witch. Pandemonium tells Wanda to protest as much as she wants to, but it will not change what has come to pass. ‘Master Pandemonium is now utterly unbeatable!’ he boasts. ‘Mt babies! What have you done to my babies?’ a distraught Wanda exclaims.
Wanda’s brother-in-law and dear friend Simon Williams a.k.a. Wonder Man tells Wanda to be careful, that she shouldn’t do anything until they know what Pandemonium is up to. He points out that with the unpredictable nature of Wanda’s powers, one of her hexes might kill her own children. Pandemonium smiles and tells Wonder Man that he shouldn’t fear on that account, for now that he has reclaimed the missing pieces of his soul which constitute Thomas and William, they can never be harmed again. ‘But you can!’ he snarls, before unleashing a beam of fire from one of the children, aimed directly at the Scarlet Witch.
Simon leaps in front of Wanda to protect her as Iron Man declares that he is going to take Master Pandemonium’s word and assume Wanda’s children will not be hurt as he blasts the demon with the full force of one of his repulsor beams. Pandemonium just laughs as he stands firm throughout the full force of Iron Man’s power. Iron Man is shocked and exclaims that there was enough destructive force to level and office block, but it washed over Pandemonium like spring rain. Pandemonium calls the West Coast branch of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes fools, and declares that they still do not understand.
He explains that he kidnapped the children of Wanda Maximoff and the android Vision to use their young souls to replace the missing pieces of his own. ‘Imagine, if you can, my joy upon discovering Thomas and William are pieces of my stolen soul!’ Pandemonium adds that as the children are invigorated with the mutant energies they drew from their mother, they have increased his own power a thousandfold!
Demons suddenly spew from Pandemonium, ‘Well don’t just stand there gaping! Demons they may be, but we’re the Avengers! Let’s show ‘em what that means!’ the handsome USAgent declares, leaping into battle with his trusty shield. Janet Van Dyne a.k.a. the winsome Wasp flies away from a giant bat-like creature, thinking that for a moment, the USAgent sounded almost as impressive as Captain America. Turning, she blasts the demon with her sting, only for it to shatter into a hundred smaller versions of itself. Hank Pym, her lover, comes to her rescue, telling her not to worry, and pulling from his pocket a needled gun, he uses his Pym Particles to return it to its regular size and fires it at the bats, exclaiming that it should be enough to shred their unliving wings.
The android Vision remarks that his human partners seem to be holding their own against the demonic horde, and turning intangible, he is reminded that the demons cannot harm him in that form - until suddenly, a demon places his hand on the Vision’s head, and it does not phase through. ‘No, synthezoid? Think you not?’ the demon asks as he cracks the Vision’s neck, causing the ghostly Avenger to fall to the ground. Wonder Man announces that his brother is down, and points out that it will take hours for his internal systems to repaid such major damage.
Wonder Man decides that he cannot just lie here like a lump of beef, so thinks he should carry this fight to the source. Sneaking up behind Pandemonium, Wonder Man then puts all of his mighty weight into leaping upon the diabolical villain, pushing him to the ground. Simon tells himself to be careful, that he has to pin Pandemonium’s arms so that he cannot use Tommy or Bill again, when suddenly, one of the children, now looking very demonic, leaps up, still attached to Master Pandemonium, and begins to put his stretched mouth over Wonder Man’s face.
Meanwhile, back on Earth, high above the Avengers West Compound in Palos Verde. The original Human Torch surveys the area, and assuredly decides that he cannot see any sign of the demon things, and suspects that they all vanished when Pandemonium left. The Human Torch drops to the ground, reverting to his handsome human form, he thinks that it was a mistake to let the Avengers go off to Pandemonium’s dimension without him, for although Pandemonium may be more powerful than any villain he has ever faced in his career… - suddenly, the Human Torch is startled, as a small orange and black cat streaks out in front of him before quickly going under some brush. The Human Torch thinks that it was unlike any cat he has ever seen before, before reminding himself that the Avengers said he would find the world changed a lot since the 1950’s, and decides he can ask Hank Pym what it was later on - if he ever sees Hank again that is.
The Torch enters the Avengers West Compound and asks Ann Raymond, the wife of his deceased crime-fighting partner Toro, if there is any change. Torch and Ann both look at the aged witch Agatha Harkness, and Ann replies that there is no change, that she just stands there staring off into the infinity. The Human Torch bets that the old woman Is doing more than that, and informs Ann that the Avengers say she is a powerful witch, and he believes them. Ann admits to the Human Torch that she doesn’t understand any of this, and asks who Master Pandemonium is and why he would kidnap the Scarlet Witch’s children.
(Shown with Flashback Images)The Human Torch informs Ann that according to Hank Pym, Pandemonium is really a movie executive named Martin Preston who was involved in a terrible auto accident that tore off his right arm. As Martin hung there in his car, suspended only by his seat-belt, the super-demon known as Mephisto appeared and offered to replace both of Preston’s arms with powerful demon limbs. Preston accepted, but the next morning, he found that there’d been a catch - his new arms looked human enough, but Mephisto had torn out his soul, leaving a mystic star-shaped scar. Becoming Master Pandemonium - pandemonium meaning “the place where demons live” - Preston set out to find the five pieces of his lost soul. He even found one not long ago, replacing one point of the star.
(Present)‘That’s incredible!’ exclaims Ann, before asking how it all connects with the Scarlet Witch’s children. Agatha suddenly speaks, announcing that she can answer that. The old woman explains to the newcomers that when Wanda married the Vision she desired no more than to create for herself a normal home, which to one of her upbringing, meant having children. Agatha points out that Wanda could not have done that with the Vision since he is not human but a very sophisticated machine, so Wanda used her power to alter probabilities to make it possible for the two of them to start a family.
Agatha explains that Wanda’s offspring were born of a combination of the magic she herself had taught the young mutant, and Wanda’s own mutant power, but lately, an imbalance has developed in that matrix, and whenever Wanda is not consciously thinking about her children, the creatures disappear. Ann asks Agatha what she means by “creatures”, so Agatha reveals that the children are not real, but manifestations of Wanda’s will - one small step beyond illusion, however, Agatha adds that there is still something more about them that she is not aware of.
Agatha remarks that Dr. Strange officiated at their birth, and even he, the world’s Sorcerer Supreme, detected no aberration in them. The Human Torch exclaims that it must make them real then, to which Agatha tells him that there are many kinds of reality, and Wanda’s power is so great - greater than even she suspects - but not so great that she can create life - that power is reserved unto but one force in this universe. The aged witch turns from the Human Torch and Ann Raymond, telling them to be still as she has other matters to attend to. The Human Torch asks Agatha of the Avengers - is she still keeping an eye on them? Agatha replies that she herself isn’t, and tells the Human Torch to fear not, as they are being watched - and if the Avengers need help, the three of them will know.
And in Master Pandemonium’s realm, Agatha’s cat, Ebony, skulks around, keeping to the sidelines of the important battle that rages on. Hank Pym finds himself being torn in two directions by his demonic foes, while the Wasp fights for her life in the jagged-toothed mouth of a very frightening creature. Only the legs of the USAgent can only be seen as the rest of his body is engulfed by some glob-like creature. Iron Man is held in stasis by some sort of energy demon, while Wanda is attacked from behind by an enormous brute - and Wonder Man still has his head trapped inside one of his nephews.
Suddenly, Pandemonium raises his “hands” and Wonder Man falls unconscious to the ground. Pandemonium laughs, ‘The mighty Avengers! How easily they fall before my untrammelled power!’ Pandemonium boasts that in this place he truly is lord and master, adding that nothing happens here unless he wills it to be. Master Pandemonium orders his demon servants to bring him the Scarlet Witch, assuring them that she cannot harm them if her arms are pinned, meaning she cannot summon her powers. Wanda is held in place before Pandemonium who remarks that the souls of her offspring will serve him well.
Pandemonium stretches out one of the children before Wanda as he exclaims that they shall see what happens when he infuses the twins with Wanda’s own soul. Before he can do so though, Hank Pym calls out to Pandemonium, telling him to stop, that there is something he hasn’t taken into consideration in this mad scheme of his. Pym reminds Pandemonium of how he said that Thomas and William are parts of his missing soul, and points out that they were born before he had his encounter with Mephisto.
‘Indeed, they were, Doctor Pym!’ Mephisto exclaims from his realm where he sits watching the saga of the Avengers West Coast unfold. The uber-demon exclaims that he is rightly called the Prince of Liars, and that nothing he told Martin Preston has even a shred of truth about it.
(Shown with Flashback Images)Mephisto recalls how some time ago he himself was destroyed by the mutant son of Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman of the accursed Fantastic Four. However, that moment of un-being was temporary, for so long as there is evil in the world, Mephisto shall always endure, thus he recombined over time. But it wasn’t long before Mephisto discovered that he was diminished, for the Richards brat had shattered his essence into six parts - and five were still scattered across the world. So though he was restored, it was at one sixth of his full potency. One sixth of infinity to be sure, but Mephisto did not want to waste that precious energy in a search for his missing elements, so he conceived the means by which he could transform a human - Martin Preston - into his unwitting gudgeon.
(Present)‘It was never his own soul for which he searched, rather I made his a receptacle for my own missing quintessence!’
Back in Master Pandemonium’s realm, Pandemonium declares that Pym is lying, for the children are truly part of his soul, therefore they must have been created after his encounter with Mephisto. Wanda exclaims that Hank is right, that Thomas and William were born long before Pandemonium first attacked them. Master Pandemonium exclaims that he sees it all now, that this is some kind of ruse, that the Avengers seek to delay the inevitable by confusing the issue. Suddenly, the Human Torch enters the dark realm, ‘Hold it, Pandemonium!’ he exclaims. Pandemonium is shocked at seeing a portal back to Earth, and asks who it is. The Human Torch replies that he has been called a few things in his day, ‘But I guess right now you can call me…the Soul Bringer!’ Holding two pieces of a soul in his hands, the Human Torch remarks that he believes they belong to Pandemonium.
Pandemonium creeps towards the Human Torch, ‘The last two fragments of my soul! Give them to me!’ he shouts, but the Human Torch pulls back, ‘Not so fast!’ he exclaims, telling Pandemonium that he wants something first. ‘I want your promise that the Avengers will be released unharmed!’ ‘Yes, yes! Anything! Just give me the fragments!’ Pandemonium cries urgently. USAgent cries out to the Human Torch, telling him that Pandemonium cannot be trusted, and as Pandemonium takes the two missing fragments of his soul, the Torch tells Agent not to worry, as he has got every angel covered.
‘Do you?’ Pandemonium asks as Billy and Thomas place the fragments into Pandemonium. ‘If you think that, then you are every bit the fool you seem!’ The diabolical villain exclaims that with his soul restored, he does not need to be bound by the promises he gave mere mortals, and tells the Human Torch that by turning the fragments over to him, he has just signed his own death warrant. Suddenly, Pandemonium looks at his torso, and is shocked to see that the center of the star is still missing. ‘feel…so…strange!’ he mutters, before his entire form is sucked into the hole in the center of the pentagram on his body, screaming ‘Nooooooo!’ as he goes.
The demons and Pandemonium’s entire lair all disappear too, as Wonder Man points out, while USAgent stands in awe at how Pandemonium collapsed into the space left by the missing piece. Pym asks the Human Torch if he knew that would happen, to which Torch replies that he didn’t, and explains it was Agatha Harkness who had another way of dealing with him if he turned nasty. Wanda asks where Thomas and William are, when suddenly, Mephisto appears before the Avengers West Coast, telling Wanda that that her children are in a place where they will be of no further concern to her. ‘They are restored to their proper place as a part of me!’
The Avengers all look at Mephisto, when Wonder Man asks what that is behind the demon. ‘Ebony!’ Wanda exclaims, before remarking that it must have been how Agatha was able to trace them and send the Torch after them. Suddenly though, the sleek black cat transforms into an enormous giant cat, and the Avengers watch in shock as Ebony begins attacking Mephisto. ‘Oh! I can’t look! His claws are slashing Mephisto to ribbons!’ Janet exclaims. Pym points out that Mephisto’s wounds are healing instantly, and the demon now has Ebony. ‘He’s pushed his hand down the cat’s throat!’ Iron Man points out, and Wonder Man cringes as Mephisto begins to turn Ebony inside out.
The Scarlet Witch declares that Ebony must be trying to save Thomas and William, but that Ebony isn’t nearly powerful enough. Suddenly, there is a voice in Wanda’s head - it is Agatha Harkness. Wanda asks Agatha if she cannot stop the battle before Ebony is killed, to which Agatha replies that her dark familiar is not so easily destroyed, pointing out that if he were, he would never have travelled to this place disguised as one of Pandemonium’s demons, nor agreed to stage this diversion should it become necessary. Wanda asks Agatha what she means by “diversion”, to which the old witch reveals that there is only one way to end this battle and return them all safely to Earth.
‘You must open your mind to me, Wanda…and your soul!’ with that, Ebony slashes away at Mephisto, and both Wanda and Mephisto scream out in unison. Suddenly, there is a blinding white light, Wonder Man calls out to Wanda, while Pym asks what happened, remarking that both Wanda and Mephisto cried out at the same time, and points out that Mephisto has now vanished.
The Avengers, including the still unconscious Vision, find themselves back in their Palos Verdes Compound, and the USAgent asks ‘how?’ Agatha, stroking Ebony who sits in her arms, reveals that it was her doing, that she brought them all here as soon as the last vestige of Mephisto’s power faded from that place. Wonder Man picks up an unmoving Wanda in his arms as a shocked Pym exclaims ‘Miss Harkness…? You defeated Mephisto? You have that kind of power?’ The old woman replies that she does not, but that Mephisto laid the ground work for his own undoing when he reabsorbed the portions of his essence which had become Thomas and William.
Agatha explains that as she knew the “children” were still bound by the spell Wanda used to create them, she was able to erase them from Wanda’s memory, and the resultant shock to Mephisto’s system was enough to disperse him again - for a little while at least. An angry Wonder Man asks Agatha what she meant by “erased” Tommy and Billy. The aged witch tells Simon to remain calm, as she will explain.
Agatha reminds the Avengers of how Wanda longed all her life for the kind of normal existence forever denied to her by her mutant powers, that she has so greatly desired a family - in her mind, the perfect symbol of a peaceful and happy life - that she suffered what in a human woman would have been a hysterical or imaginary pregnancy. Agatha explains that in such cases, there is usually no child to be born, but Wanda’s power to change probabilities created Thomas and William, twins to double the fulfilment of her dream. Since Wanda’s power cannot create true life, she reached out unconsciously to snare anything which would function as souls for the newborns - what she caught, still much weakened by their recent separation, was two of the missing pieces of Mephisto.
The Wasp flies over to Agatha and asks what will happen now. ‘I know Wanda! When she returns to consciousness, her first thought is almost sure to be of her children!’ Agatha looks at her motionless former student and tells the Wasp that it will not, for to spare Wanda that pain, she has closed that corner of her mind for all time. ‘The little creatures are gone, restored to their original state. For Wanda…it will be as if they never were’.
The USAgent declares that it is inhuman to make a mother forget her children like that. ‘If it happened to my mother, it would kill her!’ he adds. Agatha calmly replies that it was the course which afforded the least opportunity for continued harm, and tells the Avengers that they must trust her on this one. Agatha goes over to Wonder Man and exclaims that in the time she has known Wanda, she has become in her heart the daughter that she never had. Agatha claims that she would not have done what she did if there were any other way, before telling Wonder Man to take the Scarlet Witch to her quarters, to let her sleep, awaiting the restoration of the Vision. ‘She will need peace and quiet if she is to fully recover from this ordeal…’.
Elsewhere, the Atlantean warlord known as Ghaur tells the vamp Llyra that the time has come to seek out the Seven Brides of Set!


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The Plan Proceeds
‘The plan proceeds!’ declares Magneto to a dark-haired man in a blue suit. The man smiles and addressing Magneto as his lord, agrees, pointing out that all across America various super-villains act against heroes unfamiliar with their powers and abilities, so it will not be long until those champions are utterly obliterated! Magneto turns and exclaims ‘Fool!’ as he picks the man up by his jacket, asking him if he thinks Magneto cares for such paltry scheming. The man is surprised and is unsure how to answer.
Magneto remarks that when the man first approached him with the seed of his idea, he saw not so much a chance to crush the costumed cretins who call themselves “super heroes”, but a chance for the ultimate betterment of his own mutant kind – a chance to reclaim an allegiance that is his by right. Magneto begins to leave the room, telling his associate to continue with the portions of the plan that he allotted him, as he has other matters to attend to. ‘Yes, my lord, of course, my lord, your servant, my lord’ the other man replies.
But when Magneto is gone, the mysterious man lights a cigarette and thinks to himself that Magneto should cherish his imagined glories for the moments they are granted to him, as they will not last long! ‘Not longer, in fact, than the span of your own usefulness to the real mastermind of this plan!’
The mysterious man enters a large chamber, thinking that there are other matters with which he must attend to now, as the great plan is yet barely more than embryonic, so if it is to see full fruition, it must be property nurtured. The man takes his seat on a throne, deciding that the time has come to look in once again on those whose very existence is the inspiration for these machinations, and some energies appear before him, revealing to him what is transpiring at the Avengers West Coast Compound….
….’How is she, Doctor Pym?’ Iron Man asks Henry Pym as he stands near Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch. Also present in the Avengers Palos Verdes Compound are Simon “Wonder Man” Williams, Janet van Dyne a.k.a. the Wasp, and Wanda’s husband, the android Vision. Hank replies that Wanda is not good, for since she collapsed when they were flying back to California she has been almost totally unresponsive, and so far as he has been able to determine, Wanda is not even hearing them. Hank points out that psychology is not one of his fields of expertise, so he has unfortunately at a loss as to explain her present condition.
‘You’re kidding, Hank!’ Wonder Man exclaims, before beginning to remind his teammates of everything that has happened to Wanda over the past few weeks – first her husband the Vision was kidnapped and disassembled, with his mind and personality being erased, then they discovered that he was not the original Human Torch like they all believed, and finally Wanda’s children were taken by Master Pandemonium and turned out to be not real children at all, but manifestations of Wanda’s ability to warp reality mixed with the soul of Mephisto!
Wonder Man continues, reminding everyone of how on top of it all, Wanda gets kidnapped herself by the Deviant priest-king Ghaur, who brainwashed her into becoming one of the Seven Brides of Set! Hank agrees that Wanda’s life has been in turmoil lately but points out that she seemed to be bearing well under the strain quite well, but he still does not know what to do with her for now. ‘No? Well I do!’ exclaims Wonder Man, before turning to his “brother” the Vision and reminds everyone how the Vision’s personality was based on a tracing of his own brain patterns, and until now, Simon had, for reasons of his own, refused to let Hank recopy those patterns and use them to restore the Vision to normal.
‘Until now, Simon?’ the ghostly-Vision asks. Simon announces that he has accepted the fact that Wanda needs the Vision back the way he was, so he is prepared to let Hank copy his brain patterns into the Vision. ‘I see’ the Vision replies matter-of-factly. The Wasp flits over to Simon and asks him if he is sure, ‘You love Wanda!’ Jan reminds Simon, asking him if he really wants to surrender his chance with her and if he is sure that is the right thing to do. Simon replies that it is more right than the way he has been behaving, for whatever his personal feelings in the matter, the Vision is Wanda’s husband and he has no business standing in their way of happiness.
The Vision tells Wonder Man that it is not as simple as that, for he has considered his present situation most carefully and has come to the conclusion that the addition of Simon’s brain patterns to his own programming would not in fact restore him to the form he had when he and Wanda were married – at the most, he would be nothing more than a copy of that former version of his self. The Vision states that as a copy, he would be no more than a phonograph record is truly the singer.
Simon asks the Vision what it is he is saying – ‘That you don’t want my brain patterns?’ The Vision thanks Simon, and announces that he does not, and declares that for the foreseeable future he believes it would be better if he returned to their East Coast headquarters. ‘WHAT??’ exclaims everyone in unison.
Meanwhile, in the Sixteenth Century, at the Tower of London. ‘So, cousin, we reach at last the time for final partings!’ Queen Elizabeth exclaims as she enters a chamber where her cousin Mary Queen of Scots sits. ‘And a long time it has been in coming’ Mary replies, asking Elizabeth if she would like to sit for a while, as she has sent for some wine. Queen Elizabeth tells Mary that this does not seem the proper time or place for such congeniality.
Elizabeth declares that an age of the world is coming to an end this morning under the headsman’s blade, so she doesn’t want it said that they spent the day drinking. Mary remarks that her cousin was ever too stern, too unbending – but if it were otherwise, so might be their situations. ‘Is that not so, my Lord Immortus?’ Mary asks, turning slightly to the man standing behind her. ‘I have said as much, your highness’ Lord Immortus replies.
‘Indeed you have, indeed you have’ Elizabeth remarks, before declaring that they think it now might have been a better thing if they sent Lord Immortus to the black when they had the chance. ‘Perhaps my lady’ Immortus replies, before remarking that it is a course not even he can chart. A man garbed in red tells Queen Elizabeth that it is time, to which Elizabeth addresses him as Cardinal and asks if he is in such a rush to see the end of the line of Tudor. Elizabeth tells him that the years have plodded to this day, so he should let the seconds tick by just as slowly.
Elizabeth turns to two women, and addressing them as Mistress Belle and Mistress Lettice, she asks them to attend. ‘Oh, majesty! I never thought I’d see it come to this!’ one of the women exclaims, sobbing. ‘And yet…somehow we always knew it would!’ Elizabeth exclaims, pointing out that the gown she is wearing she also wore when the men of Stuart came to fetch her here. ‘We kept it against this day, that all of England might see how the daughter of King Henry dies’.
‘You face your fate unafraid. You do your father proud, my lady’ Lord Immortus remarks to the Queen. Elizabeth tells Lord Immortus that fear is not a thing for Princes and asks him if he has come to see her royal head struck off. Lord Immortus replies that he hasn’t, as he has urgent business to attend elsewhere. Queen Elizabeth remarks that Lord Immortus always was a puzzlement to her, coming and going like a thief in the night. She remarks that she remembers him from her days as a girl in her father’s court and that he hasn’t aged a day since her father died. ‘Witchery?’ Queen Elizabeth asks.
‘Science’ Lord Immortus replies as Elizabeth takes her leave. ‘Something the world will better understand when all that happens here today is long forgotten’ Lord Immortus adds. Queen Elizabeth tells lord Immortus that, as usual, he speaks in riddles, and bids him farewell and suggests he keep his head about him now that her cousin Mary of Scotland is Queen.
‘And so the reign of Elizabeth Tudor ends, and the Stuart line is rightfully installed upon the throne of England!’ Mary exclaims, ‘And I, who have been Mary Queen of Scots, shall now rule the world!’ Mary asks Lord Immortus what he says to that, to which Lord Immortus replies that he wishes Mary no ill will, before declaring that this is now a world – a universe – that is of no more interest to him. Suddenly, everything around Immortus begins to fade away, ‘Lord Immortus!’ Mary exclaims, frightened.
‘Another divergence pinpointed…’ Immortus remarks as he enters the present – or the future – wherever his Limbo is. His “Lord Immortus” guise fades away and he is clad in his green and purple garb remarking that another errant branching of Time’s great tree has been snipped off, brining him one small step closer to becoming the true Master of Time.
Immortus remarks that there is still much to be done, much time to be consumed and it is not a thing to be accomplished quickly – not even by one who strides across the ages as another man might walk between rooms. Immortus turns to a viewing portal and exclaims that ever his countless schemes unfold themselves across the myriad of realities, soon to come together in the frail form of one mortal girl…the Scarlet Witch!
Back in the Avengers West Coast Palos Verdes Compound, Hank asks the Vision how he can be serious. ‘How can I be otherwise, Dr. Pym?’ the Vision replies, remarking that he has considered the balance of super powers between the East and West Coast teams and has come to the conclusion that he would be of greater use in New York. ‘Balance of powers?’ mutters Simon, before pointing out that Wanda needs the Vision. ‘Look at her! In this condition, she’s so helpless!’ he exclaims, motioning to Wanda’s still body on the sofa. ‘So vulnerable!’ Simon adds.
‘So easy to kill!’ exclaims a green-clad woman with brown hair as she materializes in the room. Hank turns to the woman and asks where she came from, before pointing out that she is engulfing Wanda in something. ‘Cyanide gas, Doctor Pym!’ the newcomer replies. She is about to say something else, when Simon flies through the gas, grabbing Wanda as he tells her not to breathe the gas in. Iron Man points out that as long as their gaseous guest remains in her insubstantial form it is easy enough for him to draw her into one of his armor’s built in holding tanks. ‘NOOO!’ screams the woman as Iron Man traps her.
Iron Man has succeeded, and points out that at maximum compression, it should be enough to hold her, but he soon finds that she has altered her form, and his sensors indicate that she has become a mono-molecular mist! Iron Man’s suit’s seals cannot restrain her, and she begins to leak into all of his systems. With his internal monitors going nuts and her infiltrating everything, Iron Man is left with no option other than to blow her out of his armor – and as he does, two large hands burst through the floor and grab him, pulling him down through the floor.
Hank calls out to his teammate, before peering down into the hole and seeing that Iron Man is battling someone down there, he wonders who it is. ‘Guess that answers that question!’ he exclaims as the second mysterious foe is hurled up through the floor and right out of the Compound…
…past the original Human Torch and Ann Raymond, who are out on the patio talking. The Human Torch asks Ann Raymond to tell him again about how Toro died. ‘Well, like I said before, according to what the Sub-Mariner told me –‘ Ann begins, until she sees the metallic figure hurled out of the Compound, and points him out to the Torch. ‘Flame on!’ exclaims the Human Torch as he tells Ann to stay back while he checks this out.
The Human Torch follows the mysterious being and realizes that he is not flying, but it looks more like he was fired out of a canon or something, and wonders if he needs rescuing. Suddenly, ‘Ironclad can take care of himself, flame-brain! You’re the one who’s gonna need help!’ exclaims a bright pink man as he flies over to the Human Torch. The Torch is confused, and exclaims that his eyes hurt to look at this shimmering man. ‘I’m gonna hurt a lot more than that!’ boasts the pink man as he blasts the Human Torch.
The Human Torch falls backwards thanks to the barrage of hard radiation, which he knows cannot harm his body, but it nevertheless hurts. The Torch steadies his self and flies back up towards his foe, remarking that now he knows what he is made of, and that he can dish it out pretty well, it’s time to see how well he takes it. The shimmering man screams as the Torch hurls some flames at him, but is able to return the “favor” with another blast of radiation.
Down below, Ann Raymond watches the men fighting. ‘They’re going at it like wildcats!’ she exclaims, while wondering who the glowing man is and where the rest of the Avengers might be. Ann wonders if the armored figure could have attacked the Avengers while she and the Human Torch were talking, but as she rushes back inside, Wonder Man bursts through the window carrying Wanda, Hank and the Wasp, and shattering glass everywhere.
While Hank and the Wasp gather themselves, Wonder Man sees Ann and tells her to keep back, explaining that Vapor is attacking again, and the Vision and Iron Man are inside trying to contain her, but he had to get the others clear. ‘”Vapor”?’ Ann asks. The Wasp flies over and informs her that Vapor is one of the U-Foes, a group who fought the East Coast branch of Avengers some time ago, but they didn’t recognize Vapor until her metal teammate got in on the attack. The Wasp suggests to Ann that she get well away from the building, for with Vapor’s ability to change into any sort of gas, there is no telling what might happen – and suddenly, there is a mighty boom, and that part of the Compound explodes.
Meanwhile, nearby, a group of civilians gather around a hole in the road. ‘What was that?’ one of them asks. ‘Dunno…looked like something the size of a Buick!’ another exclaims. ‘No, it was a man! A metal man!’ another points out. ‘Iron Man, maybe?’ someone suggests. Suddenly, the ground rises, and Ironclad pulls himself up from the ground, causing the civilians to topple over as he gets up, muttering that he is miles from the Avengers Compound.
Ironclad assumes that Iron Man used his repulsor rays to throw him this far, before realizing that it will take him hours to get back to the Compound on foot, and he is too big to drive in even the largest normal vehicles – lifting up a bus and tossing it across the street, Ironclad decides that if he cannot get back to the battle, then he will bring the battle to him! Civilians scream and run in terror from their attacker. ‘There’s nowhere you can hide from the fury of Ironclad!’ the deranged U-Foe bellows.
Up in the air, the Human Torch dodges more of his opponents blasts, before seeing the smoke rising from the area that he believes the metal man would have landed. The Torch blasts back at his foe and remarks that the battle is starting to range wide, yet he doesn’t see any of the Avengers responding, so he assumes something must be keeping them occupied. Flying back towards the mansion, the Human Torch sees that it is ablaze, but he knows he first must deal with the ‘X-ray guy’ before he can attend to the Compound.
Suddenly, X-Ray grabs the Torch, ‘You’re not going to find that so easy to do hot-shot – you’re not going to kill me like you did Vector!’ but the Human Torch is just confused, ‘Kill…? Who…?’
Back at the Compound, Hank tends to Wanda while Iron Man and the Vision try to fight the fire. Soon though, Iron Man announces that it is no good as he has exhausted all of his fire-fighting capabilities and there is no way they can douse the blaze so long as Vapor remains inside, feeding the flames. Hank tells Iron Man that he did his best, no on could ask for more, before remarking that their only hope now lies in Wanda.
‘Wanda? But you said she was completely unresponsive!’ Simon reminds Hank. Hank replies that she unresponsive to normal stimuli and he didn’t want to subject her to anything like shock therapy, but there is a slim chance this crisis situation might trigger instinctive responses in Wanda. Hank turns back to Wanda and asks her if she can hear him. ‘You’ve got to help us. The rest of the Avengers are in trouble! The Vision is in danger!’ Hank exclaims. A groggy Wanda whispers ‘…Vision…’ and gets to her feet, a determined look spreading across her face.
The Wasp cries out that it is working, and Wanda asks where the Vision is. ‘I am here, Wanda, are you all right?’ he asks, shifting his appearance momentarily into his original green and yellow clad form. Wanda continues to see him in that form and exclaims ‘Oh, Vision! You’re recovered! You’re back to your real self!’ Simon frowns and the Vision begins to explain what is going on, but Wanda interrupts, exclaiming that they best save the reunion for later as she has to do something about saving what is left of the Compound.
The Scarlet Witch points, and even those present who have grown to know and accept her power feel the sudden stillness. Wanda Maximoff is a woman – mortal, fallible, only the strange quirk of a few misaligned genes to distinguish her from any other creature on Earth’s biosphere. Except…Wanda points…and the universe reshapes itself to her will!
The random paths of atoms are altered, turned, the odds against a spontaneous flux field forming at the edge of the conflagration are millions to one against. Ask that such a field draw from the flames only those atoms which support combustion and the odds against it become to great to calculate. However, this is not Wanda’s conscious intent – it is precisely the manifestation of Wanda’s power. Much to the astonishment of the woman called Vapor, who suddenly finds herself human again.
However – the surprises do not end there! ‘A temporary effect at best, Vapor – as you should know only to well by now!’ a yellow and orange clad man exclaims as he flies towards Vapor, who is surprised and declares ‘Vector! But you’re dead!’ ‘Far from it, as you can see!’ Vector replies as he blasts the Avengers, reminding his teammate that she is vulnerable in her human form so she needs to get clear while he keeps the Avengers back.
(Shown with flashback images)‘But the monitor camera’s at our base…’ Vapor exclaims, before reminding Vector that after they broke out of the Vault he said it would be better if they split up and rendezvoused later at one of their hidden bases. Vapor informs Vector that when she, X-Ray and Ironclad met up, they found their base had been virtually levelled, but fortunately one of the automatic monitors was still functioning so they were able to ascertain what happened – and what they saw on the monitors was Vector being blown to atoms by the attacking Avengers!
(Present)Vector continues to blast at the Avengers West, telling Vapor that he also saw that when he finally arrived at their pre-arranged meeting place, explaining that he was delayed en route just long enough for his three teammates to decide to seek vengeance on the West Coast branch of the Avengers, this he also saw on the monitor. Vector boasts that without him to formulate a proper plan of attack however, his teammates were certain to wind up being shipped back to the Vault.
‘Don’t be so sure of that!’ X-Ray declares as he flies down towards the scene, holding the Human Torch, X-Ray boasts that he has captured Johnny Storm without any of their help. ‘But…that isn’t the Human Torch!’ Vapor exclaims. X-Ray sets the Human Torch on the ground and remarks that he does a pretty good impression of Johnny Storm, adding ‘And thanks to my radiation he’s doing an even better impression of a corpse!’ Vector remarks to his teammate ‘I doubt that, you may have rendered him unconscious – but this being should be impervious to your powers!’
Vapor addresses Vector as Simon and asks him what he is talking about. Vector tells Vapor that unlike herself, her brother X-Ray and their missing teammate Ironclad, he did a little research before he came after them, in which he learned that this is the original Human Torch – the android crime fighter of the 1940’s and 1950’s – and of whom the youngest member of the Fantastic Four, Johnny Storm, took his code name. Vector informs his teammates that the original Human Torch was recently restored to full activity, and according to the news reports they were denied from seeing during their incarceration, the original Human Torch has joined the Avengers.
‘Speaking of whom, we’d better get back to killing them or…what a minute! If you’re not dead…’ begins X-Ray. ‘Then we were set up! Somebody was using as pawns! Cannon fodder!’ Vapor exclaims angrily. The three U-Foes quickly take flight, with Vector remarking that, until they know who, he doesn’t think they will continue to play along, and suggests they locate Ironclad. Vector adds that there is bound to come a day when they find themselves ready to engage the Avengers once more, but when they do, it will be on their own terms and for their own reasons.
The Wasp points out that Vector just stopped his barrage and now the U-Foes are flying away. Iron Man declares that they had better go after them – but Hank suggests they don’t. His lover the Wasp asks him why they shouldn’t go after their foes, but Hank explains that what he means is that they should, but not all of them. Hank explains that he took the lull provided by the U-Foes retreat to try and make contact with the East Coast branch of Avengers for further data on the U-Foes.
The Vision asks Hank what he means by “try” to which Hank reveals that he could not get anyone at Avengers Island, even their communication systems seems to be out. Hank announces that Wonder Man, Iron Man and the Vision have the best chance to find the Human Torch and deal with the U-Foes, while he, Wanda and Janet head back East. But Wanda doesn’t like that idea, and tells Hank that she goes where the Vision goes.
Hank tells Wanda that they may need her power if some menace has attacked the Island. The Vision tells Hank that there is no need for debate, and points out that since it his stated intent to return to New York, he and Wanda will accompany Hank and the Wasp while Wonder Man, Iron Man and the Torch when they find him, pursue the U-Foes.
A few minutes later, in one of the Qunijets, Hank is piloting and the Wasp sits beside him, quietly remarking that he doesn’t seem happy with this arrangement. Hank replies that it isn’t that, for if they find the Torch, Simon and Iron Man will be more than able to deal with the U-Foes. Hank explains that he just has a bad feeling, a premonition, but Avengers East headquarters going silent the moment they were attacked makes him wonder if there is something more going on than one of the usual bad guys up to no good…something much more!


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[Assistant]
The Troubled Earth
‘Now! Now! Attack! ATTACK!’ screeches the grotesque villain known as the Mole Man.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, California, down a busy center city street. ‘Hey…did you feel something?’ a woman asks. ‘The ground…the trembling…’ another passer by exclaims. A man declares that it is an earthquake and urges everyone to run. Suddenly, a woman begins pointing furiously and exclaims that it isn’t an earthquake, but something much worse – an enormous monster suddenly bursts up from the ground, collapsing the road and sending cars flying.
At that moment, the super hero Wonder Man, otherwise known as actor Simon Williams flies above the streets of California thinking that there is no sign of the U-Foes. ‘I don’t get it – those creeps are about as inconspicuous as – well, the Fantastic Four! But now it’s as if they’ve just dropped off the face of the planet!’
Suddenly, Simon sees the strange goings-on downtown. ‘Holy cow! Where did that thing come from? It’s as big as an office block!’ Simon exclaims, noting that it is very much alive, before wondering if Iron Man has seen it. Seeing his teammate from the Avengers West Coast fly past, Simon remarks ‘Guess so’, while the armored Iron Man thinks to himself that searching for the U-Foes is going to have to wait, for that monster is a clear and present danger!
Soaring towards the unknown monster, Iron Man decides that he doesn’t want to start blasting at it with his repulsor rays, for if he knocked it over, he would be in danger of adding to the damage it has already done. But Iron Man knows that the micro-servo motors in his armor give him about eighty-five tons of lift, so positioning himself carefully as he calculates the beasts’ center of gravity, Iron Man manages to fly underneath it and lift it high into the air, where he begins to carry it clear of the city.
As he carries the massive monster, Iron Man thinks that he is still left with the question of where to put the creature, as he has to get it well away from inhabited areas, but he doesn’t want to just dump it in the sea – at least not until he has had a chance to run a records check and find out if anything is known about this monster. Iron Man’s sensors indicate a small flying object approaching him, and seeing that it isn’t Wonder Man, he thinks it might be one of the U-Foes – instead it is his arrogant teammate, USAgent, flying on an air-cycle.
Iron Man is surprised to see his teammate, and remarks to John “USAgent” Walker that he has been conspicuous by his absence for a while. The handsome USAgent replies that it hasn’t been without good reason, before asking what that thing he is carrying is, as it has wrecked half of L.A. ‘Not quite’ Iron Man replies, before admitting that it has proven to be something of a problem. Iron Man informs Agent that, so far, his internal computers have turned up nothing on the creature’s nature or origins.
Walker asks Iron Man why he doesn’t just kill the thing, pointing out that he must have enough power in that tin suit of his to do it. Iron Man asks if that isn’t a trifle rash, before remarking that they have both read enough science fiction to know that this might be a confused alien, perhaps even an extraterrestrial child. Iron Man decides that if that is the case, to deposit the creature in the shallow water just of shore, which he does, and it lands with a massive splash. Iron Man then uses his repulsors to create a breakwater that will keep the monster’s splashing from flooding the beach. When he finishes, Iron Man asks USAgent if he has seen any sign of Wonder Man.
Wonder Man is at the site of the creature’s arrival and remarks that it doesn’t take a thinking machine to guess that the creature came from the hole, and peering down into the massive hole Simon decides that it must go down and back for a couple of miles, so he supposes his best bet is to back track the creature to its point of origin. ‘Want some company, Wonder Man?’ asks a voice. Simon turns to see the original Human Torch hovering above him.
Simon asks his teammate if he feels up to it, pointing out that he suffered rather badly at the hands of the U-Foes. Human Torch explains that although it is true X-Ray bombarded him with radiation, it had only a temporary effect on his artificial body, so he is fine now. As both men fly down into the hole, Simon declares that this is great, as he was wondering how he was going to find his way around, remarking that it is getting darker the further away the get from the street.
The Human Torch’s body lights up a lot of the tunnel, and Simon thinks to himself that this is amazing, as he had gotten used to working alongside the Vision, thinking of him as human even though he was so cold and robotic, but the Human Torch is another matter, so lifelike in every respect, it is hard to believe he was put together in somebody’s lab – and fifty years ago at that!
The passage opens up and levels out so Simon and the Torch are able to walk, and the Torch asks Simon how deep he thinks they are. Wonder Man replies that they have come forward about a mile, before seeing some movement up ahead and exclaims that they are not alone down here. ‘Flaming fireballs! Monsters!’ exclaims the Torch as he and Wonder Man become under attack from several horrid creatures.
The Torch asks what they are, as he has never seen anything like them. As Simon smashes one of the creatures, he remarks that they look like baby brothers to the big one that Iron Man took care of, before wondering where they came from and why they are all of a sudden attacking. ‘Why?’ comes a strange voice. ‘Because it is my will that they do so! The will of the Mole Man!’
At that moment, some miles to the East, an Avengers Quinjet streaks above the Rocky Mountains, guided by its infalliable autopilot. In the back of the advanced plane, Janet van Dyne a.k.a. the winsome Wasp asks her former husband / current lover Doctor Hank Pym how the Scarlet Witch is doing. ‘Not too well, Jan’ the good scientist replies as he examines their friend and teammate, pointing out that Wanda Maximoff is completely unresponsive again – as if her brain has simply been switched off.
The Wasp asks the former Giant Man if he cannot bring Wanda out of it as he did once before. Hank remembers how he did it, by telling Wanda that the Vision was in danger – but now the Vision has decided to remain in New York with the East Coast branch of the Avengers, before pointing out that he doesn’t think that kind of “shock therapy” should be repeated anyway. Jan begins to ask what they can do for her friend, as they cannot just leave Wanda that way before seeing something out the window – an enormous three-headed flying monster.
Hank exclaims that the automatic avoidance system in the Quinjet is keeping them clear while the Wasp wonders where the creature came from – suddenly the creature shoves one of its massive clawed feet into the Quinjet which doesn’t have time to diverge from it, and shattered into several pieces, the jet begins to fall. Hank uses his Pym Particles to shrink Wanda down to wasp size and asks Jan to fly her clear – but Jan tells him that she is not leaving without him as she doesn’t want to lose him again. Hank tells Jan to be reasonable as there is no point in all of them getting killed, but before he even has time to reduce Wanda in size, the Quinjet is forced to the ground, landing everyone safely.
Hopping out of the Quinjet, the Wasp asks Hank what he did. Carrying Wanda as he keeps an eye on the three-headed monster, Hank replies that it wasn’t him, that some sort of magnetic field grabbed them and pulled them down in one piece. Hank adds that it is probably something to do with their “little” playmate up in the air and announces that the creature is coming towards them again. Hank hands Wanda over to Jan and tells her to take cover, as there is one last chance he has against this creature. ‘Hank! What are you going to do?’ asks Jan, but Hank tells her not to ask questions, ‘And for God’s sake don’t distract me!’ he mutters, adding that his timing has to be just perfect – and as the massive creature flies down for the kill Hank unleashes a barrage of Pym Particles upon it, reducing it dramatically in size.
The small creature flies around in front of the Wasp who exclaims that Hank shrunk it down to the size of a sparrow and tells him it was wonderful. Hank tells Jan to put him up for sainthood later, and informs her that there is a rangers station nearby so she should fly over and alert them to their situation while he looks after Wanda. Jan transforms to wasp size and as she begins to fly away asks Hank if he is sure he will be all right alone. ‘If another monster comes along…’ she begins, to which Hank assures her that he has a small arsenal shrunk down in the pockets of his jumpsuit.
With the Wasp gone, a man garbed in red and purple hiding behind a tree thinks to himself ‘Yes…fly away now Janet van Dyne, bring transportation. Your former husband will be safe in my care for now…as will my daughter!’ It is Magneto, who thinks soon enough the Avengers will learn the true objective behind the events they have seen unfold before them this day, but it does not suit him yet that they learn he is the true architect of these grand plans.
‘And so you think, mutant’ a well dressed man remarks to himself as he watches Magneto via some kind of viewing portal. ‘For it is part of my scheme that you be so deceived’ the man adds, wondering how else to bend to his purpose the six greatest egos on Earth other than by causing each to believe that they alone are the mastermind behind the intrigue, and all others, including himself, but slaves to his wishes. The man adds that it is even amusing to play out, for a while, the role of lackey, before turning his attention back to the Avengers.
‘Okay, Mole…explain yourself!’ Wonder Man orders his opponent after he defeats his monsters. Wonder Man points out that normally the Mole Man restricts himself to bugging the Fantastic Four, and asks him why he has come to L.A. ‘Why? You dare ask such a thing? You who led the assault on Monster Island?’ Mole Man exclaims.
(Shown with flashback images)Mole Man reveals that he had once again returned to his former home, seeking peace in this troubled world, but some so-called super heroes were not about to let him find the tranquillity he craved and attacked him. Miraculously though, he survived their assault, and it was then that he decided to strike back with the mightiest creatures of his subterranean realm – Giganto the largest creature to ever walk the land, and the flying Tricepalous, dispatched to attack the Avengers in the East.
(Present)The Human Torch tells the Mole Man that this is all some kind of mistake, for theAvengers have not attacked him. ‘I swear it!’ Mole Man is taken aback by the Torch speaking, ‘Your voice…you do not sound like Johnny Storm…what pitiful trick is this? Whatever it is…it shall not work!’
Back outside, Iron Man flies around Giganto who is on the move again. USAgent joins Iron Man in the air on his air-cycle, telling Iron Man to do something as Giganto is heading toward the beach. ‘I can see that, Agent’ Iron Man mutters, before declaring that his original position holds, he wants to know what this thing is before they do anything drastic, and advises John to do the same. ‘Would you now?’ Agent mumbles in reply, before telling Iron Man that he can sit around ruminating all day, ‘I’ve been trained to act’ Walker points out, before declaring’ And act I shall!’
John Walker positions himself at the monster’s eye-level, then fires his sky-cycle’s rockets at full blast, causing the monster to stop in its tracks. However the use of the rockets pushes John far away from the beast, but he is well skilled in the use of his air-cycle so he is able to fly back quickly to see if his plan had the desired effect. John ascertains that it has. All John does now is cut in the afterburner and the flare from the engine makes the creature cower back. ‘He’s too stupid to realize I didn’t really hurt him!’ John exclaims – until suddenly Giganto’s large hand moves quickly and swats USAgent.
John begins to fall to the water, as does his sky-cycle, ‘Didn’t even see it start to move!’ Agent exclaims. Agent begins to say something else when Iron Man swoops down, ‘I’ll make you a deal, Agent – if you don’t say “how can anything so big be so fast”… I won’t say “I told you so”!’. Iron Man grabs USAgent before he hits the beach and flies back into the air, suggesting that they find a reasonable way to sort out this mess.
At that moment, ‘All right! Enough is too much!’ exclaims Wonder Man as he shoves two monsters aside, his costume tattered after all the fighting. Wonder Man approaches Mole Man and exclaims that there is only one way to convince him that the Avengers had nothing to do with the attack on Monster Isle. Mole Man tells Wonder Man to keep back, ‘I warn you! My staff…’ begins Mole Man, until Simon interrupts, declaring that he knows Mole Man’s staff is full of all kinds of electronic contraptions and enough power to fry a small herd of elephants.
Simon informs Mole Man that he isn’t going to do anything to stop Mole Man from using his staff on him, when the Human Torch cries out ‘Wonder Man, no! He’ll kill you!’ ‘Maybe’ Simon replies, ‘But that’s a gamble I’m willing to take!’ The handsome Wonder Man stands defiantly before the Mole Man and exclaims ‘Well, Mole? I’m not going to do anything to defend myself. Does that prove we mean you no harm?’ ‘NO!’ shouts Mole Man as he unleashes a powerful blast upon Simon, who is knocked backwards across the cavern.The Human Torch flies over to his teammate, but Simon declares that he is okay, as he doesn’t think Mole Man used the full power of his staff. Simon tells the Torch to keep back, as this is the only hand they have and he is going to keep playing it until Mole Man believes him. Mole Man keeps casting his staff at Simon, knocking him back over and over again.
‘Believe you, Wonder Man?’ Mole Man eventually asks, ‘Why should I believe you? Why should I doubt the evidence of my senses and believe it was not the Avengers who attacked me?’ ‘Because we had no reason, Mole!’ Simon replies, ‘No more than we had reason to attack the U-Foes – but somebody managed to fool them into thinking we had – just as somebody has obviously fooled you!’ Simon tells Mole Man to think about it, ‘Would I really stand here and take this punishment if I wasn’t speaking the truth?’. ‘Perhaps…perhaps not’ Mole Man replies, before deciding that if there is at least a chance that what Wonder Man says is true, then he should withdraw to consider it. ‘The Mole Man is no one’s dupe!’ Mole Man blows into a small whistle….
…And at that very moment Iron Man and USAgent watch as Giganto heads back out to sea. Iron Man informs Walker that the hyper-sensitive monitors in his helmet are picking up a sonic signal of some kind, on a frequency too high for human ears to detect, as if somebody is calling their “friend” home. USAgent points out that the creature is submerging itself in the water, so Iron Man remarks that it looks like he shouldn’t have worried about the monster drowning, as it seems quite comfortable in deep water.
Iron Man decides to go after the monster, so he suddenly drops USAgent into the water, telling his teammate that he can swim back to shore and joking that the surf is in his favor. ‘HEY!’ shouts Walker as he lands in the ocean. Iron Man activates the seals in his suit before diving into the water, realizing that their strange visitor is as quick under water as it is on land, for it has already disappeared, although noticing the gaping hole in the seabed, Iron Man remarks that it is easy enough to see where the monster went.
One hour later, Doctor Pym, Iron Man, Wonder Man, USAgent, Human Torch and the Wasp have gathered in their meeting room and are watching a news reporter who announces that, in Washington, the House Committee on super hero activities continues to debate the instrumentation of the Super Powers Registration Act. Hank tells his teammates that there is pretty much no doubt now that these incidents are related, adding that he doesn’t think he would be too paranoid to say that they are up against a consolidated effort on the part of the bad guys.
Turning to another monitor, Hank asks Captain America what he thinks. With the Vision and Quasar at his side, Captain America replies that he concurs, and adds his own observation – the attacks on people like Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and others in the super hero community seem more random and less organized. Quasar remarks that Captain America is right, informing the Avengers West that other super heroes are being put through the ringer too, but it almost seems like a smoke screen.
The handsome Quasar points out that the major loss has been on the Avengers side, with Avengers Island being destroyed, and now the Palos Verdes Compound being badly damaged. Hank agrees with Quasar, remarking that they are left with one unavoidable conclusion: ‘Someone is out to destroy the Avengers!’