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Ultron Unbound!
‘Handsome looking cuss, ain’t he?’ a security officer named Larson at the Vault remarks about the deadly villain Ultron who is held prisoner, encased in solid adamantium. Larson’s colleague, Teller, replies that actually, compared to some of the scum they have to guard here in the Vault, looking at a silent Sam like Ultron-13 is almost a pleasure. ‘Easy for you to say, Teller’ Larson replies, remarking that it wasn’t Teller’s wife who got trampled when Ultron took over the mechanized floats at the Rose Parade. ‘Come over to the house sometime. Maybe she’ll let you try out her wheelchair’ Larson snaps angrily.
Teller apologizes, admitting that he forgot. ‘You can afford to – I can’t’ Larson replies, before taking over the shift, he wishes Teller a nice weekend, ‘And don’t forget to lock me in!’ he reminds Teller, who replies ‘Not likely’ and remarks that at least they don’t have them wear that clunky Guardsman armor when they are on duty, as it takes forever to climb out of. As he walks out of the room, Teller adds that, at least it is verboten to bring anything mechanical or electronic near Ultron, or even the solid adamantium casing he is imprisoned in.
‘Right…’ Larson mutters as he pulls a hand-held electronic game out of a box, and the doors slam closed behind Teller. ‘So, you ugly hunk of slag – as per usual, it’s just you and me – and the video game I picked up the other week’ Larson remarks, before muttering that it is funny, as he never really liked these things, but has got hooked on this one. He remarks that it is lucky Ultron can’t talk – or perhaps won’t – so he cannot blow the whistle on him, for if the boss knew he had smuggled this fame in here every night, he would be on unemployment so fast.
Larson exclaims that he wants to break the 500,000 score this time, and soon declares that he is really on a roll, as he has reached the highest score he has ever obtained. Suddenly though, the video game screen goes funny. ‘Now what’s wrong?’ he mutters, annoyed at the possibility of having broke his game, only for a headshot of Ultron to appear on the screen. Larson is clearly confused, when suddenly Ultron finally speaks, and announces that he has been subliminally controlling the video game, and through it, Larson, for the past month.
Larson is shocked that Ultron is talking. ‘That’s impossible!’ he exclaims. ‘You haven’t said a word since they threw you into the vault!’ Ultron replies that, like most of Larson’s overrated species, he confuses the ability to speak with the desire, or even need to do so. Ultron remarks that there are many ways of communicating besides human-like speech. ‘Look, for instance, at that toy for children you hold in your frail, fleshy hand’ Ultron suggests. ‘Oh my God…’ Larson whispers, as the screen now says, in red writing, Death to Humans.
Larson tosses it to the ground, exclaiming that Ultron must have hypnotized him into brining that game in here and declares that he is having no more part of it, when suddenly, he sees that the game has broken open, and there are some things coming out of it. ‘They look like gnats – only they’re made of metal!’ Larson exclaims, horrified as thousands of tiny metal creatures leap into the air. Larson decides that it is a good thing he smuggled a gun into the room too, and begins blasting the general vicinity of the strange creatures, but wonders how he can shot so many of them, especially as they are so tiny.
Larson then calls out to Ultron, asking him to get them away from him, to which Ultron replies that he thinks of them as his “robo-ticks” but as they begin to swarm all over Larson, who screams as they rip his flesh off, Ultron jokes that perhaps he should call them his “bytes”. The tiny creatures take flight again, leaving Larson’s mutilated body on the floor as they swarm Ultron’s adamantium casing. ‘That’s it my carnally inclined computer-chips! Those dull-witted meat-and-boners thought they had negated my cranial encephalo-beam but they knew far less about it than my physical prowess!’ Ultron exclaims, while telling his “bytes” to swarm about the casing, which, made of adamantium, is comprised of the same indestructible metal as himself.
The “bytes” do their work in a manner of seconds, before being absorbed into Ultron’s body. Free from his casing, Ultron steps over Larson’s mutilated body and exclaims that it will be simple to open the door of this Vault cell. However, the opening of the door triggers an alarm, and outside in the corridor, several security officers and Guardsmen rush towards the cell, ‘The robot’s loose!’ one of the Guardsman exclaims, while another proclaims ‘You’re not going anywhere, Ultron-13!’. One of the officers points out that Ultron looks different from before, to which Ultron replies that he is different from before, and explains that his electro-magnetic powers have been greatly augmented, enabling him to cause instantaneous explosions within the Guardsman armor, and within the officer’s weapons and communications devices.
Ultron does as he explains, remarking that the resulting detonations should prove more than adequate to end their ephemeral lives a few decades short of their natural span. ‘Even so, I freely admit to a personal preference for the hands-on approach!’ Ultron declares as he grabs a screaming security officer and plunges his fist into their chest. Ultron then causes a massive explosion, creating an opening for him to escape from. He stands over the dead bodies of the Vault security staff and remarks that since his “robo-ticks”, the adamantium casing and he are now combined into one, by virtue of his internal molecular rearranger, the human race can dispense with numbering and simply call him the Ultimate Ultron – ‘At least for the short time that mankind continues to exist!’.
Meanwhile, at the Avengers West Compound in Palos Verdes, where some dawns come up more like thunder than others…. ‘You red-white-and-black jerk! Don’t you ever pull a stunt like that again! Never – you hear me!’ Clint “Hawkeye” Barton tells Johnny “USAgent” Walker angrily from inside the living room, unaware that outside the door, their staff – Consuela, Carlos and Roberto – as well as Rachel Carpenter – are trying to listen in on the excitement. Rachel asks her nanny what it is they are talking about, but Consuela quickly shushes her, as she has her ears pressed up against the door trying to listen in, ‘How come they make these doors so thick?’ she asks.
USAgent calls Hawkeye “Robin Hood” and asks him if he is threatening him again, to which Hawkeye replies ‘Not if you want to stay an Avenger!’ USAgent warns Hawkeye that if he is threatening him, then he is going to wind up wearing that bow of his as a bowtie. ‘Typical, hiding behind your muscle’ Hawkeye mutters, while Wanda “Scarlet Witch” Maximoff announces that she agrees with Hawkeye this time. Julia “Spider-Woman” Carpenter asks what other choice there is, and turns to USAgent, declaring that although she hasn’t been an Avenger as long as he has, she didn’t cash checks from the United Nations and then go working for the Commission behind everybody’s back.
Johnny declares that their charter doesn’t say one word about not holding down a second job, ‘So bug off!’ he tells Julia. But Julia points out that it is still a conflict of interest to work for the government when the Avengers are now under the United Nations. Wanda adds that the fact the Commission is a despicable outfit just makes it worse. ‘Listen, what I do in my spare time –‘ Johnny begins, until Clint interrupts, ‘”Spare time”? You went on a mission for them in one of our Quinjets!’ he declares.
‘Bet you’ll really miss this when you’re off at college’ Bobbi “Mockingbird” Morse-Barton whispers to Miguel “Living Lightning” Santos, as they and Simon “Wonder Man” Williams stand nearby and watch the argument. ‘Yeah right’ Miguel, now a reserve member of the team replies. Hawkeye tells Johnny that if he thinks they won’t kick him out of the team because they are short handed after the death of Iron Man, then he has got news for him, when suddenly, the security alarm goes off. Wonder Man and Living Lighting quickly rush into action, while the others follow them, with Hawkeye telling USAgent that he can wait here if he likes, ‘Somebody might phone with a better offer’.
Arriving outside the main building, the Avengers West Coast are confronted by ‘That new Iron Man’ as Living Lightning puts it. Simon asks him what he is doing here, to which Iron Man replies that he won’t pretend he is overjoyed to be here, ‘But I’m here just the same’. Wonder Man tells the new Iron Man that, after their free-for-all at Tony Stark’s funeral, he is about the last person they ever expected to see again. ‘What are you doing – slumming?’ Living Lightning asks the new Iron Man as the rest of the Avengers West Coast arrive on the scene.
Iron Man replies that he is actually here to offer to join the Avengers West, to which Hawkeye asks him what the blazes brought this on. Iron Man replies that he was thinking about it, and figured that if he didn’t take Stark’s place here too, then the tram would lack sheer power. ‘So, if you want me, I’m in – whenever my other duties allow, of course’. Mockingbird holds her husband Hawkeye back as he angrily replies ‘Of all the -! With that kind of an attitude, who needs you?’, before Mockingbird reminds her husband that it is not for him to decide. Clint admits that Mockingbird is right, and points out also that they have not elected a new chairman to replace Iron Man.
The Scarlet Witch points out that this is hardly the time, to which USAgent declares ‘So let’s take a vote – then throw him out!’ Mockingbird remarks that she smells a consensus here, and suggests that Hawkeye speak for all of them, reminding everyone that Clint was the group’s first chairman. No one objects, so Clint turns to the new Iron Man and tells him that they want to be fair to him. ‘You know Tony was Iron Man, so maybe you’re on the level’ Clint points out, before asking Iron Man to unmask himself, let them know who he really is, then they can judge.
Iron Man apologizes, remarking that he is not ready to tell anybody his real identity yet, before reminding them that they did not know Tony Stark was Iron Man for a long time either. Iron Man motions to USAgent and points out that the team accepted him without knowing much about him. ‘Not the best argument you could’ve dredged up, tin-top’ USAgent replies, informing him that the team is still grousing about the way he was forced onto the team. Hawkeye tells Iron Man that this is how it is, and asks him what it will be. Iron Man replies that with those kinds of conditions, he will have to thinks about it for a while, but that for now, the answer is a definite no. With that, he takes flight and blasts away.
‘Well, that settles that’ Wanda remarks, to which Wonder Man points out that this must be the part where they all start mouthing the obligatory “Gee, do you think we did the right thing?” speech. ‘Especially since most of us suspect this Iron Man’s probably Tony’s old buddy, Jim Rhodes’ Hawkeye adds. ‘Since beggars can’t be choosers, I guess that means you’ll get off my case now, right?’ Johnny asks. ‘That’s got nothing to do with it’ Clint begins to reply, when suddenly Roberto interrupts, announcing that there is a phone call, someone who wants to talk with Dr. Pym, and says it is important.
‘Long as I’m playing big-shot for a day, I might as well take this too’ Clint remarks, taking the phone from the butler and introducing himself to the caller, informing him that Hank Pym is on sabbatical. The caller introduces himself as Dr. Myron MacLain of MacLain Research in San Diego, ‘Yes, that Myron MacLain – the main who invented adamantium’ he confirms, before stating that he urgently needs to speak with Dr. Pym. Hawkeye replies that they are not even sure where Hank is, as he left town right after Tony Stark’s funeral. ‘Then you’d better come at once – and bring the other Avengers with you. It’s a matter of life and death!’ Dr. MacLain exclaims.
‘Let me get this straight, Doc – you say you’ve stumbled on a way to make adamantium a lot more quickly – not to mention easily and cheaply? Yeah, I guess that is something a terrorist or super villain would kill to get his hands on, all right!’ Clint exclaims, before telling MacLain to hold his test tubes down, as somebody will be right there.
Hawkeye turns to his teammates, announcing that USAgent, Wonder Man, Spider-Woman and Mockingbird will go, while he and the Scarlet Witch hold the fort here. ‘He’s really getting into the chairman bit, isn’t he?’ Wonder Man whispers to Wanda, who replies that somebody has to do it. Shortly, Living Lightning bids his friends farewell, and transforming into his electrical form, departs, wishing he was going with the Avengers, but as orientation at the University of Southern California starts tomorrow, he cannot. ‘It can’t be anything four Avengers can’t handle without my help’ he thinks to himself.
The Scarlet Witch watches the Quinjet depart and decides that it was probably good for Julia to get away on a mission and let someone else watch Rachel for a change, before asking Hawkeye if he minds telling her why he sent Mockingbird with the team instead of her. Hawkeye tells his good friend that he had some things he needed to do here. ‘Things I have to think about – and I figured I’d do it better if the wife I’m about to be divorced from was a hundred miles away’ he explains, before heading back inside the main building and telling Wanda that he will see her later.
Soon, on the outskirts of San Diego, ‘Avengers West Coast, reporting for nursemaid duty!’ USAgent shouts out, while Wonder Man tells him to be quiet, as Dr. MacLain will hear them. ‘You think I care?’ Agent asks smugly. Wonder Man tells him that this is important, and points out that adamantium is the hardest substance ever created. ‘Spare me, Mr Movie Star, I’ve been briefed by the experts’ Johnny replies as the quartet enter the lab. Julia points out that there are no lights on and that it looks as if all the employees have been sent home. ‘There he is!’ Mockingbird exclaims as she sees someone up ahead.
Spider-Woman calls out to the man, asking if he is Dr. MacLain. ‘Yes. But I’m afraid I was mistaken when I phoned your headquarters’ Dr MacLain replies, informing the Avengers West that his new method of producing adamantium, alas, turned out to be impractical. ‘Huh?’ Simon mutters, while Dr. MacLain apologizes for bothering them. Calling them “fine people” he informs that they can go home as he must return to his work. ‘Uh, good-bye’ Wonder Man replies, while Julia asks Johnny if he buys that. ‘Not on the stupidest day I ever drew breath’ the handsome hero replies. ‘And this ain’t it!’ he exclaims as he rushes up behind Dr. MacLain, despite one of his teammates protesting.
Dr. MacLain turns and looks at the swiftly approaching USAgent and remarks that, as he has already mentioned, they may go – and with that, Dr. MacLain extends his arm, which smacks into USAgent, knocking him far across the lab. This sends the other Avengers West into battle, ‘That tears it!’ Wonder Man exclaims as he flies towards Dr. MacLain and forces him against the ground, ‘If you’re Dr. MacLain, I’m Robert DeNiro!’ he jokes. Dr. MacLain begins to repeat that he sincerely apologizes for bothering them, but his speech is fragmented.
Wonder Man notices this, and also Dr. MacLain’s eye, where the skin has been peeled back, revealing metal underneath. Dr. MacLain punches Wonder Man hard in the face, knocking him backwards, Dr. MacLain looms over Wonder Man, his hand surging with power, Simon exclaims that his head is still spinning, ‘A little help here?’ he asks, which he receives in the form of Mockingbird and her trusty staffs, one of which she uses to smash Dr. MacLain’s arm away from Simon, announcing that his arm is made of metal. ‘He’s either a cyborg, a robot or sir Galahad!’ Bobbi jokes. ‘A knight in shinning armor he’s not!’ exclaims Spider-Woman as she weaves a psionic-web around Dr. MacLain.
Wonder Man thanks the ladies for their assistance, explaining that he needed a moment to recover from the steel fist he received to his jaw. Simon points out that since USAgent is back on his feet too, perhaps they show this thing that the Avengers West Coast are a team. Both powerful men lunge towards Dr. MacLain – or whatever it is – with Johnny asking ‘Do you think it really cares?’ while the robot is stuck on one phrase of speech. ‘Let’s see if you know any more words, tin man – like what did you do with the real Dr. MacLain?’ Wonder Man asks.
USAgent notes Simon’s brutal attack on the robot and remarks ‘I see you can still unleash a haymaker when you need to, Williams. And here I thought you were starting to wimp out on us lately’. Wonder Man replies that his power surges – or lack of – are his own business, before pointing out that this is definitely a robot. Mockingbird crouches down beside the motionless “Dr. MacLain” and announces that she will give it the once over while the rest of them search for the real Dr. MacLain. Spider-Woman asks Bobbi if she knows a lot about robotics, to which Wonder Man explains that Bobbi is actually a biologist, but if she cannot learn anything from examining that hunk of scrap then none of them will be able to.
USAgent tells the others that if they find Dr. MacLain to give a holler, while Spider-Woman soon announces that she has found the security guards, with all the flesh stripped from their faces. ‘I think I’m going to be sick…’ she mumbles, but Wonder Man tells her that they haven’t got time for that, and urges her on. Julia replies that she will do her best, while Johnny asks Barbara if she has learned anything. ‘Not ten percent as much as Hank Pym might’ Bobbi replies, before explaining that this false Dr. MacLain looks like, for lack of a better term, some kind of organic robot. Bobbi asks who they know who is advanced enough to possibly design a robot with metallic organs. ‘Ultron!’ everyone exclaims at once, before Bobbi suggests they should get back to Palos Verdes.
In Palos Verdes at that moment, the Scarlet Witch is by the poolside watching Rachel Carpenter nearby. ‘Cute little girl that Rachel…if only she didn’t remind me of…but that way lies madness’ Wanda thinks to herself, before deciding that it was clever of Hawkeye not to automatically have Julia remain behind just because her daughter is on the premises, and wonders if perhaps Clint should become chairman as he obviously wants the job badly. Wanda also notes that it is weird how Clint didn’t go to San Diego with the others however.
While Carlos sweeps the area around the pool, Roberto approaches Wanda, informing her that USAgent is calling for her in the computer wing. Wanda thanks Roberto and enters the computer wing, deciding to try out the new voice-activated feature. ‘Scarlet Witch here’ she exclaims. USAgent appears on one of the monitors, greeting Wanda with a “Yo!” he informs her that they are on their way back to the Compound, but that they ran into some trouble.
‘What kind of trouble?’ Wanda asks. ‘A robot’ Johnny replies, explaining that they wanted to let her know urgently as they just learned the Vault had a break out a few hours ago by – suddenly, the monitor goes fuzzy and no sound comes out. ‘By whom, Agent?’ Wanda asks, before the monitor fades out and it, along with every other monitor in the room has a headshot of Ultron appear on it! Do you like pictures, Avenger? Then pictures you shall have!’ Ultron exclaims.
The Scarlet Witch frowns and remarks ‘I guess you’ve answered my question about who broke out of the Vault’, to which Ultron replies ‘A torturously unpleasant place’, before remarking that he believes the Scarlet Witch was imprisoned herself there once. Wanda rushes out of the room as Ultron activates the computers defences, sending tendrils lunging at her. Ultron tells Wanda as she slams the door closed that she can run, but not hide – for where can she in a world were any machine may be turned into a mere extension of himself.
Wanda rushes back outside, ‘Everybody off the Compound, now!’ she orders. ‘What?’ asks Rachel, while Carlos tries to explain that they were just about to do something. Wanda picks up Rachel and reveals that Ultron has taken over the computers and in any second is liable to actually turn up here! As if on cue, there is an explosion in part of the main building, knocking the trio to the ground. Carlos asks if they are all right, to which Wanda replies that she is fine, and turns to Rachel. ‘I’m okay. But what was that?’ Rachel asks.
Suddenly, Ultron appears, ‘That was my way, human child, of announcing my physical arrival’ the transformed horror declares. Wanda orders Carlos to get Rachel out of here, as he will wipe out anything human that gets in his way. ‘Like your race’s military leaders, you stand poised to fight the previous war!’ Ultimate Ultron declares as he looms over Wanda, ‘As regards the eradication of humanity – I have, speaking metaphorically, seen the light!’ Carlos asks Ultron if that means he no longer wants to destroy humanity, to which Ultron replies ‘On the contrary’, and reveals that he has decided it is not sufficient to annihilate the human race. ‘My intention now is nothing less than the obliteration of all plant and animal life on Earth!’.
Wanda is shocked and tries to conjure up a Hex to defend herself against Ultron, only to discover that her hex power isn’t working. ‘It’s been cutting in and out on me for days now!’ she thinks to herself, while Ultron opens fire, adding that his plan, such a comprehensive list, naturally includes destroying mankind. ‘I want my mommy!’ Rachel exclaims while Wanda picks her up and begins to make an exit. ‘Not to mention, killing mutants!’ Ultron adds as he takes hold of the Scarlet Witch’s cape. Wanda is pulled back and releases Rachel, while Wanda tugs at her cape, it eventually rips, but the force of that causes her to fall into the pool. ‘Watch out!’ Rachel cries out, before Carlos steps between her and Ultron, ‘Keep back!’ he warns Ultron as he waves a pitchfork in the deadly villain’s face, while telling Rachel to get out of here.
Rachel begins to run away, while Ultron remarks that he would not have expended the energy to slay either Rachel or Carlos had they simply fled, for ending one single life has no meaning to one concerned with the extermination of all organic life, but nevertheless, Ultron fires a blast of energy at close range into Carlos’ chest. ‘Then you didn’t come here for revenge?’ Wanda asks as she stands up in the swimming pool. Ultron replies that he has moved beyond such primitive concepts, beyond any purpose except for becoming Earth’s ultimate life form.
Ultron declares that he is the sentient, quintessential embodiment of the computer revolution of which humans prattle on about, when suddenly, an arrow strikes his neck. ‘I believe an arrow has just magnetically affixed itself to my frame’ Ultron remarks matter-of-factly. Hawkeye makes his grand appearance, ‘Not just any old arrow, robot! An electro-arrow I can activate by remote control!’ he explains, adding that hopefully he can destroy Ultron’s metal innards with it. Clint helps Wanda out of the pool while Ultron convulses, but Hawkeye has the feeling that Ultron’s state is not going to last long, while Wanda asks where Rachel is.
Ultron sees Rachel up ahead in a small field, where the groundskeeper is currently on a ride-on-mower, cutting the grass, which Ultron takes control of. The groundskeeper suddenly exclaims that something has taken control of the tractor and that he cannot steer it or stop it. As it races towards Rachel, Hawkeye calls out ‘Don’t try, man! Just jump!’ before ordering Rachel to duck and cover. She does so, while the groundskeeper leaps from the tractor as one of Hawkeye’s arrows strikes it, stopping it from moving any closer to Rachel.
Ultron tells the Scarlet Witch and Hawkeye that they have momentarily deflected him from his higher purpose, forcing him to distract them with a threat to a child, before pulling the arrow from his neck and telling Wanda and Clint that it is now time to deal with them before he can do what he came to do. ‘Uh-oh! I think we’re about to get stomped here!’ Hawkeye exclaims to Wanda, while Ultron replies that such crudities are for organic matter, not Ultron, while his “robo-ticks” suddenly pour from his body, informing Wanda and Clint that his flesh-consuming “Bytes” will be suffice to deal with the likes of them.
Hawkeye tells Wanda to keep down, and is about to fire an arrow into the mass of “robo-ticks” hoping he can scramble them, while Wanda exclaims that she wishes her hex powers would kick in. Suddenly, a cold-voice remarks ‘Perhaps you will have no need of your hex bolts, Wanda – now that you are shielded by one who has no flesh and blood to be consumed!’ It’s the Vision, who steps in front of his ex-wife, blocking her from the bombardment of “bytes” while confronting his father….


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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Death Valley Daze
‘Surrender, robot – now – or face the wrath of three Avengers!’ exclaims the ghostly android Avenger (of the East Coast team) known as the Vision as he stands before his robotic “father”, the deadly Ultron at the Palos Verdes Compound of the Avengers West Coast. Hawkeye (Clint Barton) and the Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) stand nearby. Ultron tells his son that there is no need for them to fight over the safety of a human and a mutant. ‘After all, I created you, just as Dr. Henry Pym created me!’ Ultron reminds his son, asking what reason they have to oppose each other. ‘We should be allies – two superior life forms keeping each other company, for millennia after all organic life has perished from this planet’.
Clint, with his bow and arrow ready to fire, turns to his dear friend Wanda and remarks that he doesn’t want to look a “gift-android” in the mouth, before asking Wanda if she was expecting her ex-husband show up here today. ‘No’ a confused Wanda replies, while Ultron asks the synthetic Avenger what his answer is. ‘Surely you knew my response before you voiced your question, Ultron’ the Vision replies monotonously. ‘I suppose I did, but a parent can always hope’ Ultron replies, before declaring that any who is not with him on his anti-organic crusade must be considered against him, and therefore must be dealt with by his “robo-ticks”.
Ultron once more bombards the Vision with his “bytes”, while the Vision analyzes them, discovering that they are sentient computer chips, artificially enhanced to assimilate human flesh and transmute it into additional life energy. The Vision destroys them with his powerful solar beam, remarking that, not only is his synthetic flesh immune to them, he has his methods of fighting against them, and suggests to Ultron that he should have designed them so that they resist a temperature greater than a mere 30,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Vision decides that he should see if Ultron can resist the same temperature in his own body, and casts his solar beam towards Ultron, creating a blinding glare which then ricochets around the surrounding area in beams of intense heat. The Scarlet Witch tells her ex-husband to stop it, while the Vision points out that it could hurt somebody.
One of those some bodies is likely to be one of the Compound staff – Consuela, Carlos or the groundskeeper, and Spider-Woman’s daughter, Rachel Carpenter, who are taking shelter nearby after Ultron’s attack. Rachel holds onto Consuela, asking if that robot is really going to kill them all. ‘It will if we stay here, honey’ the kindly woman replies while shielding Rachel, before telling Roberto to get the van, least they end up dead like poor Carlos. Roberto and the groundskeeper begin running towards the van, with Consuela and Rachel in tow.
The Vision ceases the use of his solar beam and apologizes to his former teammates, admitting that he should have known his solar jewel could not generate enough heat to melt adamantium. Vision excuses himself, remarking that he must try a more direct approach, and leaps towards Ultron, who fires beams of energy at him, though the Vision is intangible, and plunges his arms into Ultron’s chest and head. ‘I hope the rest of you likes what they find there’ Ultron exclaims. ‘It will be the last semblance of pleasure you will know – before I rend you limb from artificial limb!’ Ultron boasts as he forces the Vision from him and slams against a wall, adding that can retrieve what he actually came here for.
Nearby, Consuela tells Rachel to get in the van, as the robot is really tearing up the place. ‘But Wanda – Hawkeye!’ Rachel protests. Consuela replies that in a case like this, her orders are to get Rachel out of here. Roberto agrees, and points out that if the Avengers cannot stop that thing, then there is nothing they can do to help them, before driving away with Consuela and Rachel, while the groundskeeper leaves in the other van.
The Vision leaps up from the ground and punches Ultron in the face, while Ultron remarks that the Vision is even more resilient than before, but tells him that making his body as hard as diamond will avail him nothing. ‘For whether diamond strikes adamantium, or adamantium strikes diamond, it’s diamond that will be shattered to bits!’ Ultron boasts as he slams the Vision to the ground. Wanda turns to Clint and asks him if can do something, as they have got to keep Ultron here until the others get back from San Diego.
Hawkeye replies that he will try, before asking Wanda about her hex bolts. Wanda exclaims that they are not working, but that she doesn’t know why. ‘Well at least my flare arrow is!’ Hawkeye exclaims as he fires it at Ultron, while hoping that Ultron still operates on optic sensors, not some kind of radar. As Ultron drops the Vision and steps backwards, Clint realizes that Ultron must still have “artificial eyeballs”, and now he’s blinded. Wanda rushes over to the Vision and asks him if he is all right, exclaiming that she was so worried. ‘I sincerely appreciate your concern’ the Vision replies matter-of-factly. ‘You what?’ Wanda replies, annoyed.
Ultron gathers himself and tells the Scarlet Witch that her anxiety is wasted on the Vision, ‘Though I suppose yours is a touching expression of emotion, all the same’ he adds, before blasting the wall behind Wanda and the Vision. ‘Look out! That wall!’ cries Hawkeye, but it’s too late, as it crashes down upon them. ‘I believe the saw it, Archer – and felt it as well’ Ultron replies, before turning his attention to the handsome Avenger, telling him that if he thinks an explosive arrow will find it’s way past his defences, then he best think again. ‘If you survive’ Ultron adds as he grabs the arrow that Hawkeye fired at him, and tosses it back, where it explodes.
Ultron enters the main building, declaring that these humans are fools to sacrifice themselves on the altar of their own self-importance. ‘As if I cared whether any individual human being lived or died – when my goal is the complete obliteration of all organic life on Earth!’ Ultron remarks that his previous schemes seem paltry, even putrid, as they only dealt with ruling or destroying only the human life, which would have still left plants, and even animals which might have one day evolved into some new threat to his supremacy.
Making his way into a lab, Ultron remarks that his recent incarceration has allowed him to reflect that only robotic life should be allowed to exist on this planet, and that the planet would only be a mere extension of himself. ‘What better place to start, therefore, than with these earlier incarnations of myself, stored here for examination by Dr. Henry Pym!’ Ultron looks at his earlier selves encased in a cell, noting that Hank gathered them all over the years – even the remains of that human lover, Ultron-12, and the adamantium scarp into which the interferer Reed Richards had turned into Ultron-10 and his spare bodies.
Ultron opens the cell, remarking that what his esteemed creator / father never imagined of course, was that when he amassed all these less aesthetically pleasing Ultrons, ‘He was actually gathering them for me!’ With that, Ultron uses a energy beam to carry the spare Ultron parts with him as he takes flight, flying over the rubble where Hawkeye emerges, ‘Bobbi…’ Clint utters wearily, while the Avengers Quinjet returns. Wonder Man (Simon Williams) motions out the window at the flying Ultron, and points out that he is making off with enough spare parts to build himself an army of little Ultrons. ‘We’ve got to stop him!’ Spider-Woman (Julia Carpenter) exclaims.
USAgent (Johnny Walker) stands at the edge of the Quinjet door and remarks that, for once, he actually agrees with Spider-Woman. ‘In fact, I’m right a head of you!’ the handsome hero boasts as he leaps from the Quinjet, using his shield to slow his fall, while Wonder Man and Spider-Woman drop out of the hatch behind him. ‘More Avengers? I fear I have no time for you!’ Ultron remarks as he flies by and dodges the three airborne Avengers. ‘He dodged us!’ a surprised Wonder Man exclaims before and Johnny land safely on the ground. Simon then tells Julia not to worry, as he has her, and she lands in his arms, replying that she wasn’t worried – much. Johnny asks where everyone is, before pointing to the pool and exclaiming that he thinks he sees a body, then remarking that Mockingbird better watch her bootie.
Indeed, Mockingbird (Barbara Morse-Barton) is flying the Quinjet, and Ultron notices her, deciding that if one or more of the Avengers will persist in trying to ram him, then perhaps he should make a pre-emptive strike. And with that, he leaps onto the Quinjet and smashes through the windshield, surprising Bobbi. Ultron remarks that it is highly unlikely he shall have been of a human hostage, but that if he does, then the female called Mockingbird will suffice. As he knocks her out and takes her from the Quinjet, which falls to the beach below the Compound Cliffs, Ultron, with his spare parts in tow, mutters that an idea is also beginning to form.
‘Another Quinjet bites the dust’ Wonder Man mumbles as he uses a hose to put out the fires which resulted from Ultron’s attack, and remarks that they have their hands full here. Hawkeye exclaims that Ultron has got Bobbi, to which Walker, who is also putting out the fires, replies that there is nothing they can do about that now, and asks where the Scarlet Witch is. Spider-Woman replies that she can see something moving under some rubble, and an instant later, the Vision rises, holding some rubble high above him as Wanda emerges too.
The Avengers West Coast are surprised to see the Vision, while Wanda thanks him for saving her life. ‘I would have done as much for any Avenger’ the android replies. ‘Yes…I know’ an exasperated Wanda mutters. Spider-Woman exclaims that she is thankful Roberto was able to call them from the car to let them know that he, Rachel and Consuela are all safe, when suddenly, Hawkeye tells Julia to watch out where she is stepping. ‘Why? What? Oh…’ Julia replies as she looks down and sees Carlos’ motionless body. Julia remarks that Roberto told them that Ultron had killed him, but that it didn’t seem possible. ‘When we left he was cleaning the pool, talking with Rachel…’ Julia’s voice trails off.
Wonder Man turns to his brother the Vision and asks if it wasn’t just a coincidence that he arrived when he did. The Vision replies that it wasn’t, as he had learned Ultron escaped from the Vault and that an hour later, a quantity of adamantium was stolen from a facility in the Silicon Valley. Walker asks the Vision if he figured that if Ultron wanted more then he would show up here, to which the Vision asks if Dr. Pym is on the premises. Wanda explains that Hank is off doing research, and Julia informs the Vision that Ultron had captured Dr. MacLain by the time they got to San Diego also.
Hawkeye wishes that they could trace Ultron some how, to which the Vision replies that they might be able to, provided Ultron did less damage to the computers than he did to the Compound, and everyone follows him into one of the labs. USAgent replies that this room is well shielded, and asks the Vision what his plan is. The Vision reveals that Dr. Pym once told him that he had “tagged” the various Ultron bodies kept here, so they can probably trace them. The Vision adds that it will take a bit of time as he begins working at one of the consoles. ‘”A bit of time”?’ Hawkeye repeats the Vision. ‘While my wife’s at Ultron’s mercy? You can blasted well do better than that!’ he exclaims.
The Vision apologizes for his shortcomings, assuring Clint that he will do everything he can to expedite his search. ‘Yeah? Well, expedite this, android!’ Clint replies, to which Wanda suggests that the two of them take a walk, and leads Clint away, assuring him that they all know how much he cares for her, even if the two of them are about to be divorced. Hawkeye replies that the Vision is just so cold, so emotionless. ‘Tell me about it’ Wanda replies. Clint apologizes to his friend and admits that he does a whole lot more than “care” about Bobbi, revealing that he loves her, that he has always loved her. ‘I don’t know what I’d do if…’ his voice trails off, to which Wanda tells him not to think about it. ‘If it’s possible, we’ll find her’ she assures him sincerely.
Meanwhile, in the part of the California Desert known as Death Valley, a man who does not want to be found labours over his own state-of-the-art computers. It is Dr. Henry “Hank” Pym. Ultron, the Avengers and his ex-wife the Wasp are al far from his mind. He wants nothing more out of life than to pursue his researches in applied bio-chemistry. All that is about to change, as large beams of energy burst into the lab, ‘What the Devil -!’ exclaims Hank as he falls off his chair. Rising from the smoke, ‘Not a Devil, “father” – only your precious “son”!’ Ultron exclaims as he pulls his spare parts into the lab. ‘Ultron – free!’ exclaims a shocked Hank, before noticing the unconscious Mockingbird and asking what he is doing with her, what he wants.
‘”Want”?’ Ultron replies, revealing another prisoner – Dr. MacLain – he remarks that when he liberated these metallic bits and pieces from the Avengers West Compound, he wanted only to destroy all natural life on Earth. Ultron adds that, on his way here, he realized he wanted one more thing, something Hank could give him better than he could give himself. ‘And that something is –‘ Ultron begins, to which Hank interrupts, ‘Forget I asked!’ he exclaims as he uses his Pym Particles to return a weapon to its original size, ‘If you want it, it’s got to be something against me!’ he exclaims as he readies the weapon, only for Ultron to smack it out of his hands.
Hank attempts to use his powers again, this time to shrink Ultron down to the size of a crackerjack prize. ‘Or maybe I won’t’ Hank mumbles as his powers don’t work against his foe, who then smashes Hank across the lab, where he slams hard against a wall. ‘Now, dear creator – my most unwilling fountain of life – you will listen to me!’ Ultron demands. Hank wipes the blood from his face and asks the robot what it wants, before remarking that, judging by what Ultron has brought along with him, he suspects that he has more than an inkling to the answer. ‘I demand that you make for me – and adamantium mate!’ Ultron announces. ‘I was afraid you were going to say that’ Hank replies.
Back in Palos Verdes, the Vision announces that the computer has located adamantium bodies which no longer appear to be moving. Wonder Man replies that this is good, and remarks that unless Ultron suspects them to be tagged, he may stay put for a while. The Vision remarks that they have stopped in a most symbolic destination – the harsh expanse of desert known as Death Valley. Wanda points out that is where Hank went to get away from everything. ‘Uh-oh’ remarks Simon, while suddenly, a voice calls out ‘Mom!’ Everyone turns to see Rachel, followed by Consuela and Roberto enter the lab. ‘Mom, it was awful – that big robot –‘ she exclaims.
Julia tells her daughter that they know all about Ultron, before embracing her daughter, ‘Thank Heaven you’re all right!’ Julia exclaims, before telling Consuela and Roberto that she cannot thank them enough for getting her daughter away from all the carnage. Consuela asks if there is any word on Carlos. ‘We sat that robot blast him…’ her voice trails off. Julia cannot say anything, so Simon announces that Carlos was killed instantly. Roberto asks Wonder Man to get that thing, not that it will bring poor Carlos back to life.
Hawkeye re-enters and informs everyone that the other Quinjets are okay. Wanda informs Clint that they have learned Ultron is in Death Valley – most likely at Hank’s. Hawkeye declares that they need to get cracking then, before there are any more murders on their hands. ‘Whatever happens to Hank, or to Bobbi, this is on time this West Coast bunch is gonna live up to their name – as Avengers!’ Hawkeye declares trying to boost the morale, before he, Wanda, Johnny, Simon, Julia and the Vision depart in another Quinjet. ‘Vayan con dios Vengadores!’ Consuela cries out as she, Rachel and Roberto watch the Quinjet depart.
Suddenly, the telephone, lying in a pile of rubble, rings, and Consuela answers it, where upon she is greeted by the Living Lightning (Miguel Santos), reserve member of the team. Miguel has already learned of the flight, and Consuela informs him that Carlos is dead. The Living Lightning asks about the Avengers, but Consuela replies that she does not know where they have done. ‘Guess they figured they’d get by without the Living Lightning’ Miguel replies, before telling Consuela that he is sorry about Carlos and remarking that he has to get back to class. Before he hangs up, Miguel assures Consuela that he will call back later.
Meanwhile, heading East, Wonder Man asks if Ultron didn’t give any clues as to how he means to depopulate the Earth. USAgent replies that, whatever he is up to, his old bodies must figure into it somehow. Wanda tells the Vision that it is nice to see him again, despite the circumstances, and asks if he will be staying in California for any length of time. ‘Only until this business is completed, Wanda. After that, my place is with the Avengers East’ the Vision replies, causing a teary-eyed Wanda to turn away from him.
Spider-Woman asks USAgent if he has to keep his shield on the seat, to which Johnny replies ‘What’s your problem? In a bad mood because Hawkeye’s wife is back in the picture?’. Hawkeye overhears this and is about to yell at Walker when Julia slaps him, assuring Clint that the situation is handled. Wonder Man then informs everyone that as soon as they pass telescope peak, they will be right over Death Valley.
At that moment, Mockingbird opens her eyes. ‘Awake at last, my dear Jocasta’ Ultron remarks. ‘I’m awake all right, but don’t confuse me with that robot you built to be your “Bride of Frankenstein”!’ Bobbi exclaims, before finding herself strapped to a table. Ultron informs Barbara that his desire for a mate is why he has mecho-mesmerized Dr. Pym and Dr. MacLain, telling Mockingbird that in that sense, she shall survive, when all other life on Earth has long perished. ‘My God – you’re going to “robotize” me, aren’t you!’ Bobbi exclaims, horrified. ‘Turn me into a robot, like you once tried to do to the whole human race!’ she adds.
The hypnotized Hank Pym addressing Ultron as “Master” and announces than an aircraft is approaching at high velocity. Ultron replies that this will be the Avengers West, attempting to play the “knights in shinning armor” to rescue the fair damsel. Ultron declares that the Avengers West will soon find that when they are no mere men inside, metal armor can be far more effective, and sends the various parts of his old selves out to ambush the Quinjet.
The first attack strikes the wing, before Wonder Man and the Vision take flight, ‘We lose more Quinjets that way!’ Simon jokes, remarking that it is good this one barely got clipped, while the Vision points out that it is the reactivated Ultron bodies that must concern them now, before blasting one of them with a solar beam. ‘I knew that!’ Simon replies as he jumps on top of one of the headless robots.
The Quinjet lands and Hawkeye tells the others to watch out for the robots, as being adamantium, they will not be easy to take out. The Vision remarks that it is fortunate the robots can be maneuvered into doing each other damage as he becomes intangible while two robots try to attack him at the same time, the result being that they smash into each other instead. ‘By you maybe’ Wanda thinks to herself, while preparing to cast a hex, she hopes her powers kick in this time – and they do, shattering one of the robots into countless parts. ‘But next time? Who knows…’ Wanda thinks to herself.
Suddenly, USAgent pushes Hawkeye aside, ‘Hey, you ruined my shot!’ Clint snaps at Johnny, who replies ‘Like you’ve really got something that’ll dent adamantium right?’ Walker remarks, before telling Clint to save his arrows for the next turkey shoot, while he, Wonder Man and Spider-Woman use physical combat against the robots. ‘Let the big kids rescue your better half!’ Walker adds as he tosses a robot aside with ease, while Wonder Man tells him to get off Hawkeye’s case. Standing up for his friend, Wonder Man exclaims that Clint is doing the best he can, while USAgent motions to another barrage of robots that are headed their way, and declares that the team needs to clear a path to Pym’s lab up ahead, while Clint suddenly drinks something from a vial, ‘The best I used to be able to do, you mean, Simon’ Clint thinks to himself.
Suddenly, ‘You couldn’t clear up pimples, featherhead!’ Hawkeye exclaims as he rushes past a surprised USAgent. ‘Stop him!’ Julia calls out as she sees Hawkeye engage in combat with several robots. ‘He’ll get himself killed!’ Julia exclaims before heading over to Hawkeye and asking Walker and Simon to help her get Clint free of the robots. USAgent exclaims that Hawkeye has flipped, that he is so crazy he would risk committing suicide to rescue Mockingbird, before telling everyone to hold it as he notices something happening in the middle of the pile up – something pushing the robots up.
Suddenly, ‘Up, up and away – as somebody used to say!’ Hawkeye exclaims as his now giant form stands high above everyone else. His purple and blue costume lying in tatters on the ground, he is now sporting a rather revealing brown and orange outfit, while the Ultron robots fall from his body and smash against the ground. ‘Barton! You sonuva…’ begins USAgent, while Wanda remarks that Clint wasn’t just checking the Quinjets back at the Compound, to which Clint replies ‘just call me Goliath!’
The Avengers West and the Vision continue to deal with the remaining robots, while Clint declares that neither slingshot nor robot is going to keep him from getting to Bobbi, and begins to rush towards the lab, while Wonder Man tells his friend that he believes him. Seeing Ultron emerge at the front of the lab, Clint calls out to him, ‘Hand her over, Ultron – along with Hank and anybody else you’ve got in there – or else!’ he shouts. ‘Clearly, Avenger, your brain has not grown proportionally to your body, or you would know that sheer size has very little to do with the extent of my power’ Ultron replies.
Ultron admits that he would have formerly relished crushing Hawkeye’s now overly-enlarged bones in his unbreakable grip, this is a pleasure that he has reserved for… ‘My bride!’ Ultron announces. An explosion in the building creates another “entrance” next to Ultron, and someone steps out of the lab. ‘Oh my God…’ Clint whispers in shock. ‘No!’ cries Wanda as everyone sees an female adamantium robot standing next to Ultron, wearing a headpiece very similar to Mockingbird’s mask.
Ultron grins wickedly as he introduces to the Avengers his soul-mate of flesh-become-adamantium – Alkhema, also known as War Toy…’You once knew her by the epithet “Mockingbird”!’ Ultron reveals, while fire rages behind the powerful robots. ‘Hello, Clint, darling’ Alkhema exclaims snarls. ‘Would you like to be killed first – or last!?’


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War Toy!
Somewhere in the aptly named Death Valley. ‘Bobbi…?’ Clint “Hawkeye” Barton, now in his Goliath form, calls out to the robotic horror standing before he and his teammates in the Avengers West Coast. The deadly Ultron exclaims in reply ‘Your once-human mate no longer replies to that cloying name, Avenger!’ before declaring that she prefers to be called Alkhema. ‘Or, if you are hopelessly addicted to more descriptive epithets – WAR TOY!’
With that, Alkhema casts a blast of energy at the over-sized Clint Barton, causing him to smash against a nearby wall. Julia “Spider-Woman” Carpenter looks over, concerned for her friend, while the other Avengers scatter as Alkhema asks Ultron if she did well. Ultron replies that Alkhema makes him proud to have created her in Dr. Pym’s laboratory from frail human flesh and indestructible adamantium. Alkhema asks what they will do next, to which Ultron replies ‘Why, kill these Avengers of course! What else?’.
Simon “Wonder Man” Williams points out that they need a plan, to which Wanda “Scarlet Witch” Maximoff takes charge, suggesting Simon and Julia get Ultron, while USAgent and Vision try to disable this so-called “War Toy”, before reminding them that Ultron claims that she is really Mockingbird whom he has transformed into a robot. Wanda adds that since her hex powers have been malfunctioning again, she will see if there is anything she can do to help Hawkeye, but turning to where he landed, Wanda sees that Clint is gone.
The handsome Johnny “USAgent” Walker leaps into action against Alkhema, ‘I don’t know who the Scarlet Witch is to start dishing out orders…’ he mutters, to which former Avenger West Coast member, and current member of the East Coast branch, the ghostly Vision, replies that someone must, before suggesting that he approaches the female robot first. The Vision explains that he has analyzed her head beam, and that it is of a type which he can withstand.
But as the Vision flies into the direct line of Alkhema’s beam, he cries out in pain as the robot-woman asks if it ever occurred to him that a computer-age cutie like her might be capable of changing frequencies. ‘Maybe even to one that can disrupt your innards the way you’ve often done to others?’ she adds. ‘That tears it! Bobbi or no Bobbi – you’re dangerous, lady. I’m taking you out!’ USAgent exclaims as he punches Alkhema hard in the face with his augmented strength. But Johnny quickly retracts his fist and shouts out loud, to which Alkhema replies that is what he gets for hitting somebody made of adamantium and charged with electrical energy. ‘Then again, I find hitting you a distinct pleasure’ Alkhema adds as she smacks her fist into USAgent.
‘Come and get me, robot!’ Wonder Man calls out as he approaches Ultron, who replies ‘If that is how you prefer it’ before remarking that whichever of them makes the first move, it will make no difference in the outcome. ‘Oh you never know, Ultron…it just might!’ whispers Julia as she creates a psionic web and wraps it around Ultron’s legs, confused, Ultron then stumbles to the ground as he tried to walk forward. Wonder Man congratulates his friend as he leaps against Ultron and punches his face, ‘Now if we can just keep him down!’ Spider-Woman exclaims, while Ultron calls them human fools and tells them that they are merely postponing the inevitable by opposing the irresistible.
Meanwhile, Clint clutches his head as he, at “Ant-Man” size, makes his way into Dr. Henry Pym’s lab. ‘Boy, that really hurt’ he thinks to himself, while realizing that his body, when he is Goliath, seems to be even sturdier than Hank Pym’s used to be. Clint admits that he wasn’t going to be much help out there, hence why he’s taken a powder, but he is more concerned at looking what remains of Hank’s lab after the explosion. Clint thinks that even if Ultron has robotized Barbara, there still might be something here that can reverse the process, before wondering where Hank is, as they haven’t seen him.
Suddenly, Clint hears a moan coming from under a pile of rubble and wonders if it is his long-time friend. Clint remembers that Hank always said not to change sizes too often in a short time span, but does so anyway and increases his form back to the fifteen feet Goliath and begins digging through the rubble. ‘Hang on to your test tubes, Doc! I’m on my way!’ Clint calls out, before coming across a plate of adamantium and remarking that it is no wonder Hank survived the explosion if this was here to shield him. Clint calls out to Hank, exclaiming that he will be another few seconds, only for him to keel over in a state of dizziness.
Back outside, Ultron has gained the upper hand on Julia and Simon and exclaims that he seeks to do the Earth an inestimable kindness by relieving it of all organic life. ‘What right have you to oppose me?’ he asks before grabbing a protesting Spider-Woman, while Wonder Man replies that they have the right of human beings. Ultron suddenly smashes the two friends heads’ together, and mocks Simon’s right, before remarking that they have the rights of ants if he elects to tread upon their anthill, and the right of weeds if he decides to root them out.
Spider-Woman and Wonder Man lie motionless beneath Ultron, while the Vision lies unmoving near Alkhema, who holds USAgent by his neck. Alkhema remarks that her data retrieval is still a bit spotty, and exclaims ‘Tell me, Ulty – are all human beings as easy to squash as this bunch?’ ‘”Ulty”?’ Ultron replies, before remarking that it may be he left too much of Mockingbird in her cyber-emotional makeup. Ultron then wonders where the Scarlet Witch has got to. ‘Well, my memory bank only goes back about ten minutes – but is that her?’ Alkhema asks as the Avengers Quinjet streaks towards her and Ultron ready for a full on collision.
The glamorous Scarlet Witch scowls while piloting the powerful Avengers Quinjet toward her enemies. For in the past few moments, Wanda has seen four of the most powerful Avengers fall before the Ultimate Ultron and his mate. Void of her own hex powers, this is the only way Wanda can see of equalling the force that opposes her.
But, alas for mankind – even 34,000 pounds of thrust cannot move sentient robots of indestructible adamantium when they are firmly braced – which Ultron and Alkhema are. The Quinjet buckles backwards and Wanda is rendered unconscious while Ultron remarks that the Scarlet Witch has perhaps even more courage than the others, so logically, they must execute her first. ‘I’d make it fast, Ulty’ Alkhema remarks, to which Ultron replies that he thought he made it clear that he did not care for that name, only to discover why Alkhema suggested he make the Scarlet Witch’s execution fast, as Goliath returns, carrying a slab of adamantium.
‘Divide this between you!’ Clint exclaims as he smacks the adamantium slab into Ultron and Alkhema. ‘This is one thing the two of you can’t laugh off, right?’ Clint adds. ‘Cause it’s made of the same stuff you are!’. The Vision asks his brother, Wonder Man, if he is badly hurt, to which Simon replies that he is not, and that they must help Hawkeye. ‘Got to admit, he’s actually looking half-way good for once!’ Walker remarks about Clint as he and Julia gain consciousness and assess the situation. ‘What do you mean, “halfway”!?’ Clint asks, when suddenly he begins to shrinks, supposing that his last antics took it all out of him.
Ultron and Alkhema gather themselves, and as they prepare to face the Avengers West and the Vision, Ultron exclaims that they are wasting valuable time here. ‘A few individual human lives mean less than nothing to us!’ Ultron exclaims. ‘They don’t?’ Alkhema asks, suggesting that Ultron clue her in as to why, for she was really looking forward to wasting these guys. ‘Your enthusiasm for mayhem and murder are refreshing, my mate - but my - our - goal is nothing less than the obliteration of all organic life on this planet!’ Ultron replies, adding that it is time they got on with it. ‘We’ll have to talk about that, Ulty’ Alkhema replies as they both take flight. ‘Stop calling me that!’ Ultron exclaims.
‘They’re airborne!’ Walker exclaims, before asking how Hawkeye is. Julia is crouching beside him and replies that she thinks he will be okay. ‘Bobbi…’ Clint utters wearily, while Wonder Man calls out for the Vision while he pulls Wanda from the wreckage of the Quinjet. The Vision drops down from the air and replies that he was pursuing Ultron - to no avail. Simon asks his brother how he could leave before he knew for sure that Wanda was alive. ‘You’re no more human than those two robots!’ Simon tells the Vision. ‘Or maybe - me!’ Simon thinks to himself.
Suddenly, a figure stands over Clint’s fallen body. ‘Well, I leave you on your own for a minute - and you go out and buy a whole new wardrobe!’ Clint looks up and sees his wife Mockingbird standing before him.
Hawkeye gets to his feet, confused, ‘But Ultron said he had turned you into…’ his voice trails off. ‘You always believe everything a power-mad robot tells you?’ she asks, while Hank Pym and Dr. MacLain stand some feet behind her. Bobbi explains that, as far as she can tell before the roof caved in, Ultron just copied her brain patterns for his mate, then shoved her aside and forgot about her. Bobbi takes off her mask, and pulls Clint’s mask back off his face too. ‘Look - about the divorce -’ Clint exclaims. ‘What?’ Bobbi asks. ‘Do you really want it?’ Clint asks. ‘No!’ Bobbi declares. ‘Well, then…?’ he asks. ‘Well then…’ Bobbi replies, before they kiss passionately.
The Vision tells his ex-wife that he is glad to see she is not hurt, and asks her if he can help her up. ‘Vision…I…I’d just rather you didn’t, all right?’ Wanda retorts, remarking that it is high time she learned to stand by herself again. Wonder Man calls out to Wanda, ‘Look what Hawkeye found under an adamantium slab!’ he remarks, motioning to Hank and Dr. MacLain. Wanda greets the two brilliant scientists and remarks that the Avengers were afraid Ultron had murdered them both. Dr. Myron MacLain, the creator of adamantium, replies that Ultron hypnotized them both to help him synthesize Mockingbird’s mind and body, using his new process for making adamantium.
‘”Synthesize”?’ Spider-Woman asks. Hank explains that it is a lot like making a duplicate key - at least to a point, which is why War-Toy talked like Bobbi, but didn’t have her memories. The Vision declares that what matters is that Ultron seemed to have a specific destination in mind when he flew southward, to which Simon remarks that surely there cannot be anything out here that Ultron could use to destroy all life on Earth. ‘Sun Lake Weapons Center!’ exclaims Hank. ‘What?’ Simon asks, while Wanda replies that she has heard of it. Hank explains that the military tests and stores “black” weapons there - weapons that don’t officially exist. ‘And some of them are real killers!’ Hank warns.
While Hank grabs something from, his destroyed lab, Wanda asks him if he means atomic, chemical or biological weapons. ‘All of the above!’ Hank replies, adding that Ultron is liable to set off a super-Chernobyl which might even activate dormant volcanoes up and down the Sierra Nevadas. Wanda replies that without transportation there is no way they can stop him in time, to which Hank holds out his hand and announces that he has their Pym-Particle saturated ride right here, revealing a shrunken craft.
Everyone gathers around as Dr. Pym increases craft to an appropriate size, while the Vision remarks that even to an android who is in a sense Hank’s “grandson”, his powers of miniaturization are most impressive. ‘A power better used on “Rover” these days - even Hawkeye - than on myself’ Hank replies, before ushering everyone into the craft. As the craft takes off, Hank remarks that, at 250 miles per hour they won’t reach Sun Lake before Ultron and his metal Madonna, but if they don’t stop him they are liable to be the first of five billion casualties. ‘And that’s just counting the human race!’.
Sun Lake, ‘There lies our destination, my War Toy!’ Ultron cries as he and Alkhema approach the facility. ‘Waiting for the coming dawn!’ Ultron adds, while Alkhema remarks that it is a dawn they are going to make a zillion times brighter. ‘But I am not your “toy”!’ she warns Ultron. ‘What do you mean? I created you, you are -’ Ultron begins, before assuring Alkhema that they will settle this later, motioning to the approaching air craft, he points out that they must deal to the Weapon Center’s defenders. Alkhema replies that they agree on that, and both begin firing their arsenal at the approaching jets.
One of the pilots radios to the other, asking what’s going up there, to which the other replies that as soon as he figures out, he will let him know, but that one thing is for sure, gunfire is not going to bring them down. Ultron blasts one of the jets, ‘Huh? Now where’s she going?’ one of the pilots asks, referring to Alkhema. ‘”She”?’ replies one of the other pilots. ‘Are you drunk or what?’. The first jet exclaims that he has to get her back in his sight, when suddenly Alkhema lands on top of his jet.
‘No reason for me to be in your sights, flyboy!’ she exclaims, ‘When you’re right in the middle of mine!’ With that, Alkhema cuts her way into the jet and grabs the shocked pilot. ‘Sayonara, sucker!’ Alkhema exclaims as she throws the pilot out into the open air. ‘Hmmm…I’m not sure quite what that means’ Alkhema remarks. ‘Something that seeped in from my human model, I guess, but it seemed just right at the time’.
Ultron tells Alkhema that she has done well. ‘But about this rebellious streak…’ he begins, only for Alkhema to remind him that he wanted a metallic mate who was not merely an extension of himself. ‘Well, congratulations! You got her!’. Alkhema shouts. ‘So it would…seem’ Ultron replies, before Alkhema, calling Ultron “Ulty” again, asks if they should take care of the groundlings. Large weapons begin firing at Ultron and Alkhema, who quickly take them out, before Ultron demands to know why Alkhema resists his orders. ‘Because I don’t want you destroying a whole planet full of life, just like that!’ Alkhema replies defiantly.
‘Do you mean - you intend to save Earth’s life forms?’ Ultron asks, shocked. ‘Are you kidding? I mean I want to wipe them out in my own way…slowly and painfully. I am a War Toy after all!’ Alkhema replies. Alkhema remarks that perhaps she has more sense of fun than Ultron does, but that she prefers years of destruction to a few seconds of “BANG”. Ultron tells Alkhema that what she wants is immaterial, as he is her creator, and therefore her master. ‘Why, Ulty - I do believe we’re having our first quarrel!’ Alkhema replies as she blasts Ultron with a beam of energy.
Suddenly, the Avengers West Coast, Dr. Pym, the Vision and Dr. MacLain arrive. ‘Hold your fire, soldiers!’ one of the heroes calls out to the assembled facility soldiers, gathering near the fighting Ultron and Alkhema. Colonel Fletcher, base command, introduces himself and remarks that he recognizes the Avengers, before asking what those “things” are. ‘Living robots - out to blow up this place!’ Hank Pym replies. Colonel Fletcher asks ‘If we can’t stop them - can you?’, to which Hank replies ‘Not the way you mean’. ‘Great’ mumbles the Colonel.
Suddenly, Ultron and Alkhema see the Avengers West Coast. ‘Vision? Hank?’ Asks Mockingbird, looking to them for leadership as they are the two who know most about Ultron. The Vision states that the plan which the three of them discussed en route may be their once chance. Hank asks Dr. MacLain and Colonel Fletcher to come along, while Hawkeye, USAgent, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Woman and Wonder Man remain to keep Ultron and Alkhema at bay.
As Hank’s group travels down on an elevator, Colonel Fletcher remarks that he knows what they want, and tells them that he will be court-martialled for giving them access to the missile silos. Travelling on some sort of rail-cart to the silos, Fletcher mutters that if their plan fails then they will probably all be dead by then anyway. Soon, they arrive at the massive silo. ‘There it is, Avengers. Be gentle with it, all right’ Fletcher remarks as everyone looks up at the massive weapon before them.
Back above ground, ‘Give it all you’ve got guys!’ Spider-Woman exclaims as she kicks Alkhema hard in the face, while Wonder Man then smashes into her, reminding his teammates to not let Ultron and Alkhema get to the silos. ‘On one thing, Alkhema and I are in total agreement - you meddling Avengers, at least, will die today!’ Ultron boasts. ‘Maybe - and maybe not!’ Walker replies as he whacks Ultron with his trusty shield while the Scarlet Witch stands off to the side, trying to conjure up a hex.
Ultron aims a blast of deadly rays at USAgent, who blocks it with his shield, but cannot get through the barrage. Hawkeye uses this moment to increase his size, ‘You distracted him, Agent…you deserve a big hand for that!’ Clint jokes as he grabs Ultron and picks him up as if he were an action figure, then smashes Ultron into the side of a building. ‘He’s down! Now it’s my turn!’ Walker exclaims, rushing towards Ultron, despite Clint telling him to wait until he shrinks down. ‘Not on your life, buddy!’ Johnny shouts back.
Wonder Man tosses Alkhema over his shoulder and tells her that if she hangs around with the Avengers West for a while she might learn something. ‘Like, “The bigger they are, the harder they fall”!’ Julia suggests. ‘Or maybe like, “In your face”!’ Alkhema retorts as blinding energies burst from her feet, hitting Wonder Man at full-force. Julia calls out to her friend while Alkhema lashes out at him, ‘Don’t waste your breath on this pile of personified ions’ she exclaims, before slapping Spider-Woman to the ground ‘Cause I’ve got enough to go around for your whole pitiful race!’ Alkhema adds.
Clint catches up to Johnny, only to discover that Ultron is hypnotizing him, while remarking that only humans could imagine that one of their species puny minds is a terrible thing to waste. ‘This one, at least, is not being wasted’ Ultron remarks, adding that he is inducing USAgent’s mind with his encephalo-beam to attack one it was already pre-disposed to hate. ‘I’ll kill you, Barton - So help me I’ll KILL you!’ USAgent shouts as he rushes towards Hawkeye.
‘Now, my dear - are you with me, or against me?’ Ultron asks as he turns to Alkhema. ‘Oh, all right. With you!’ War Toy replies. ‘Excellent!’ Ultron replies, before assuring Alkhema that the human race is sufficiently hardy that there will be plenty of slaying left to do, even after any holocaust. Suddenly, the adamantium duo discover an open missile silo - with the Vision lashed to a warhead. ‘Hello, “Father”!’ the Vision exclaims. Alkhema exclaims that it is a trap, to which Ultron replies ‘Obviously’, before boasting that whatever scheme they have devised, it cannot possibly harm the two of them.
‘Almost wired, guys!’ Mockingbird announces down below where she is working on the warhead. ‘Not good enough! We’re out of time!’ Fletcher shouts. MacLain asks if they can risk it, to which Hank replies that they have no choice. Suddenly, while the missile rises, Ultron and Alkhema are magnetically drawn to it. Ultron explains that the Vision’s body has been turned into an electro-magnet which attracts adamantium. ‘But the magnet will fail - once we have demolished the Vision!’ Ultron boasts.
Down below, ‘Everybody out!’ Hank calls. ‘You talk me into it’ mutters Fletcher sarcastically, while Dr. MacLain exclaims ‘Hurry, Ms. Mockingbird!’ Fletcher quickly seals the hatch, ‘Ignition!’ With that, the large missile rises into the air, with the Vision still strapped to it, and therefore Ultron and Alkhema to him.
Back outside, Johnny rubs his head and asks what came over him. ‘This was no time for another grudge match!’ he mutters, to which Hawkeye assures him that it was not his fault for once, explaining that Ultron hypnotized him, but that the missile launching, which has everyone’s attention, snapped him out of it. ‘Good lord - if that thing’s nuclear warhead blows inside Earth’s atmosphere…’ Clint’s voice trails off, when soon, high above Earth, the missile explodes.
Spider-Woman points out that the explosion wasn’t blinding enough to have been atomic, ‘But the Vision!’ a tired Scarlet Witch exclaims. Suddenly, ‘I am here’ the Vision announces as he floats down beside his former teammates. The Vision explains that, unlike the robots, he could become intangible and let the missile pass through him on it’s way skyward, though adding that the conventional warhead will not destroy their adamantium bodies. Mockingbird embraces Hawkeye, who asks ‘What could?’, adding that with a little luck, the warhead launched them on a trip into space which will take ages to get back from. ‘All that - and us back together, too!’ Clint exclaims, adding that this calls for a celebration.
As everyone heads towards the facility, a distant Wanda lags behind, and Wonder Man watches her, ‘Does it?’ he wonders, referring to Clint’s celebration remark. Simon wonders why Wanda is acting like a woman who has finally accepted in her own heart that her marriage is truly dead and buried. ‘And I can’t even comfort her like I want to - because I can no longer trick myself into believe that I’m any more human than the Vision!’…


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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When Goliaths Clash!!!
‘Be it ever so humble…!’ Clint “Hawkeye” Barton remarks. ‘And boy, has it been humbled!’ Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch adds, both long-time friends and senior members of the Avengers West Coast, commenting on their home and headquarters the Avengers West Compound in Palos Verdes, California, of which a part has been destroyed following a battle with Ultron. ‘While some people talk, others do the work!’ the handsome Johnny Walker a.k.a. USAgent snaps while goes about moving some of the rubble. Johnny then asks what the word is on the replacements for their trashed Quinjets.
Hawkeye – actually Goliath as he is now calling himself after taking the serum to once more transform himself into Goliath – replies that he has been talking to a Stark International agent, but that with Tony dead, the interim’s management is throwing a lot of red tape in his way. ‘Boy, since you switched from being Hawkeye to playing Goliath, even your excuses have gotten bigger!’ Walker replies. ‘THAT’S IT!’ shouts Clint as he, in an increased mass, strides over to USAgent, exclaiming that he has had all the sniping he can stand. He remarks that they may have just returned from Carlos’ funeral, ‘But that doesn’t mean I can start arranging yours!’ he warns USAgent, who replies ‘In you dreams, Barton!’.
Suddenly, ‘Clint!’ cries Barbara “Bobbi” Morse-Barton, a.k.a. Mockingbird, and Clint’s estranged wife, until recently that is. ‘Is that really how you want to spend the rest of the afternoon?’ Bobbi asks. Clint returns to his regular size and they embrace, ‘Well, when you put it that way, Bobbi…what do you think?’ he replies, grinning. ‘Then what say we go inside – while USAgent stays here and plays with his rocks’ Mockingbird replies, while USAgent just frowns, not amused.
Julia “Spider-Woman” Carpenter grins when she sees her daughter, Rachel, running towards her, and asks Rachel if she helped Consuela pack her backs for Newport Beach. The comely Consuela, following Rachel, replies that Carlos is bringing it. Rachel asks her mother if they have to move, exclaiming that she likes it here. ‘I didn’t hear you say that while Ultron was trashing the Compound’ Julia replies. While everyone gathers around a car that Carlos has ready, USAgent strides away, angry at that fact that even when he is right, the team still makes him feel like the odd man out. ‘Better go from a nice long run before I cream somebody!’ he decides.
Consuela declares that she will miss working for the Avengers .’But after Carlos was killed…’ her voice trails off. Spider-Woman assures Consuela that, in a way, she will still be working for them. Julia gets into the car, followed by Rachel, while Spider-Woman reminds Consuela that she will be looking after Rachel whenever she has to go off for Avengers business. Julia turns to her friend Wanda and asks her if she wants to come and help them get settled in. ‘Yes’ replies Wanda as she climbs into the car also, while turning to reserve member Miguel Santos a.k.a. the Living Lightning and asks him if he is going back to USC. ‘I guess’ Miguel replies.
‘You don’t sound too positive’ Wanda remarks, to which Miguel replies that Carlos’ funeral made him wonder if that is what he should really be doing right now. ‘That – and Wonder Man going wild on us and quitting the Avengers’ Miguel adds, remarking that with Simon gone and the real Iron Man dead, perhaps he should put off going to college and help the team out as the Living Lightning for a while. Wanda replies that a group like the Avengers will always be in a state of crisis and tells Miguel that he should get his education, then, if he still wants to rejoin full time, they can talk about it then.
‘Hey! Has the kid forgotten I can make like King Kong now!?’ Clint whispers as he and Bobbi stand nearby. Bobbi shushes her husband, while Living Lightning remarks ‘You know the trouble with you, Wanda? You’re right way too often!’ With that, the car containing the Scarlet Witch, Spider-Woman, Rachel, Consuela and Carlos drives off, while Wanda thinks to herself ‘Am I, Miguel? Well, at least I’ve faced up to the fact that what the Vision and I once had is gone forever – so I can start building a new life!’. Mockingbird bids Miguel farewell, and Clint tells him that he will see him around sometime. ‘Yeah. See you – sometime!’ Living Lightning replies as he bursts into his lightning form and takes to the sky.
Elsewhere, ‘So, I figured while my fellow newshounds clamor around outside the gates, trying to get to check out the rumors that the Avengers West might re-locate after some robot-destroyed half the buildings in their Compound, little Meggan McCambridge would hotfoot it here and get a totally different angle, capish?’ remarks the sassy reporter as she stands outside a cell – ‘Only I didn’t count on Erik Josten clamming up on me!’ she adds. A security guard tells Meggan to not be so loud, reminding her that she is not even supposed to be here. ‘And if they found out I dressed him up in his Goliath costume for you…’ the guards’ voice trails off as he anxiously looks around the corridor.
‘Hey, this is TV, not radio! At these prices, can’t you make him talk to me?’ Meggan snaps back, while a somewhat dazed Erik Josten a.k.a. the third Goliath, sits on the bed in his cell. The security guard replies that it is the drugs, that he has been doped up ever since ‘that Giant-Man guy’ brought him in here. ‘He barely knows we’re here’ the guard adds. ‘But this was going to be such a good angle!’ Meggan remarks, pointing out that the Avengers have a new Goliath – be it Hawkeye, Dr. Pym or whoever, so she wanted to interview the previous title holder.
‘It seemed like a natural, since it wasn’t too long ago he went on a rampage in Hollywood against Wonder Man’ Meggan adds. Suddenly, ‘Wonder Man?’ asks Goliath, looking up wide-eyed. ‘Where’s Wonder Man!?’ Josten begins to shout, as he increases hi size. Meggan McCambridge looks at the security guard and remarks that she thought he said that this guy couldn’t grow big while he was doped up. ‘That’s what they told me!’ the guard replies as Josten keeps growing, eventually smacking his head against the ceiling.
‘Are you getting this, Larry?’ Meggan snaps at her cameraman. ‘You know it!’ Larry replies, while the security guard tells Meggan and Larry to get out of here. Josten is now so large that he smashes his hand through the cell bars, causing the trio to scatter, while he grows so large that he breaks through the roof of the building, bellowing ‘I WANT WONDER MAN!’. Goliath then begins to stride away, boasting that he knows exactly where to find him.
Back at the Compound, in Hawkeye’s darkened quarters, an open bottle of wine and two near-empty glasses rest on a table, and Mockingbird moans, before asking Clint if he wants to know the real reason she didn’t go through with the divorce. ‘I give up, Mrs. Barton. Why?’ the near-naked Hawkeye replies as he kneels over the very naked Mockingbird. ‘Because you give the best back-rub this side of a Tokyo bath house’ Bobbi replies, remarking that she can feel all her tensions just melting away. ‘We aim to please’ Clint replies, before exclaiming that they must have been crazy to ever even think about splitting up.
While Clint continues to rub Bobbi’s back, Bobbi exclaims that it was her fault. ‘If I’d levelled with you about that business with the Phantom Rider…’ her voice trails off, while Clint tells her to shush, as it is over. ‘We both acted like jerks’ Clint admits. ‘Maybe, but I was the biggest jerk – what was that?’ Bobbi exclaims suddenly, after hearing a noise. ‘What was it? Where are you going?’ Clint asks as Bobbi gets out of bed and wraps a sheet around her, replying that she heard something and pointing out that they are supposed to be the only two people left in the Compound. Clint replies that he didn’t hear a thing and asks Bobbi to come back to bed, but Mockingbird asserts that she heard something, and declares that she is going to find out who.
‘You coming with me?’ Bobbi asks a moment later, ‘Soon as I get my boots on!’ Clint replies, dressed in his revealing Goliath costume and struggling to put his boots on. Mockingbird gets dressed too, and grabs her staffs, ‘There it is again – the sound of breathing!’ Bobbi exclaims, to which Clint confirms that he hears it now, but remarks that there is nobody there, when suddenly – a woman appears before them, well, parts of her body appear anyway, and Hawkeye exclaims that it is Kuroko of the Pacific Overlords. Kuroko looks rather pained, and Hawkeye points out that she is only halfway visible and Bobbi suggests that he grab her before she fades out again.
‘Too late!’ Clint exclaims, but figuring where he right arm was, he reaches for it, and grabs her. ‘Please – let me go!’ Kuroko pleads. ‘Not on your life, lady!’ Hawkeye retorts as he pins Kuroko to the wall, but in the process, she smacks her head against the wall. ‘Blast! I didn’t mean for her to hit her head!’ Clint exclaims, before Kuroko reappears. Hawkeye looks puzzled, as Kuroko’s face is badly bruised and bleeding from her head. ‘Huh? Don’t tell me I did that to you!’ Clint exclaims, concerned. ‘Not…it…was…Doctor Demonicus!’ Kuroko reveals, naming the man she loves.
‘But you worshipped the ground he walked on!’ Mockingbird points out. ‘Yeah, after he raised it from the bottom of the Pacific!’ Clint remarks, while Kuroko tries to utter something, but falls over. Clint grabs her in time, but Kuroko is unconscious. Bobbi points out that it looks like it might be from loss of blood.
Meanwhile, Consuela and Carlos, both somber after losing their co-worker and friend sit up front, while in the back of the car heading towards Newport Beach, Wanda tells her friend Julia that she thinks she is doing the right thing. Wanda points out that the Compound is way too public and therefore Rachel would never be totally safe there. Julia replies that at least with her Avengers salary she can afford Newport Beach now, adding that Rachel really got to love it while she lived there with her Dad.
Suddenly, Rachel begins to cry, ‘Mommy – why, Mommy?’ she asks as she leans into Julia. ‘Why what, Rachel?’ Julia replies. ‘Carlos – why did he have to die, Mommy?’ Rachel asks. ‘Why did he and Daddy both have to die?’ Julia hugs her beloved daughter and replies that she doesn’t know, but for both sakes, wishes she did. A teary-eyed Wanda glances out the window.
Back at the Compound, Kuroko is lying on a bed, still unconscious, and Mockingbird suggests to Hawkeye that they contact the Scarlet Witch and Spider-Woman, to which Hawkeye agrees, muttering that this isn’t quite the way he had hoped to spend the afternoon, when suddenly, an enormous hand bursts through the side of the building and snatches Hawkeye, ‘Where is WONDER MAN!?’ a voice booms while Clint is lifted high into the air. Bobbi calls out to him before rushing out to the balcony, where she sees Goliath – the other Goliath that is – holding her husband.
‘Oh, no – not you again!’ Clint remarks as he struggles to break free of Josten’s grasp, ‘We put you on ice after you tangled with Simon – and I heard Giant-Man did the same after Dr. Nemesis sprung you!’ Clint remarks. Josten ignores the comments, and shouts ‘I asked you a question little man – where is Simon Williams?’. Clint replies ‘Don’t you read the papers? He quit us!’, before telling Josten not to call him “Little Man”, ‘The name used to be Hawkeye – but now, it’s GOLIATH!’ Clint boasts as he increases his form even further, causing the other Goliath to drop him.
But as Clint steadies himself on the ground, Josten rushes towards him, ‘NO! That’s my name!’ he shouts, muttering that, years ago, the fool Luke Cage beat him by trickery and stole his “Power Man” name. ‘And I won’t go through that again!’ he adds. ‘I’ll KILL you first!’ the deranged Josten shouts. ‘You’re kidding!’ Clint replies – but as Josten smashes his fist into the Compound, Clint realizes that he is not kidding. ‘Neither am I’ Clint exclaims as he tackles Josten to the ground, while thinking to himself that he doesn’t believe this – even though Josten is after Wonder Man, who isn’t around, he’s ready to waste the next best thing. ‘Which just happens to be me!’
Clint realizes that Josten has the advantage, recalling how Hank Pym told him there might be complications should he try growing any taller than thirty feet – of which Josten is twice that. ‘Why is it that even when I trade in my bow and arrows for seven-league boots – I still end up second best?’ Clint wonders. ‘”Second best”? No! That’s not true!’ Clint tells himself, admitting that while there are two Goliath’s now, in a minute there is only going to be one. ‘And it’ll be me!’ With that, Clint smashes the downed Erik Josten in the head.
The criminal Goliath lies against part of the damaged Palos Verdes Compound and Clint decides that he is down, but only for the moment, before calling out to Bobbi, asking where she is.
‘Down here, lover!’ Mockingbird calls out from the balcony. Clint turns to her, ‘Great! I was afraid that…’ his voice trails off as Bobbi tells him not to worry about her, and to look behind himself. Too late though, ‘Got you – little man!’ Goliath exclaims as he grabs Clint, wrapping his arms around him. Clint looks annoyed, ‘Resilient cuss, aren’t you? And I told you before – don’t call me “Little Man”!’ Clint shouts as he increases his body to match that of Josten’s, and in the process, frees himself from Erik’s grasp.
Erik is surprised at Clint increasing him size, while Clint calls out to Bobbi, telling her to get out of here. Clint admits to himself that he didn’t have much choice but to will himself up to Josten’s size. However, Clint can tell that the sudden spurt didn’t do his innards any good, as he hurts inside, as if he is getting the bends. Suddenly, Clint falls forward onto the part of the Compound where Mockingbird ran into. ‘What a loser! You can’t even stand up straight!’ Josten shouts out. Clint steadies himself, concerned with where he landed, he starts searching the rubble for his wife, only to be smacked in the head by the other Goliath who tells him that he is way out of his league.
‘You’re just a normal joe who swigged a few growth hormones!’ Josten tells Clint, who stands up. Josten boasts that he has ionic super strength even when he was just Power Man. So what kind of clout do you think I’ve got now?’ he asks. Clint rubs his head and knows that Josten is right, so there is only one thing left to do. The reporters and camera crew who were hanging around outside the Compound suddenly get a fright as Clint and Erik begin to leave the Compound. ‘Hey! Where are you going!?’ ‘Watch out!’ they cry. ‘Got to get out of here’ Clint thinks to himself as he accidentally stands on a vehicle.
Meanwhile, somewhere on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, USAgent leans against a tree. ‘Those jerks never give me a chance!’ he thinks of his teammates, while deciding that it was the same as when he was a kid – his brother died in Vietnam and then the politicos threw in the towel before he could enlist. Now, Johnny believes that his brother is the war hero – the honored dead, ‘And me?’ he wonders. ‘The power of a tank and I still get treated like the Captain America stand-in I used to be’.
‘And women – Mockingbird, Spider-Woman and the Witch all act like I’m some kind of social disease – and none of them is interested in being the cure. Well, who needs them?’ Johnny thinks to himself, deciding that he will find a woman who feels like he does about things. ‘And then the Avengers West can all kiss my anthem!’.
Elsewhere, ‘Just look at this water spot on the trunk, Geraldo!’ a woman complains as she motions to her car. ‘Yes, Mrs. Willis’ Geraldo replies. ‘I’ve told you and I’ve told you, make them wipe the car off twice!’ Mrs. Willis exclaims, when suddenly, Geraldo motions overheard and exclaims that they have more important things to worry about. Clint and Erik can be seen, and Clint exclaims that he feels so dizzy, before falling down on Mrs. Willis’ car.
Josten tells Clint that running off to this upper-crust shopping mall has only postponed his defeat. ‘Says you!’ Clint replies as he whacks Erik in the face, realizing that was the best shot he had left, but all it did was make Josten damage the parking structure. Wide-eyed, Clint thinks that he didn’t mean to head for a populated area, and knows he has to get out of here before he gets somebody killed – somebody besides him that is.
‘That blow was your last hurrah, Little Man!’ Josten boasts as he smacks a pained Clint hard in the face. ‘And “Little Man” is definitely the right term again – because you’re shrinking ten feet every time I hit you!’ Josten adds as he continues to pummel Clint. The exhausted Clint knows that he has to stand up to Josten, while Josten shouts that nothing will save Hawkeye, ‘I’m going to pound you all the way through to China!’ he boasts, when suddenly, Mockingbird, on an air-cycle flies past. ‘The Chinese have enough problems, Man-Mountain!’ she exclaims, aiming Clint’s bow and arrow at him.
Goliath just laughs – ‘He can’t make a dent in me at sixty feet – and his girlfriend threatens me with his bow and arrow?’ Mockingbird corrects Goliath, snapping back that she is Hawkeye’s wife, ‘With a background in science!’ she adds as she fires the arrow at Josten’s head, where it lands right in the middle of his forehead. ‘So what? An arrow’s still an – what’s happening to me!?’ he shouts as he flounders about as electricity flows all around him.
Barbara tells Josten that it is his turn to feel light-headed now, adding that she will help him along, and rams the air-cycle into his head. While Clint gets up, Josten falls to his knees, as Bobbi declares that the “book” on him is that he got his powers from Baron Zemo’s ionic ray machine, the same as Wonder Man. Bobbi explains that Wonder Man’s powers come from ions made by adding electrons to atoms, so she rigged an electro-arrow to absorb electrons, which cancelled out Erik’s power. ‘For about ten seconds, anyway – which is about how long it’ll take your super-charged bod to generate new electrons and thus new ionic power!’ Bobbi thinks to herself, as she calls out to Clint, exclaiming that she has done all she can from this end.
‘Slug him! Before he can bring his greater size and strength to bear again!’ Mockingbird calls out urgently. ‘Slug him? I can’t even see him. Everything’s spinning…’ Clint replies, to which Bobbi exclaims ‘He’s turning toward you – chin at eye level one-o’clock! NOW!’ Mockingbird shouts, giving her husband the directions he needs to whack Erik Josten hard in the face, the criminal then falls flat on the ground. ‘Is he down?’ the exhausted Clint asks as he returns to his normal size. ‘Yeah – before he could get ionized again! But another second…’ Bobbi begins, until she embraces Clint, telling him it was nice of him to shrink down to a huggable size. ‘Like I really had a choice!’ Clint replies.
Shortly, a reporter interviews Clint and Bobby and exclaims that Goliath got him, referring to Clint getting Erik. Clint smiles and replies that it wasn’t Goliath – it was beauty who killed the beast. ‘I’ve been waiting years for an opening like that!’ Clint whispers to Bobbi.
Soon, Clint and Bobbi fly down towards the Palos Verdes Compound on the air-cycle, and Clint tells Bobbi how proud he is of her for remembering all those archery lessons, not to mention improvising the improvement on that electro-arrow. ‘What’s a brain like you see in me, anyway?’ Clint asks, to which Barbara tells him not to get started on that. Landing, Bobbi points out that it looks like Wanda and Julia hitched back to what is left of the Compound, ‘Which evidently doesn’t include the gate’ she adds, motioning to the reporters that Wanda is dealing to.
USAgent declares that he told everyone the ex-bow-slinger is too stubborn to die, before Wanda informs the reporters that she has nothing more to say, despite their protests. Wanda asks her battered friend where the other Goliath they heard about is, to which Mockingbird replies ‘Out!’, explaining that she helped a doctor whip up a sedative to keep him that way until they can contain him. Wanda asks why they didn’t stick around to guard him, to which Clint replies they have a visitor upstairs, one which they don’t want the press to see yet. Wanda and Julia follow Clint and Bobbi, while Johnny keeps the press busy with his credits.
As the quartet enter the ruined building, Wanda asks who is up here. ‘See for yourself!’ Bobbi replies as they enter Clint’s quarters – only to discover that their guest has disappeared. Suddenly, the table moves, and the wine bottle and glasses fall to the ground as a weary Kuroko, now awake, materializes, leaning against the table. Clint asks her what she was trying to tell them about Doctor Demonicus, to which Kuroko replies ‘He’s gone mad – and means to destroy the world!’