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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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Show and Tell
'Rick!' Captain America a.k.a. Steve Rogers shouts as he sees on a monitor within Avengers HQ his ally Rick Jones pleading for help as he is attacked by some strange creature. Over the communications' line, Rick calls out to Cap for help, as he is dragged away by the creature. 'Rick! Where are you?' Cap asks, before the comm-link ends, and the monitor goes blank. Cap knows that he has to move fast, but can't re-establish the connection. He can trace it, however, and taps into the keyboard while remembering that Rick Jones was his partner, and tht he knows better than anyone that when Rick is in trouble, you have to be prepared to follow him anywhere. To Cap's surprise, the trace leads back to the West Coast Avengers Compound. He puts a connection in to the Compound, and soon, the original Human Torch answers the call from the Compound. The Torch apologizes to his ally and explains that the distress call can't have come from here, as this is only their back-up computer, and even that has not been operational for some time, so there is no way it could have been the source of Rick's transmission.
'Nonetheless, our computers say it was, Torch' Cap replies, before telling the Torch that he wished there was enough time to put this more delicately, and suggests to the Torch that he try interfacing with the system or something to check it out. 'Er, Cap...I may be an android, but as you should know, I'm an old android...ancient by modern standards. My internal systems are hardly compatible with today's circuit boards and computer chips' the Torch replies, before flicking a switch that he knows will run a systems check. The torch looks puzzled, and apologizes to Captain America, informing him that without even being activated, this system was somehow used recently to reroute a message to Avengers HQ in New York, and that it is from an address in the Midwest. The Torch starts to forward the coordinates to Captain America's computer, but when he looks back up at his screen, he sees Captain America has already left.
Elsewhere: 'Perfect' a boy wearing glasses, hunched over a computer thinks to himself as he stares into the screen. 'Too, too... perfect!' he tells himself as he taps into the computer keyboard and watches his screen, which depicts Captain America running down a corridor. He continues to tap away at the keyboard and tells himself that should complete the final edit. 'Now all that's left to do is relay it via modem to -' he starts to think, before a loud banging on his door is heard, and a woman screams 'STEEEEVIEEEE!' 'Mom!' the boy calls back, before his mother bursts into the room and tells him that it is time for bed. 'Whew – done!' Stevie thinks to himself, as he turns his computer off, Yes, Mom!' he replies. But when his mother leaves his room, Stevie climbs out a window, 'Yeah, right...like me and my rock don't have more important things to do' he thinks to himself as he jumps down to the ground, telling himself that his mom wouldn't have anything to worry about if she only knew that noting can go wrong as long as he has his lucky black rock. Stevie then runs off into the night.
Nearby, a Quinjet streaks towards an abandoned amusement park, where Captain America thinks to himself that according to the Torch, this amusement park was the source of Rick's mysterious message. Cap puts the Quinjet into autopilot, and leaps from the Quinjet, dropping down into the abandoned amusement park, where he lands on his trusty shield and slides down the rollercoaster track. 'This seems too easy' Cap thinks to himself, before one of the amusement rides, shaped like a clown face, begins to laugh at him.
Elsewhere, several figures stand in the shadows, two male figures, someone with wings, a large round figure and a elongated stretched figure, are gathered together, as one of the male figures tells the others that he gathered them all together, because he just got a call from Captain America himself. 'The Avengers need us?' the elongated, stretched figure exclaims, surprised. The other male figure asks how come, if he is supposed to be in charge of communications, why Captain America contacted him. 'Because I'm the leader' the other male figure responds. 'Which means when Ashley didn't show up for monitor duty, he got stuck with it' one of the others remarks. 'Excuuuuse me, I've got a life' the large round figure mutters as they gather before the abandoned amusement park.
Back at the Avengers West Coast Compound, the Torch is still trying to figure out how nan inactive computer managed to send a message across the country. He tries to trace Rick's communique from within the system, but it shocked to discover that according to the scan, the amusement park wasn't the original source of the transmission – just another relay station. 'And worse yet, the computers have identified an alien energy residue similar to -' the Torch thinks to himself, moving back away from the computer as it starts to spark. The Torch turns to another computer, recalling how Jarvis told him that Cap took off in a Quinjet, but he tries hailing the Quinjet and gets no response. The Torch realizes that Cap is heading into a trap, and contacts Wonder Man, whose face appears on the monitor system. 'What's up, Hot Pants?' Wonder Man asks. The Torch transfer control of the central console to Wonder Man's quarters, and tells him that he really has to fly, as he then blasts out of the communications room.
At the amusement park, Captain America walks through the laughing clown face, deciding that there is something going on in this building. He makes his way through the building, but with no sign of Rick, realizes that this reeks of a trap, only he has seen nothing but fun house paraphernalia so far. Suddenly, Cap spins around as figures approach him, 'Looks like I spoke too soon' he thinks to himself, as shadowy figures approach him.
Speaking of shadowy figures, the strange group of odd-shaped beings continues on through the amusement park, 'So y'all understand what we're after...and who we'll be up against?' one of them asks. The winged woman utters something in her native tongue, as energy bubbles around one of the male figures, 'You think it's a thrill for me?' he asks. 'Right. Then everyone dive in!' the other male figure calls out, while the large woman mutters that she really hates this part.
The Human Torch flies through the night sky, knowing that he really has to pour on the speed, create his own thermal updraft to increase his velocity. He was able to trace the transmission back as far as a system in the Midwest with a limited access to Avengers computers before some kind of hyper-loop exploded his console, which he thinks was probably caused be the energy residue in the system that the computer identified as the power of the mystic Ruby of Cyttorak! Some thunder booms as the Torch flies into dark clouds, while thinks to himself that Captain America doesn't know that he is heading into the very power that created the Juggernaut!
in flashback images:
Thanks to the Avengers Files, the Torch has learnt that Cain Marko was a nobody going nowhere when he found the mystic ruby of Cyttorak in Southeast Asia, one touch and he was soon making trouble for every superhero with a reputation – from the X-Men to Thor. Often working alone, but sometimes with his buddy Black Tom Cassidy, and one time, used the gem of Cyttorak to turn the Black Tom into another Juggernaut – but didn't realize that it would mean sharing his own power and that he would only be half a Juggernaut himself – so that no one could steal his energy from him again, the Juggernaut hurled the gem of Cyttorak into space.
Present:
'And that was the last anyone had heard of the mystic ruby of Cyttorak -' the Torch thinks to himself, before he screams in pain as he is struck by a bolt of lightning mid-flight.
Back at the funhouse, Cap is defending himself against funhouse gimmicks  that have become malevolent, animatronic beings that attack him. Laughter resonates around him and the lights shine bright, distracting him from the task at hand, while he notices that the walls are starting to close in. He supposes that means he is on the right track, but he wonders where Rick is, and continues to battle the animatronics, unaware that a figure behind the scenes is watching him, tapping away at a keyboard. Cap hears a screaming, and calls out 'Rick!' as he leaps past several of the animatronics, all shouting 'Get it!' 'Get it!' while Cap heads in the direction the scream came from. As the floor buckles, he uses that momentum to clear past the animatronics, and leaping upwards, watches as the walls close in on the animatronic beings, crushing them, before he falls through another door as the boy behind the scenes presses a button on the keyboard control system.
Cap crashes through another wall and finds himself in some sort of river ride, where he is annoyed at how ridiculous this is, and frustrated that it isn't leading him any closer to Rick. He dives down under the river, thinking that this is just as bad as the fun house. The current rages out of control, forcing him back up above the surface, he worries that he is going to smash into the boats at the end of the tunnel up ahead. He gets back under the water, making his way past the boats, before he floats towards a waterfall. Cap puts his shield under himself to break his fall, and as he plummets off the end of the waterfall, he wonders how anyone gets by without an indestructible shield. Landing safely, Cap is then punched by a strange large creature that grins in the shadows, and takes Cap's shield from him, 'Got it' the creature grins.
Outside, the Human Torch flies towards the amusement park, rubbing his head after the lightning bolt packed a mean punch. His circuits are self-repairing, but he knows it will take time until he is one hundred percent, and wonders if he should look into updating his systems. He tells himself that will have to wait, and as he thinks he has found the action, and realizes Cap could be in trouble already. He drops down and finds several figures that look similar to him. 'Whoa! Under attack... by more Torches?' he thinks to himself. He fires a blast at one of the figures, but all he does is shatter a mirror. He realizes that he overreacted, as the figures are just his reflection. Watching from behind the scenes, Stevie is surprised to see the Torch, he wasn't expecting him, but decides that it should just add to the fun. He holds up the gem of Cyttorak and tells himself that he needs to get his “toys” in order. The Torch then clears a path out of the hall of mirrors, and fires a powerful blast – which somehow reflects back at the Torch, amplified, his own blast knocks him to the ground.
A group of animatronic figures gather around the Torch, who wonders what is going on, and then fires a blast at one of the creatures, while another passes right through him, and interferes with his internal circuits somehow. He assumes that they are ghosts – but then sees figures of Toro, Union Jack, the Sub-Mariner and others from his past. 'But they're dead...I can't fight them!' the Torch thinks to himself, covering his face with his hand, telling himself that he can't even fight a mouse in this condition, when suddenly, he sees a figure running out of the hall, 'Rick? Rick Jones?'
Outside, the Torch follows the person he believes is Rick, while at the same time, Captain America is following the monster-like being. 'I'm catching up to it' Cap thinks to himself, while the Torch wonders what Rick is running from. 'I'll take that, gruesome!' Cap declares as he grabs his shield from the creature, while the Torch calls out to Rick, asking him to stop, and explaining that he is a friend. Cap and the Torch don't appear to see each other as they follow their quarry into a wax museum – and they don't notice the boy, Stevie, sitting on top of the wax musuem sign, snickering and laughing. Suddenly, inside the wax museum, Cap comes to a stop, and the Torch gulps hard as they find themselves confronted by a large number of super beings including Thor, Iron Man, Sersi, the Hulk, Cable, Power Man, Mr Fantastic, Quicksilver and more.
Cap immediately realizes that they are animated wax figures, and deduces that they seem to have diluted versions of the real heroes' powers – but he knows he has to get pat them to find that creature, as he was the one on the video threatening Rick. The Torch discovers that these wax beings are pretty slow, so he just flies over them, knowing that their rel strength is in their numbers, and he sees Rick Jones right in the middle of them. 'Help!' Rick calls out as the large creature reaches for him. Cap sees the creature grab Rick and races towards him – but he sees the Torch hovering nearby, and thinks that he is just another wax double to get through, so hurls his shield towards him. 'Hey! This one's quick!' the Torch thinks to himself as he releases a surge of flame towards Cap's shield. The shield is knocked aside, and the Torch fires a blast that melts some of the wax statues, causing the floor to become sticky with thr wax. 'Where is Rick Jones?' both Cap and the Torch shout at once, before they find themselves stuck in the mess on the floor. 'Wait a minute...' Cap thinks, while the Torch admits that the shield took him by surprise. 'Hang on...' he thinks to himself, before the Torch and Cap calls out to each other, realizing the other is the real deal.
Suddenly, Rick screams, as the creature plunges its fingers into his eyes. Cap and the Torch call out to Rick, when suddenly, one of the outer walls collapses inwards, towards Cap, but the Torch fires a blast at the gunk keeping Cap trapped, freeing him. Cap returns the favor by rushing forward and pulling the Torch from the melted wax, using his shield to knock away some debris that falls towards the Torch. At that moment, 'Hold it right there!' a voice calls out, and Captain America and the Human Torch look up to see five figures that have emerged from the shadows behind the fallen wall – 'The Great Lakes Avengers!' Captain America exclaims, shocked. 'What are they doing here?' the Torch asks. Big Berth explains that they had come simply to retrieve something for a comrade – and now they find these two imposters participating in the murder of fellow Avenger Rick Jones, referring to the lifeless form with hollowed out eyes nearby. 'Great Lakes Avengers Assemble!' Mister Immortal shouts as he leads Bertha, Doorman, Dinah Soar and Flatman towards Cap and the Torch. 'Say what?' Cap utters, before the Torch grabs Cap and takes flight, announcing that they are out of here.
Mister Immortal calls out to Dinah Soar, who flies up in front of the Torch, and smacks him back to the ground with one of her wings. 'Speaks volumes with those razor tipped wings, doesn't she!' the Torch jokes, before Flatman wraps his elongated body around Captain America, who asks him what this is all about. 'You're supposed to be on the side of the Avengers!' Cap exclaims. 'And we intend to remain so, “Captain”. Now give it up!' Flatman retorts as he tries to grab Cap's shield from his hands. The Torch follows Dinah Soar, having ascertained that she is trying to lead him away from the battlesite, and decides that can be quickly enough remedied with a single fire ball, which he blasts at her, causing her to plummet to the ground.
'What are you doing to me?' Flatman exclaims as Captain America manages to move himself out of Flatman's tangled body. 'Just wrapping up a bit so that we can have a little talk – straighten a few things out!' Cap replies as Mister Immortal begins to sneak up to him – until the Human Torch sees this, and fires a blast at Mister Immortal, hoping to put him out of action for a while. Mister Immortal screams when the blast trikes him, and he falls to the ground – seemingly dead. As Cap tangles Flatman up around a column, the Torch is horrified and declares that he didn't mean to kill Mister Immortal. 'I guess I just assumed... with a name like Mr Immortal... that he couldn't be -' the Torch begins, to which Cap tells the Torch that he doesn't understand, and explains that Mister Immortal is dead, but, believe it or not, he will get better – that is his power. As if on cue, Mister Immortal is resurrected, and immediately grabs Captain America's shield and rushes through a door, punching Cap in the process, and causing him to keel over. Mister Immortal tells himself that he should be able to make it to the Wax Museum, while the Torch decides if that is really Mister Immortal's power, then they should give it a workout, blasting him with another surge of flame, causing Mister Immortal to scream as he dies, dropping the shield in the process.
Suddenly, 'Cap – watch out for Big Betha!' the Torch calls out as Berth drops down towards him – until the Torch flies into her, before he is swallowed by her flesh, cutting him off mid-sentence as he informs Cap that Betha is faster than she looks. 'Get offa him, Bertha – now or I'll be forced to -' Cap begins as he hurls his shield towards Bertha, but Doorman leaps in front of it, 'Whatever it is, you'll do it without this shield!' Doorman calls out, telling Cap that he must have forgotten about him. 'You wish, pal!' the Torch remarks as he manages to emerge from Big Bertha's folds, he holds her above his head, and Cap gets underneath, too, helping the Torch, he tells Doorman that they thought they would take care of two birds with one very big stone! They theyn hurl Big Bertha towards Doorman, who falls backwards as Big Bertha passes through his doorway body.

Soon, inside the wax museum, Cap crouches down beside the Rick Jones figure, confirming, as he suspected, that it was a wax figure, somehow animated by that red glow.
Outside, the Torch confronts the Great Lakes Avengers, pointing out that now they have established who the real Avengers are, he wants one of them to explain. 'He's the boss' Big Bertha mutters, motioning to Mister Immortal. 'Er, would you believe there's been a bit of a mix-up?' Mister Immortal asks. He explains that they were contacted on their limited access Avengers computers by Captain America himself. 'Ahem' the Torch interjects, clearing his throat. 'I mean by someone who looked extremely like Captain America' Mister Immortal corrects himself, revealing that he wanted them to retrieve his shield from a fake Cap who had stolen it. 'I can guess the rest' the Torch remarks, before telling the Great Lakes Avengers that whoever used their computers to get into the Avengers' computer and set a trap for the real Cap, was somehow utilizing the power of the mystic ruby of Cyttorak, before asking where the shield is.
'I just teleported it over – it's gone!' Doorman calls out when he looks at where the shield was supposed to be. 'Nothing but an empty box of peanuts' Big Bertha points out. 'Then we helped steal Captain America's shield?' someone asks. 'Not quite' Cap announces as he appears, holding his shield. He reports that he noticed shortly after he got here that most of the fun house gimmicks seemed concentrated on getting his shield, so in the wax museum he took precautions to protect it. He states that the Avengers will find whoever is responsible for this, and they might look for the real Rick Jones while they are at it – but in the meantime, the perpetrator is in for a surprise when he tries to use the shield for whatever his dark purpose is.
The next morning, closer than the Avengers could know, at a school, where a  teacher tells one student to sit down, and that they gave an excellent presentation of their father's fire fighter equipment. 'You can clean up all the foam after class' the teacher informs the student. 'Way to go!' another student calls out, before the teacher asks Stevie to come up front and show what he  brought today. 'Give it up!' one of the other students calls out. 'Must you, class?' the teacher complains, while Stevie holds the glowing red rock in his hand, thinking that he knows a zillion ways he could destroy them all – but he doesn't want to. Rather, he wants to see their humiliated reactions when they see what he has brought for show and tell. 'He holds a large satchel under his arm, and tells his classmates that before he shows them what he has, he must share a little background information with them. 'Sit down!' one of the other students calls out, while another hisses. 'Must I, class -' the teacher begins, while Stevie thinks that his classmates are fools.
He begins by telling them that it all started a while back somewhere in space, when a red rock was sent hurtling to Earth somehow – and he happened to be there when it landed, and only he was smart enough to recognize what it was – a very special prize – his lucky red rock! The teacher interrupts and reminds Stevie that they were all there on that geology field trip when he found the stone, but none of them were able to identify it from their text books. 'I'm not finished yet' Stevie tells his teacher, before boasting that his lucky red rock gave him super powers, and he used them to defeat the Juggernaut, and that last night, he battled with the Avengers against an amusement park gone amok, and that Captain America himself gave him his indestructible shield as a token of his appreciation. But as Stevie removes the shield from the satchel, he is forlorn, as a partially melted shield is all that he pulls out. His classmates begin snickering and snorting, while Stevie realizes that the Avengers switched Cap's shield with one from the exhibit in the wax museum. 'I think I'm going to cry' he utters to himself, while his classmates burst into laughter. Stevie clenches the gem of Cyttorak in his hand and looks determined, vowing to make them pay – especially the Avengers – but first: 'This class just got a new teacher!' he exclaims.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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The Reaper and the Robot, part 2: Tunnel Vision (first story)
first story:‘There’s the helicopter, USAgent!’ exclaims Tony “Iron Man” Stark as he takes flight, informing his teammate that he will handle the approaching copter, and telling him to take care of those people up ahead. ‘I still can’t believe we’re doing this, Iron-pants!’ Johnny Walker a.k.a. the USAgent replies as he moves swiftly towards the civilian protesters up ahead. ‘Gangs running wild here in L.A - a crisis to end all crises in the Persian Gulf - and we’re sent here to protect some protesters who’re too dumb to get out of the way of a malathion spraying!’ Walker declares. ‘Let them take a bath - that’s what I say!’ Walker adds.
As Iron Man flies towards the approaching helicopter, Tony thinks to himself that he still has trouble believing that the US government forced the Avengers West Coast to give USAgent the time of day, let alone Avengers membership. Changing the subject, Tony thinks that California may have a med fly situation, which is not doing its agriculture any good, and maybe spraying is the way to deal with it - and maybe not. Tony knows that, either way, they cannot let a big dose of malathion hit the crowd directly, and unleashes a low-intensity repulsor ray, which disrupts the airflow, and disperses the spray, while at the same time creating a portside downdraft which sends the chopper into a spin towards the ground. ‘Well, nobody’s perfect!’ Tony jokes to himself.
Back on the ground, the handsome USAgent has made his way in between the protesters, telling them to break it up. ‘Haven’t you got a Greenpeace meeting or something to go to?’ Walker asks, while one of the civilians points out that the copter is falling. USAgent tells him that is not his problem, and orders everyone once again to clear out. Suddenly, one of the protesters rushes towards USAgent, fist outstretched, he shouts ‘No! They’re spraying at night, too! They’re out to get us, I tell you!’ the protester shouts. ‘I got a family! I won’t let them -’ the protester exclaims, lunging at Johnny, who punches his attacker in the stomach, ‘You’re outta line, mister!’ Walker exclaims.
Grabbing the protester by his shirt, Walker announces that the authorities okayed the spraying, before suddenly noticing a strange rash-like anomaly spreading over his attacker. ‘What’s that rash on your face? It looks like some kind of metal!’ Walker declares. ‘That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!’ the protester exclaims, calling Johnny a jerk, he says again that the spraying has been happening at night time. ‘I’ve heard them - choppers, the works!’. The protester reveals that he got this way after eating fruit out of his own garden in Pasadena, and points out that the other people have the same problem. ‘Look, far as I know, it could just be from too much iron in their diet. That doesn’t give you any right to block -’ Johnny begins, until one of the crowd shouts ‘Look at Iron Man! He’s almost caught the helicopter - no - he has caught it!’
Johnny looks up and sees Iron Man carrying the helicopter downwards, to the ground, where the protestors begin to turn on Iron Man, ‘They were trying to kill us, man! You should’ve let them crash!’ one of them shouts, to which Iron Man replies that he doesn’t see it that way. The helicopter pilots emerge, apologizing to Iron Man about the spray, explaining that they tried to stop releasing it when they saw the people, but something malfunctioned. ‘I figured’ Iron Man replies, before one of the pilots exclaims that he doesn’t care if the fruit flies eat the crops. ‘Check!’ his colleague agrees, declaring that he is quitting until they figure out how once and for all whether the malathion is safe or not.
‘Quitting your day job you mean, right?’ USAgent asks as he and the protesters walk over to the helicopter. ‘How about all that secret night time spraying these folks saw?’ One of the pilot points to USAgent and asks Iron Man ‘You know that hot head?’, to which Iron Man replies ‘Who really knows anybody?’. The pilot tells Iron Man that he can tell USAgent that nobody is doing any “secret spraying”, day or night. ‘Right! Every spraying time’s listed in the paper long before we do it!’ the other pilot explains. ‘Point duly noted’ Iron Man replies, before the pilots announce that they have to get going. ‘Whoa! I want to talk to you buzzards!’
Iron Man tells Walker to take it easy, and steps between Johnny and the pilots, but Johnny exclaims ‘Cram easy! I said I want to talk to - heyyyy!’ he exclaims as Iron Man picks up all 270 pounds of USAgent and carries him into the air. ‘See? What did I tell you? They’re all in it together!’ one of the protesters exclaims. As he is carried through the air by Iron Man, Walker asks him what the big idea is, to which Iron Man replies that it is not their job to take sides in the malathion thing, as they were just there to prevent violence, which they did. ‘Yeah, well, we’re Avengers, aren’t we?’ Walker replies, before telling Iron Man that if he had gotten a close look at the skin on some of those people - ‘as metallic-looking in spots as your fancy-pants armor’ - then maybe he too would feel it was high time the Avengers West Coast finally started doing some real avenging.
Soon, Tony and Johnny arrive back at their home - the home of the Avengers West Coast - the Palos Verdes Compound. As they land near the swimming pool, Iron Man tells Walker that, if what he has told him on the way back here is true, the maybe they should let all the Avengers in on this, though Tony adds that it still doesn’t mean it is county pilots who are doing the night spraying. ‘Haah! It’s all done by gremlins who joyride in the county’s choppers at night, right?’ Johnny retorts. ‘Give me a fragging break!’
Up ahead, Iron Man sees Greer Grant Nelson, better known as Tigra, and exclaims ‘So they finally found you, and -’ Tigra interrupts, ‘-made me free, stripped and 5’10” again!’, before informing her teammates that Hank and Jan have called an emergency meeting. The trio race to the meeting room, and Iron Man asks Tigra if she is okay then, to which Tigra replies that she has never felt better, and reveals that Agatha Harkness found her and fixed her up. ‘Long story’ she adds, before USAgent tells his teammates that he thought Pym and Jan drove up north to see if they could rekindle the flame.
‘Well, whatever they did or didn’t do up there, tall-dark-and-hunksome, they’re back - so it must’ve happened fast’ Tigra replies, smiling at Johnny, before suggesting that she can ask Hank and Jan to give the two of them lessons sometime soon. ‘What do you say?’ Greer asks. Somewhat taken aback, Johnny replies ‘Er…yeah, sure. Anytime’. ‘Great. I’ll pick you up at eight tonight’ Greer replies. ‘Uh…fine’ Johnny remarks, still puzzled, while Iron Man mutters that Greer is back to normal all right, as he opens the conference room doors, and the trio enter, to find, as Iron Man points out, that the entire gang is here. Tigra jokes that if Agatha Harkness had stayed around then they would have enough for a basketball game.
Dr. Hank Pym tells Tigra that it is great to see her feeling her oats again, but that they have far more important things to do. Motioning to the sack that her ex-husband is holding, Janet van Dyne a.k.a. the Wasp tells Hank to let the others see. ‘Yeah, show-and-tell time’ Clint “Hawkeye” Barton remarks, pointing out that Hank and Jan have been doing the “mysterioso” bit ever since they returned an hour ago. ‘We just wanted everybody together, before we trotted out…this!’ Hank exclaims as he opens the bag, and tosses onto the table the robotic heads of two apparent people they recently encountered.
‘What in blazes?’ Hawkeye asks, to which Pietro “Quicksilver” Maximoff, ally of the Avengers West Coast, and brother to the Scarlet Witch, points out that it is clearly the remains of two humanoid robots, to which Clint replies that he meant ‘So what? We’ve all seen enough androids to last us a lifetime’. Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch reminds her dear friend that some of them even married one, referring to herself. Hank explains that these robots were under remote control, and that the Rover’s motor put them on the fritz somehow.
Iron Man asks his long-time teammates where they encountered the androids, to which the Wasp explains that they were disguised as the “proprietors” of a small wheat farm, and wonders why anyone would stick robots on a farm unless it had something to do with the food supply. ‘See what I mean about this being important’ Tigra mumbles, to which Johnny remarks that he wonders if this has anything to do with the metallic rash on the malathion protestors. Johnny tells his teammates that the protestors complained about night-time spraying, but admits he cannot see the connection. ‘Malathion spraying? Get serious, Agent!’ Hawkeye tells his rival. ‘You think the Earth’s being invaded by robot med flies?’ Clint asks.
‘You brainless -!’ USAgent shouts as he lunges across the conference table, scrambling for Hawkeye, Johnny reminds everyone that Uncle Sam put him on the team to keep an eye on all the clowns here, not to take any of their bull. ‘I’ll show you what you’re gonna take, mister…’ Clint replies, egging Walker on, until the Scarlet Witch tells both men to stop it. Iron Man and Hank hold USAgent back, while Quicksilver keeps Hawkeye at bay as he remarks that his sister is correct. ‘I realize I am no longer an Avenger, but -’ Pietro begins, until Clint interrupts, declaring that the worst day Quicksilver ever saw he was still more of an Avenger than the poor man’s excuse Captain America. ‘Hey, I was Captain America, you stupid -’ Johnny shouts, only for Iron Man to interrupt, telling both of them to knock it off.
Dr. Pym tells his teammates that they can settle their personal feud later, but that right now, the seven of them have to go check out the other farms in the area - ‘No’ Simon “Wonder Man” Williams, silent until now, suddenly interrupts. Hank ignores Simon, and tells everyone that they can look into the “metallic rash” USAgent mentioned too. Hank adds that he will get onto their computer and see if he can dig up any data to support the idea of a threat to the food supply. ‘Didn’t you hear me?’ Simon asks, frowning. ‘I said NO!’ Simon shouts, smacking a powerful fist down upon the conference table, splitting it down the middle.
‘Look out everybody! Wonder Man’s gone out of his skull!’ Tigra exclaims, but Simon shouts that it is the rest of them that have gone crazy. ‘Wanda and I told you how me dead brother’s come back - as the real Grim Reaper this time - now he’s drinking up people’s lives like so much Miller Lite!’ Simon declares, annoyed that now they want to charge off and look for robots on the farm. Wanda puts her hands on Simon and tells him not to get upset, and that she is sure Hank has his reasons for suggesting they concentrate on the robots first. ‘Matter of fact, I do, Wanda…’ Hank explains, before reminding everyone that it was only a suggestion, since nobody elected him Chairman of Avengers West.
Hank points out that since Simon’s brother, Eric, seems to have gone underground with the whole LAPD looking for him, it seems that this wider threat ought to have priority. ‘Threat? What threat?’ Simon asks, clearly annoyed. ‘A tinker-toy version of Ma and Pa Kettle - some bozo with zits whining about how somebody sprayed insecticide on his face - and you jokers start worrying someone’s going to cause rust of the food chain!’. Iron Man tells Simon that they all hope he is right, and that it is just a false alarm, before asking him if he thinks he may have lost his objectivity. ‘I don’t want to be objective, Tin-Man!’ Simon snaps back. ‘I want to find my brother - and that’s just what I mean to do!’ he shouts, storming out of the conference room, he smashes the doors from their hinges.
Wanda races after Simon, telling him to wait, to which Simon asks ‘What for? So you can try to talk me out of leaving?’ he tells Wanda to save her breath. Wanda catches up with Simon outside, telling him that she wont argue with him, as she knows how he feels. ‘If it were my brother out there -’ Wanda begins, before telling Simon that he mustn’t hate his fellow Avengers for doing things in the order they feel that they must. ‘Stuff my fellow Avengers! Wanda - you saw Eric - how he is!’ Simon replies, asking Wanda to come with him and help find Eric. ‘Stop him - maybe even help him!’. Wanda looks intently at Simon, telling him that she wishes she could, even without her hex power, but she is not sure what good she could be to him. Wanda tells Simon that if she has a place at all now, it is as an Avenger. ‘You’re an Avenger too, Simon. You know we’ll all help you find Eric, as soon as -’ Wanda tells her friend, but Simon interrupts: ‘Couldn’t resist, huh?’ he asks Wanda, before taking flight, ‘Well, to blazes with you - all of you. I’ll find Eric by myself! I don’t need any of you!’ Simon shouts angrily.
Shortly, Iron Man radios in from over Riverside, and announces that there is no sign of any suspicious activity, at least none related to their mission, that is. USAgent reports in from the Hollywood area, announcing that there is just the usual tourists and other lowlifes, while the Wasp reports in from Pomona and announces that there is nothing shaking there, as per usual.
In a computer lab at UCLA, Wanda asks Hank what it is they are looking for - besides incognito helicopters, that is. ‘They’ll know it if they find it, Wanda’ Hank replies, before remarking that he wonders why their other scavenger-hunters haven’t checked in yet.
One such scavenger-hunter, Hawkeye, crosses some police barricades, and finds some access points to the metro rail tunnel that have been closed down. Clint stares through the grid, when suddenly, Tigra and Quicksilver appear behind him. ‘Isn’t he just the most incurable romantic?’ Tigra remarks, getting Clint’s attention. ‘All set to take a quiet midnight stroll through the metro rail tunnel! And here we thought this downtown section was closed since that fire in July’ Greer adds. ‘Perhaps that is why he has an acid arrow in his hands’ Pietro points out. ‘You two comedians ought to take your act out on the road, like, right now!’ Clint exclaims. ‘You’ve been following me!’ he snaps.
‘Well, well…give the man an exploding cigar’ Tigra remarks, while Quicksilver points out that Hawkeye was acting so mysterious when he left the meeting, and that he aroused their curiosity. Hawkeye gives in and explains to Pietro and Greer that some of USAgent’s jawing about malathion touched a nerve with him, so while Hank went to use some fancy computer at UCLA, Clint reveals that he punched a few numbers into their own computer, and explains he came up with a nice circular ring of reported “night time sprayings” in this area. Pulling out a map, Clint remarks that smack in the center of the sprayings was the site of last Summer’s tunnel fire. ‘Coincidence? I don’t think so’ Clint declares.
‘But you weren’t about to tell anyone, and let the Agent get any credit, huh?’ Tigra asks, telling Hawkeye that he is lucky she and Quicksilver showed up to save him all that nitric acid. With that, Tigra uses her enhanced strength to pull apart the bars blocking the tunnel. Hawkeye tells Tigra that she does good work, and lights a flare arrow, remarking that it will cost him a few of those to find out if his hunch was right, as he leads the others into the tunnel. ‘The place still looks pretty much fire-gutted, even after -’ Clint begins, when Greer alerts him to a crack in the wall. ‘Huh? Oh, yeah’ Clint replies, before firing an arrow at the crack, and busting the wall open.
‘Where? I saw no particular crack…’ Quicksilver remarks, to which Hawkeye tells his former teammate that he hasn’t go eyes like a cat - or even like tinsel-town’s answer to William Tell. As the trio enter the next compartment, through the gaping hole created by Hawkeye, Tigra explains to Quicksilver that the crack was far too regularly spaced, to be as natural as it was obviously supposed to be. Pietro replies that he won’t argue, and as they look around the chamber, he declares that this sealed-off tunnel was clearly not built to be a part of Los Angeles’ proposed underground.
‘Sheesh! Haven’t you been in this country long enough to know we call ‘em “subways”?’ Clint asks, before announcing that there is a funny kind of light around the bend. Approaching the light, Clint jokes ‘Somehow, Toto, I don’t think we’re in the Metro Rail Subway System anymore!’. Gazing upon a large factory of sorts, with computer equipment lining the walls, and a helicopter bay in the center, Tigra exclaims that they have struck pay dirt. Tigra motions to the helicopter and points out that it looks like the one the city uses for spraying, and that there are a couple of people on board. However, Greer announces that she doesn’t detect a whiff of any human beings in this place.
Quicksilver points out that may be because the pilots are no more human, than the foursome which has just stepped out of the shadows. ‘Now he tells me!’ Hawkeye mutters as four beings approach him and his allies. ‘Robots!’ Greer exclaims. The robots say nothing, and as Quicksilver points out, they just attack. ‘Let your fingers do the talking, speedy, after you roll them up into a fist!’ Clint replies, while Tigra takes on another, and asks Clint if he can handle two of them with his arrows. Quicksilver shoves his opponent into another robot, and tells Hawkeye and Tigra that they must allow him to contribute something to this joint venture.
‘Now, if the two of you need any assistance…’ Pietro begins to ask, standing over his downed robots, he looks up to find Clint and Greer standing over theirs too. ‘Bite your tongue, Pietro!’ Tigra exclaims. ‘Four up, four down. All out super hero free-for-alls should be that easy!’ Hawkeye declares. ‘Perhaps it was a bit too easy’ Quicksilver points out, to which Tigra agrees, and remarks that whoever built this set-up under the very noses of Metro Rail could afford watchdogs with more teeth. Hawkeye points out that the robots more or less match the ones that Hank and Jan found up North however, an Tigra agrees, boasting that until she finds out why, she isn’t leaving this place.
Suddenly, a voice booms ‘Who told you that you would be allowed to leave?’ and as Tigra rounds a corner, a hulking figure picks Tigra up and tosses her across the lab. ‘What in blazes?’ Hawkeye asks as he can Quicksilver rush over to Tigra, where a metallic figure also approaches: ‘You know my name well, even if you may be ignorant of my current numbering. I am Ultron-13!’ booms Ultron, standing over Tigra. Hawkeye reaches for his bow and an arrow as he warns Ultron to step away from Tigra, threatening to blow the Avengers’ deadly foe away.
Hawkeye’s arrow explodes against Ultron, but causes no damage, and Ultron suggests to the marksman that with such a primitive weapons in his arsenal, he would be better advised to request, rather than to command. Hawkeye responds by firing some net-arrows at Ultron, as Quicksilver warns him to be careful, as this model may be even more dangerous than previous ones. ‘You sure you’re only Ultron-13, pal?’ Hawkeye asks. ‘I figured your numbering system would be up to at least 89 by now!’ Clint exclaims. ‘You would try to net me - like some floundering fish?’ Ultron asks, grabbing the electronic nets, Ultron then blasts Hawkeye, telling him that he has only snared himself.
‘We shall see if you feel so cavalier about hurricane-force winds!’ Quicksilver exclaims as he begins racing around Ultron in a circle. Ultron boasts that, in earlier incarnations, he created the Vision and survived his betrayal, that he faced Avengers and Fantastic Four together in the Inhumans’ Great Refuge. Ultron boasts that he even triumphed in battle with Ultron-12, who tried to usurp his identity and his station. ‘And now they send a mere jogger against me?’ Ultron asks as he casually raises an arm - which Quicksilver smacks into and falls to the floor, next to Hawkeye and Tigra. ‘It is almost…insulting!’ Ultron declares.
‘Do you not think it is insulting, archer?’ Ultron ask Hawkeye, who has begun to come around. ‘Who -?’ Clint asks, weary. ‘Questions, Avenger?’ Ultron replies, standing at a console, while the Hawkeye, Tigra and Quicksilver find themselves trapped in cylinder tanks. Ultron boasts that, until now, questions have served men well, for questions are the beginning of knowledge. ‘Nut now, alas, for humankind - I am the answer!’ Ultron exclaims. Hawkeye calls out to Greer and Pietro, asking if they are all right, to which Greer replies ‘Well, I had a bit of a cold, and Pietro’s been complaining about an ingrown toenail…’, annoyed at Tigra’s jokes, Quicksilver tells her that this is hardly the occasion.
‘Treasure her false bravado, mutant - for it is the only kind left to you lesser Avengers!’ Ultron announces. Hawkeye admits that he should have shared his hunch with his teammates when he had the chance, and exclaims that Ultron is behind the robots Hank and Jan ran into, and the praying that has been turning people into metal androids. ‘Who else, you carbon-based cretin?’ Ultron replies, revealing that many “farm couples” were already in place even before he caused the tunnel fire to prevent men from finding this hidden sanctum. ‘Their mission is to add a certain crystalline substance to this state’s widely distributed wheat crop - while the spraying is merely an alternative means of accomplishing the same goal‘, Ultron reveals.
‘You trying to poison the word?’ Clint asks. ‘Rather, I am trying to evolve humanity to my own level…to “robotize” them, you might say’ Ultron explains. ‘You mean - by getting people into ingest some weird kind of crystal?’ Tigra asks, telling Ultron that even if he slips by Ralph Nader, that scheme is going to take a long time. ‘Not so long as you think’ Ultron replies, informing the heroes that in the half hour since their capture, the three of them have been bathed in the same spray. ‘Already it has begun to transform you’ Ultron informs them, remarking that, in the past, he made the fundamental error of wishing to conquer the human race. ‘What use could I possibly have for me, either free or slaves?’ Ultron asks.
‘At last, I see what should have been my true goal: to replace every man, woman and child on the planet - with living robots who are nothing more nor less than four billion extensions of myself!’…Ultron reveals, holding his fists in the air, as if he was already a champion.


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The Reaper and the Robot, part 3: Converging Trajectories
Life has a taste. The mutant Nekra’s was sweet, like pale honey made in secret hives unknown to lesser beings. Those of the San Pedro Devil - worshippers merged into a sort of bitter stew - each scythe bite a different but vital flavor. Simon - but no. Wonder Nan did not die, and the attempt to kill him left a galling after-taste. The homeless man in downtown Los Angeles furnished scant nourishment. Ah, but the Mandrill - mutant brother to Nekra - now there was a life which was powerful, if pungent, repast! A diet of such lives as his could fill one with vitality enough to go on existing for a thousand centuries. Yes, life has a taste. And it tastes good…to the Grim Reaper!
The Grim Reaper a.k.a. Eric Williams, makes his way through a system of tunnels, trudging through water, past scurrying rats, the deadly scythe-wielding villain sees a light at the end of the dark tunnel, and walking towards it, he reaches a grate, blocking off the entrance to a larger, brightly-lit chamber, where a familiar, robotic voice exclaims ‘Life, my friends, is a vastly overrated commodity! LIFE!’ booms Ultron-13, as the Grim Reaper goes wide-eyed.
Standing in amongst a high-tech, hidden laboratory, Ultron bustles about at a console, in front of three imprisoned heroes - Clint “Hawkeye” Barton and Greer Grant Nelson a.k.a. Tigra, both of the Avengers West Coast, and their ally, Pietro “Quicksilver” Maximoff - all held in tubes. Ultron-13 exclaims that humans have illogical and contradictory attitudes towards life, that they value it so much that they force their fellow men to go on existing for as long as possible, no matter what their health or hopes, or they allow anyone who momentarily wearies of it to toss it away like a bauble of no value. ‘You plaster its name casually on magazines - on grain cereals - on something called “life insurance”, which in truth has far more to do with death!’
‘Truly, Avengers, if my adamantium frame endures until the Earth is a burnt-out, inanimate hulk - I will never understand this thing called life!’ Ultron booms. Hawkeye turns to his friends and asks them if they want to tell Ultron why. ‘It’s because you’re not alive - not truly!’ Tigra exclaims, remarking that Ultron reacts to sensory data, walks around, might even wipe out the whole human race, but that when it comes down to knowing what being human is really about, he hasn’t got a clue. ‘You are a robot, Ultron-13!’ Quicksilver exclaims. ‘A creation of nuts and bolts and computer chips, without a soul. Nothing but a ROBOT!’
Ultron replies that Quicksilver says that as if the word “robot” were something low, base, and insulting. ‘Such as, say - “mutant”!’ He tells Quicksilver that he’d best not hope that is the true way of things. ‘For, if it is - where will that leave the three of you - when I bathe you for a second time in my robotizing spray!?’ Ultron asks, as the spray begins flowing into the tanks. ‘Don’t breathe, you guys!’ Clint tells his friends. ‘Sure thing, Hawkeye! We’ll just hold out collective breath until we turn blue, right?’ Greer jokes. ‘So far - breathing this spray seems only to have made us - somewhat - sluggish!’ Pietro points out. ‘Speak for yourself, Speedy Gonzales! My joints - my face - even my insides - starting to feel - so stiff!’ Clint exclaims.
Ultron points out that is because Hawkeye is the one normal human of the trio, but assures him that his comrades will experience the effects before long. Ultron tells Hawkeye that he should feel privileged that this process will make the three of them forerunners of that time to come. ‘When there will not be a single flesh-and-blood human being left upon the face of the Earth!’. Listening all this while, the Grim Reaper utters a quiet ’No!’, before opening the grate and entering Ultron’s lab, where Ultron exclaims that his net closes slowly, but soon will enmesh all mankind beyond hope and escape. Ultron declares that, already his secret spraying of men directly, and of some of California’s wheat fields - has ld many humans to ingest the spray without their knowledge.
Ultron boasts that, slowly but surely, the humans’ vital organs being to turn to gallium argenide, explaining that, within them, the crystalline substance begins to mold itself into the equivalent of ultra-sophisticated computer chips - subject to his long-distance control. ‘I call it - “robotizing”!’ Ultron continues to rant on, unaware that the Grim Reaper is sneaking up behind him. ‘One day soon, your entire race will be merely soulless, will-less extensions of myself. And in that hour - I, Ultron-13, will be the world!’ Ultron booms. Coughing as the spray fills his lungs, Hawkeye exclaims ‘What a way to spend the last day of the year!’ ‘You should talk! If I’d stayed an alley cat roaming the Palos Verdes Peninsula, I wouldn’t be in this mess!’ Tigra snaps, while Quicksilver tells his companions not to despair, as they will find a way… his words are cut off as metal patches appear on his face, and the others feel it too.
‘Does the spray begin to stiffen your tongue, too, Quicksilver?’ the Grim Reaper asks, adding that Tigra also seems to have little to say, which proves his point that the moment is near, when the three of them will find themselves subject to the mental waves that he is now broadcasting, by the alternating psychic currents of his incomparable artificial brain. The Grim Reaper is stopped in his tracks, while Ultron, who still hasn’t noticed him, asks the heroes if they want to see their future, and motions to three men - robots - that approach him. Ultron informs the heroes that these are the robotized humans they encountered upon entering his lair here beneath the Hollywood Freeway. ‘They are what you will be, in very short order’ Ultron declares.
‘They don’t say a word - not even a lousy “yes, master”!’ Tigra points out, to which Ultron-13 asks why they should they speak, as they have no need to talk to each other, because they are of one mind, and no need to talk to him, because that single mind is his! Motioning to the robotized humans, who are saluting him, Ultron points out that their communal salute is only for the benefit of the Avengers. Ultron informs the Avengers West and Quicksilver that, at present, he only has a few hundred of his Andrones, scattered here and there, but boasts that, within 24 hours, he shall multiply their ranks many times over, although that too will be the barest beginning. Ultron then announces that it is time to see how one of the few super heroes who might even moderately challenge his plan fares against the Andrones:
Tony “Iron Man” Stark flies across the city, thinking to himself that this is not an efficient use of time, as he has ranged from night till dawn looking for either fake med fly spraying or more androids like Hank and Janet ran into North of LA. ‘did i really think I was going to stumble onto some suspicious activity - like I was Angela Lansbury?’. As he sees two thugs beating up someone on the street below, Tony thinks that perhaps “Murder, She Wrote” is more realistic than he thought, as the two thugs aren’t beating up that man because they mistook him for a rug.
But, as he swoops downwards to intervene, Iron Man sees that there is something strange about the two thugs, and wonders what kind of men they are, as their skin gleams just like his own armor. Tony flies in closer, deciding to just whisk the victim away, but as he prepares to free the victim, the man moves upwards, and smacks Iron Man over. ‘Oldest trick in the book!’ Tony thinks to himself, while scolding himself for getting careless. He thinks that the “victim” must have been concealing his own condition with makeup. As two of the Andrones attack him, while another rips a lamppost from the ground, Tony thinks that he should have listened to USAgent when he said that some of those anti-spraying protesters were part robot.
Iron Man admits that even USAgent can be right once in a while, before realizing that his opponents are quite tough, not to mention strong and silent. Tony tells himself that it feels like he is fighting an old Hal Roach Two-Reeler, but knows he cannot bring himself to really cut loose and risk hurting the men, as they seem like real people, somehow under external control. ‘Besides, so far they haven’t managed to do me any real dama -’ Tony’s thoughts are interrupted by the third Androne, who smacks him over with the lamppost, knocking Iron Man across the street.
As the other Andrones pursue him, Tony decides that it is time for a change of plans, and unleashes his repulsor rays on his two of attackers, knocking them out. ‘In my business - nice guys finished dead!’ Iron Man exclaims, before smacking over the third Androne, resulting in a loud “klang”. With all three out-of-action, Iron Man wonders what he is to do with them now, as the cops sure wouldn’t know what to make of them. Tony decides that if what Walker said was correct, then these people may need help, and taking flight, decides to take them to a hospital.
Back in his lair, Ultron-13 tells the Avengers that he could relate the minor skirmish with Iron Man as fully as if he were present himself, because in a very real sense, he was there. Ultron declares that they should not think that such close monitoring of three Andrones kept him from noticing that one of his former companions has been standing behind him - scythe in hand. Ultron turns to look at the Grim Reaper, while an annoyed Tigra begins shouting at the Grim Reaper:’ You idiot! Why didn’t you waste Ultron why you had the chance?’ she asks him, while deciding that, from the looks of him, she would swear she would rather take her chances with Ultron-13.
‘No one attacks me with impunity in my own lair!’ Ultron booms, lunging at the Grim Reaper, who warns him to stay back, as his scythe slices through two of Ultron’s tendons on his right arm, causing his hand to slightly diss-tatch itself. ‘Impossible!’ Ultron exclaims, shouting that his entire body is made of adamantium - the hardest substance known. As he continues to fend off the Grim Reaper, Ultron realizes that is a mystery to be fretted over later, and tells Eric Williams ‘If you are truly he’ that he needs to learn that since the two of them last met, he has made a few improvements. Indeed, just like that, Ultron’s tendons repair themselves, and his hand is back to fully functional.
‘Release me!’ the Grim Reaper orders, while explaining that he only struck now, in self defense. ‘If I’d wanted to attack you, I’d have done it before!’ he boasts. ‘What do you expect of me, Williams - slavish gratitude?’ Ultron asks, before tossing the Grim Reaper across the laboratory. Getting to his feet, the Grim Reaper replies that he was telling the truth, before shouting that Ultron is about to find out that he, too, has gone through a few chances. ‘I can tell - merely from looking at you!’ Ultron replies dryly, before announcing that the Grim Reaper’s scythe has always fascinated him. ‘True, it’s only a prosthetic device placed over your natural human hand’ Ultron admits, and remarks that from time to time he has mused over the possibility of the two moving on, to a more symbiotic relationship.
‘And tonight when I am on the verge of triumph on all fronts - might be the perfect time to try my theories!’ Ultron exclaims as he unleashes a laser beam from his eyes at the point where the Grim Reaper’s scythe meets his arm. The Grim Reaper lets out a small cry, as Ultron remarks that it is interesting that his laser blast would cause any living man insufferable pain. ‘Then it is apparently true what I have heard about you - you’re dead!’ he tells the Grim Reaper, who looks shocked. Ultron exclaims that this is all the more reason to test his ability to perform some delicate surgery mixed with major appliance repair - and fuse, once and for all, the Reaper and his murderous scythe.
When the laser beams die down, the Grim Reaper looks at his smouldering scythe and shouts ‘You - did it! I can tell - not be feeling, since my nerves are as dead as the rest of me - I just know!’ The Grim Reaper declares that this is a grim joke played up on a Grim Reaper, but tells Ultron that he kind of likes the idea. ‘Now you do being to interest me!’ Ultron replies, before instructing the Grim Reaper that he can inform him later the details of his demise, and clearly, subsequent recovery, for, right now, he can use a man who would serve him, yet retain his own will, and thus his judgment. ‘What do you say, Williams?’ Ultron asks.
‘I say…YES!’ the Grim Reaper exclaims, much to the annoyance of the heroes: ‘So much for hoping those two would polish each other off, huh, Hawkeye?’ Tigra asks, slowly. When Clint doesn’t respond, Quicksilver tells Tigra that she must not have looked at the Archer for some moments, as he is now almost entirely metal. ‘As you and I are fast becoming!’ Pietro points out. The Grim Reaper informs Ultron that he must take a human life every 24 hours to sustain his existence, but that the rest of the time, he will stick to him like glue. ‘It’s settled then. I’d offer you one of these three, just to seal the bargain…but by now they are too far along the part of robotification to be of use to you!’ Ultron replies, motioning to the heroes.
‘You…lousy…’ Tigra - her face the only non-robotified part of her body - begins to replies. ‘There! They are mine now, to command as I will…no different from my other andrones, except blessed with certain additional powers they can use in my behalf’ Ultron exclaims, before walking through his lab, with the Grim Reaper following him. ‘You who are dead yet “live” - and I who am the ultimate synthetic embodiment of life - we shall make quite a team, Reaper!’ Ultron declares. ‘Yes, Ultron. Quite a team…’ The Grim Reaper replies.
Elsewhere, Dr. Hank Pym and Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch are accompanied by Dr. Jennifer Falk through a building at the UCLA. Dr. Falk exclaims ‘I hope you don’t mind my telling you, Dr. Pym…that I’m against this whole set-up’. She declares that, as an academic institution, UCLA has no business getting involved with private industry - with the Pentagon, or with so-called “super-heroes”. Dr. Pym replies that he and Ms. Maximoff no longer technically fit into that category, jokingly pointing out that they are not exactly wearing regulation super hero union suits.
Hank tells Dr. Falk that he knows it cannot be fun, getting a call to let two Avengers in to play around with the university’s new super-computer - especially not on the morning of New Year’s Eve. The icy Dr. Falk assures Dr. Pym that the date is the least of her worries. ‘I’m a great admirer of your work in biochemistry, but I’m less familiar with your expertise in computers’ Dr. Falk remarks. The Scarlet Witch informs Dr. Falk that the Avengers West Coast have quite a computer set up in their Palos Verdes Compound, and offers to let Dr. Falk come and play, one day. ‘Uh…right, Wanda’ Hank replies, before informing Dr. Falk that he cannot tell her much, but can assure her that there is a lot at stake.
‘Spare my, please. I’ve heard that line about “national security” once or twice before. I’ll be outside. You have five hours’ Dr. Falk exclaims as she leaves the computer room. Hank thanks Jennifer, while Wanda whispers to him that he doesn’t have to take the way she is speaking to him. Hank gets to work, telling Wanda that all he wants to do is learn why someone’s replaced one or more farm managers with humanoid robots, and any connection between that and the “metallic rash” on several protesters. Hank motions to the various items he pulls from a briefcase, and remarks ‘Our clues: a few twisted scraps of the two “farmers” - and metal flakes that stuck on USAgent’s glove’. Wanda asks Hank if he can do it, to which Hank replies that he has got to try.
As he looks through a microscope, Hank adds that he needs an antidote too, for the “rash”, if that’s what it is. He explains to Wanda that he is going to look at the hunk of robot some more before he tackles the computer - in a big way. ‘At which point, the sometime Scarlet Witch becomes the proverbial fifth wheel’ Wanda thinks to herself as she takes off her coat and begins to walk around the computer room, looking at the equipment. Wanda wonders if the other Avengers have learned anything about the menace they face, starting with what it is precisely.
Wanda’s thoughts keep coming back to Wonder Man, and she tells herself that she cannot find it in her heart to blame Simon for stomping off to look for his brother. ‘Still, if Hank’s right - there’s something even more dangerous afoot than the Grim Reaper’ Wanda tells herself. ‘I’ve always thought that being an Avenger meant putting humanity before your own feelings. I wonder if I’ll even be an Avenger for long. Without my hex power, I’m not exactly much use to them. Maybe Pietro and I should -’ Wanda thinks to herself, before Hank calls out to her, announcing that he thinks he is on to something.
‘Already? We’ve just been here a few minutes…’ Wanda replies. ‘You’ve been daydreaming for over an hour!’ Hank replies, referring to her pacing around the complex. ‘Good Lord, you’re right!’ Wanda exclaims, before asking Hank what he has found. As Wanda stands behind him, Hank replies that it concerns the metallic flakes, and that the condition may just be reversible, if it is caught in time. He declares that some kind of light might to it, but he is not certain what kind if light yet. ‘But it’s a start!’ he exclaims.
Hank turns to Wanda - who looks past him, shocked. ‘Well? I didn’t expect a standing ovation, and that doesn’t tell us what those androids were up to, but still -’ Hank begins, until Wanda calls out to him, telling him to look. ‘What’re you -?’ Hank begins, but as he turns his head, he sees what Wanda has been staring at - the robotized Hawkeye, Tigra and Quicksilver, who have burst through the skylight. ’Pietro!’ Wanda gasps at the sight of her brother. ’Oh no!’ Hank gasps, before smacks Hank in the head. ’In Heaven’s name - what are you doing?’ Wanda asks, before going to Hank’s aid.
‘He’s unconscious! You could have killed him!’ Wanda exclaims, and when she gets no response, she shouts ’Say something! What’s wrong with the three of - you?’ her voice changes as she sees that her friends have been robotized. Quicksilver grabs his sister by her wrist: ’Oww! You - you’re hurting me! Your hand - so strong - so cold - like metal!’ Wanda gasps, before using her free hand to bang her fist on Pietro’s chest, telling him to fight back. ‘Whatever they’ve done to you - you’re still my brother! Don’t let someone turn you into a murderer!’ Wanda exclaims.
Suddenly, Dr. Falk enters the computer room, all the commotion has got her attention. ‘What in pity’s name is all the racket in here?’ she shouts. ‘You there - get away from that computer!’ she shouts at one of them, and as she rushes over to them, Quicksilver tosses the Scarlet Witch at her, causing both women to crumple to the floor, and enabling the robotized Quicksilver, Hawkeye and Tigra to begin to tear up the computer equipment.
Suddenly, a repulsor ray causes the robotized heroes to stop, as Iron Man makes his appearance known, accompanied by Johnny Walker a.k.a. USAgent and Janet van Dyne a.k.a. the Wasp. Walker tells Iron Man that he is glad he gave him a holler. ‘You’re an Avengers, USAgent - as much as any of us!’ Iron Man replies, while the Wasp announces that Hank, Wanda and the other woman are down, and that it looks like it was three distorted Avengers who did it. ‘Yeah? Well - it’s also three Avengers - who are gonna take care of it!’ USAgent exclaims as he leaps into action.
Iron Man takes on Quicksilver, while telling Walker and Wasp not to let the others land a solid blow, for according to the hospital they have already had a lot of their organic make up replaced by metals. ‘For you two, it’s be like getting run down by a tank!’ Iron Man exclaims. The Wasp blasts Tigra with her sting, and tells Iron Man that she is glad he contacted her when he monitored Hank’s message that he and Wanda were here at UCLA, before asking how they can stop their friends without hurting them.
As Iron Man blasts Quicksilver through the wall, he replies ‘Frankly, Wasp - I’m not positive we can stop them at all!’. Iron Man steps outside and assures the Wasp that they have got to try not to harm them, as they are clearly under some sort of alien control. He adds that the same force, probably, that seems to have turned them into something half-human, half-robot. Iron Man sees Quicksilver getting to his feet, and tells him to take it easy, as he just wants to help - just then, Tigra lunges onto Iron Man.
Back inside, USAgent blocks one of Hawkeye’s arrows, with his trusty shield, exclaiming that he has wanting to mix it up with the Archer, but not this way. ‘Well, guess I’d better take what I can get!’ the handsome hero supposes, and smacks Hawkeye in the face, only to discover that the metallic features are not just makeup. ‘Even with my augmented strength - I nearly broke my fist!’ Johnny exclaims. He squats down to avoid a punch from Hawkeye, and Johnny declares that he never thought he would say this, but they could use some reinforcements.
As if on cue, Simon “Wonder Man” Williams appears, ‘That’s just what I came here to be, Agent - but I ha no idea the target for today was Hawkeye, Tigra and Quicksilver!’ Simon exclaims. With Tigra on his back and Quicksilver punching his face, Iron Man remarks that he hasn’t seen Wonder Man since yesterday, and asks him if he wants to give him a hand, and see if they can stop their three friends from hurting somebody, not necessarily themselves. Simon swoops down and pulls Tigra off of Iron Man, remarking that this is weird, he assures Iron Man he will be right back to help with Quicksilver. But Iron Man tells Simon to go and give Janet and Walker a hand, boasting that whether he is made of metal or a bunch of marshmallows, man or metal, Quicksilver cannot run if he is touching the ground.
Iron Man uses his abilities to lift Quicksilver off the ground, while USAgent rushes through the gaping hole in the wall, thinking to himself that this is really the pits, running from the renegade bowman, no matter what he is made out of, as Hawkeye follows him. ‘Win, lose, or die - here’s where I make my stand!’ Walker thinks to himself, tossing his shield, while Hawkeye fires an arrow. ‘Considering what I see overhead, though, maybe I’ve got friends in high places’ Johnny thinks to himself, as up above, Wonder Man chucks Tigra downwards, where she lands on Hawkeye. Simon tells Walker that they are not out of the woods yet, and that their friends will be up and at them again in a couple of seconds. ‘Thanks, Williams!’ Walker shouts back.
Suddenly, Hank and Wanda appear at the hole in the wall, and Hank shouts that they must use those few seconds. He calls out to Iron Man, telling him that he thinks their weakness is some kind of light, but that he is not positive what kind. Iron Man thanks Hank for the tip, and replies that his uni-beam uses all sorts of light. ‘Mayne one of them is - well, now we know. Visible light isn’t it’ he exclaims as the light pours onto his three friends, only for there to be no change. Iron Man tries ultra-violet light, but as the three of them approach him quickly, he sees that has no effect either.
Quickly, Iron Man changes the light to infrared - and Tigra, Quicksilver and Hawkeye shield their eyes, before collapsing to the ground. ‘Well, what do you know?’ Iron Man exclaims, before pointing out that it didn’t turn them back to flesh. Hank suggests that another type of light might, provided they can figure out the right frequency. Hank admits though that the odds are against them, while the Wasp exclaims that she is just thankful they are all okay. Wanda turns to Simon and remarks that she thought he was looking for his brother. ‘I still am’ Simon replies, before informing Wanda that Eric is out there hunting down whoever is turning people into walking Oscars. ‘After all, if that creep does his work too well - Eric’s going to have to go on one hekuva diet!’
‘Are you all right, Miss…?’ the Wasp asks Dr. Falk, who angrily replies ‘I am - but the University’s computer isn’t!’. Jennifer proceeds to ask Hank if his ferrous friends have done enough damage to satisfy him. Iron Man intervenes, asking Hank if he thinks they will be able to normalize Tigra, Hawkeye and Quicksilver. ‘I only pray we can!’ Hank exclaims, while Walker exclaims ‘Sure it’ll work - where’s your good old American know-how?’. But Hank replies that it isn’t that simple, for even if Iron Man’s beam can reverse the symptoms on these three, it will be a lot harder to neutralize what is doing this if they have to deal with a far larger group.
‘You mean - there may be more of these metal things?’ Dr. Falk asks. ‘Nobody went to all this trouble just to affect three people, lady!’ Wonder Man exclaims, before Hank asks Iron Man if he is ready with the concentrated dosage of infrared. ‘Right. Here we go’ Iron Man replies, standing before the three robotized heroes. Shortly, Iron Man exclaims that it is not working, and remarks that if it could change them at all, it must take a different frequency. He tells the others that he can try various ones, but that there is an infinite number of them, and so even if there is a right frequency, it could take years to stumble on it - unless they get fantastically lucky.
‘”Lucky”’ Wanda thinks to herself as she stands behind Iron Man. Wanda recalls that, up until a few weeks ago, her mutant power could chance a statistical improbability into a dead certainty, and now her brother and the others need that power, and it has gone. ‘If only I could recapture it - even for a moment -!’ she thinks to herself, raising her hands slightly, while Iron Man tells Hank that this is a no go, and, to make matters worse, he can already feel his unibeam getting weaker. ‘I’m afraid those odds you talked about - are getting longer by the second!’ Iron Man exclaims, while behind him, the Scarlet Witch gestures her hands, concentrating hard, she tells herself that she must shorten those odds. ‘I’ve just - got to!’ she strains hard.
Iron Man announces that he will keep trying until his beam gives out, which he believes will be soon. Hank points out that Iron Man’s unibeam is the most sophisticated one around, so it might take days to get hold of one as strong. ‘Keep trying, Avenger - till the last instant!’ Hank urges. ‘I will - but it isn’t -’ Iron Man replies, when suddenly Wanda rushes forwards, ‘Wait! Something’s happening! They’re changing!’ she shouts. ‘You’re right! Then - we got lucky after all!’ Iron Man exclaims. Hank declares that, judging from the deep concentration he saw on Wanda’s face before, he is betting the Scarlet Witch had something to do with it.
The robotized heroes return to normal, though slightly confused. ‘Their voices are returning along with their color’ Simon points out as he goes to their aid. ‘Where…are we?’ Greer asks. ‘Feel as if…I was caught in a nightmare…’ Quicksilver exclaims. Walker tells Quicksilver that he won’t find it that much greater out here. ‘All the same, welcome home’. Wonder Man tells a smiling Wanda that it looks like her hex power has returned. ‘The Scarlet witch is back in business, huh?’ he asks. Wanda replies that, what matters, is that she helped her brother and two others. Simon points out that it was probably Wanda’s brother being in trouble that provided her the extra kick she needed. Wanda supposes so, before helping Hawkeye up, asking him if he is all right. Wanda realizes that Hawkeye is closer to normal than he was - but that he is still part metal. ‘No…’ Clint utters, looking at his metal hand.
Soon, inside the super-computer chamber, the Avengers West Coast gather together as Iron Man asks the formerly robotized heroes ‘And you don’t remember where you were - or who did that to you?’. Tigra replies that her mind is a blank since she left Avengers Compound, while Clint mutters that he wishes they had left him like he was. ‘At least then I didn’t realize somebody had turned me into a metal monster!’. Hank assures his friend that they will help him, and motioning to one of the computers remarks that he might be able to work out which infrared frequency actually turned Tigra and Pietro back to normal.
‘What? If you think you’re going to touch this computer again -’ Dr. Falk begins, angrily, before Iron Man interrupts her: ‘It’s because we’ve got something called an Avengers Priority, Dr. Falk! And we’re going to use!’ Iron Man asserts. Hank asks his friends what if their unknown enemy strikes first - and changes not three people, but a multitude, into mindless, unfeeling robots. ‘And why do I get the strange feeling that that’s exactly what he’s very likely to do?’.
Back in his hide-out, Ultron remarks that, for a human, Eric Williams - even a technically dead one - intrigues him. Ultron adds that it takes no genius to realize that a world of andrones will furnish scant sustenance for the Grim Reaper, and asks him if he can exists on the life-force of lesser league animals. The Grim Reaper replies that, frankly, he figures that there will always be a few humans left to feed his habit. ‘Who knows? Maybe I’ll grow my own private stock’ Eric suggests, adding ‘But that’s my look-out’ and points out that, at the rate Ultron is adding Andrones, he won’t have to worry about his status in the psychic food chain for a long time.
‘As I said earlier - that situation is about to change drastically!’ Ultron exclaims, adding that all he awaited was the proper concentration of population, close at hand, for the first, truly large-scale testing of his arsenide spray. ‘The premiere morning of a new human era is nearly upon us, Reaper!’ Ultron exclaims, adding ‘What better way to usher in the epoch of Ultron-13, than at that perennial pageant of ostentatious folly which Pasadena, California, and the world of men know as…the Rose Parade!’
Indeed, gathered nearby for the Parade, are countless civilians, all unaware of their impending doom….