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One of our Own!
It would seem that the Avengers have moved on from the last cave they were hiding in, and are now being followed by operatives from the Vault. Captain Marvel warns the West Coast team leader, Hawkeye that the guardsmen have broadened their search, to which Hawkeye calls back that he has found a new cave, while thinking to himself that it seems funny to call her by her full name, but to him “Cap” is Captain America. As Earth’s Mightiest Heroes traps through the cave, Monica says that she can give them some light, but Clint asks her to leave them in the dark, still mad at himself for getting them into this mess. Captain America tells Hawkeye to ease up as he only agreed to accept a government order and that the person who got them into this mess was the Avenger who betrayed them!
The eleven heroes stand in a large cavernous part of the cave as Iron Man informs them that he has scanned the cave with his sensors and they are alone, adding that he will keep his sensors on to monitor if anybody comes close to them. Hercules suggests that they don’t stay long, adding that he wants to seek out vengeance on the Avenger responsible for betraying them. As the others gather around, Hawkeye decides they should figure it out now, remarking that he trusts all Avengers present, Mockingbird backs up her husband when he mentions Hank Pym. The handsome archer moves on to say that whoever betrayed them knows their operations thoroughly, enough about each Avenger to supply only accusations they cannot disprove! Though he doesn’t want to, Hawkeye begins to go down the list.
Clint says it cannot be the Thing, as he agreed to join but never did, and Gyrich said it was an actual member. He shamefully admits that Firebird never got asked to join, before quickly changing the subject to one of the most hated Defenders, Moondragon, who he mentions is now dead. Clint mentions his good friend Hellcat, who joined the Defenders, and is now married to the Son of Satan, and the former Ms. Marvel, Binary, who is residing in Deep Space.
The unusually quiet Wasp steps forward, adding that Starfox is in space too, in the Andromeda Galaxy to be precise. She adds that the Hulk is currently incapacitated and in no position to betray the Avengers, while their newest recruit, the Sub-Mariner has left on a personal quest. Wasp brings up Mantis, joking that the Celestial Madonna would never work through Gyrich, before bringing up Jocasta, who despite being built by Ultron-8, was never evil, and sacrificed herself, as did the Swordsman, who died saving Mantis.
Hawkeye and Mockingbird rattle off the remaining members – Thor, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, She-Hulk, Black Panther, Black Widow, the alternate Iron Man, the Beast and Falcon. Clint tells everyone that they have to contact them all, while Captain America remarks to himself ‘who would have thought I’d live to see Hawkeye taking command, and everyone listening’? Hawkeye suggests they split up, as most of them are near New York anyway, and they can meet back at a place he knows in upstate New York, while motioning to the breeze, he adds that it will be less drafty.
As dawn approaches, the hunt begins! Captain Marvel departs for the moon, while Iron Man flies high into the air to send a straight-line signal to the West Coast, to contact another Iron Man – Jim Rhodes! Tony tells Rhodes that he doesn’t want to trust a satellite – Rhodes reminds Tony that he is okay now and would never betray him. Tony tells Rhodes that he knows, before informing him this is not an interrogation but an invitation. Rhodes is taken aback and surprised at Tony’s request, replying that he will!
In Manhattan, Tigra has come to the under-construction new headquarters of the Fantastic Four, where the inactive Avenger She-Hulk is currently serving as a member of the Fantastic Four, and tells Greer that she didn’t betray the team. Greer tells Jennifer that she never really thought she did, adding that it is hard to imagine anyone on their list turning traitor. As Tigra leaves Four Freedoms Plaza she tells herself that she isn't on the list and her cat side almost succumbed to Graviton recently, and that she is so close to losing control, but hasn’t quite yet! Greer doesn’t hear what Reed Richards a.k.a. Mr. Fantastic says to her and asks him to repeat himself. Reed tells Greer that the Fantastic Four can help her, but Greer tells him that it is something the Avengers have to do themselves.
In Wakanda, inside his palace the Black Panther is speaking to Hawkeye via a viewscreen and after hearing Clint’s story. The King remarks at how serious the news is, before assuring Clint that he has sworn to aid the Avengers whenever they call, except that his own people have greater claim on him. Clint starts to ask T’Challa when can they expect him, but the Black Panther is already on his way!
Back in Manhattan, a man called Sigurd Jarlson is furious at Hercules’ sudden arrival, mad that he entrusted his new address with one Avenger, and of all of them Hercules comes to him and asks for aid! Suddenly, “Sigurd Jarlson” switches into his real identity – the Mighty Thor! Furious that Hercules has come to ask his aid while “consuming fried fowl”. Thor grabs Hercules, knocking some furniture over as he tells the Olympian that every time he considers him a full-fledged god, he is reminded of his half human heritage. Hercules tries to defend himself saying that it was a long night and he needed strength to exact his revenge, and as Thor flies Hercules out the window and into the Manhattan daylight he mutters that he needs strength to deal with him!
In a high-rise apartment underneath the flying gods, Captain America knocks on one of the windows. The Falcon pops his head out and jokes as if Cap was collecting for something he says that he gave at the office. The old friends greet each other and Cap asks Sam Wilson if there is nothing that fazes him. The Falcon tells Steve Rogers that after all these years as his crime-fighting partner nothing he does can faze him! Cap tells Falcon that if he wants to be his – and the rest of the Avengers – partner again he can. Sam jokes that that is what happens when one becomes a social worker – ‘all the derelicts want your help’!
On the Lower East Side, Dr. Hank McCoy, the Beast, is caught by a phone call in mid shower. It’s the Wasp, who explains the situation to the renowned scientist. Hank tells Jan he understands, Jan tells him that she knows he is back with his old friends in X-Factor, and probably never ever thinks about the Avengers anymore – Hank tells her that isn't true, Jan tells him that she just has to ask, and Beast tells her he wants to answer! Jan must take the hint and shuts up as Beast tells her a smart mutant stays as far away from the government as one can get, but in normal times he would go to help, but right now he is heavily tied up with his old/new team. But ever loyal to the Avengers, Hank tells Jan that if she really needs him – Wasp cuts him off and tells him its okay, before wishing him well.
On the Upper East Side meanwhile, the Black Widow reminds Mockingbird that they were both spies and she must realize that this could be an exercise in dis-information. Natasha jokes that one does not have to be born Russian to know Big Government, adding that Gyrich has had years to ferret out a fact here and there. Mockingbird informs Natasha that Gyrich was too specific to be guessing, before telling her that if she doesn’t want to help – Natasha snaps back that she didn’t say that, while thinking that this is the woman Hawkeye married, Hawkeye being the man she came to America for! Natasha decides Mockingbird is pretty, while Bobbi thinks the same about Natasha! Regretfully, Natasha thinks of her former lovers Alexi and Matt, and how she kept none of them, before informing Bobbi that she will come.
Meanwhile, in Leonia, New Jersey, the home of inactive Avengers Scarlet Witch and Vision! Wonder Man tells his brother the Vision that he never expected to be back so soon, and while the new parents feed their twin sons, Simon tells them he knows they have better things to do than hassle the Avengers, and that he took this assignment to see his nephews! The beautiful Wanda Maximoff tells her brother-in-law that he is always welcome, adding that she wishes it was not under such unhappy events. The Vision mentions how their sons Billy and Tommy have made them more sensitive to the dangers of the world. Wanda reminds Simon that having twins was a surprise, as Billy was not detected by any instruments. Luckily Wanda is in good health, however Vision tells Simon he will understand why they cannot join the Avengers on this mission.
The husband and wife follow Simon outside as Wonder Man takes to the air, telling his family to look after themselves while he saves the world, ensuring that no one will bother them again! Wanda turns to Vision and worried she says ‘Oh Vizh! It can’t be…him. Not him…can it?’ With Wanda’s mysterious predicament, the search concludes.
One hour later, in a cabin near Chichester, New York, The Avengers have reassembled and with the new additions to their group and those they can cross off their list they wonder who it could be. Captain Marvel arrives and proclaims that Quicksilver is not on the moon. Iron Man – the original – remarks that Pietro was not the least likely suspect as he was never truly part of the team. Hawkeye comes to Quicksilver’s defense, telling Tony that he doesn’t know Pietro like he does, adding that when the team was he, Wanda, Captain America and Quicksilver, they were a solid team!
Thor proclaims that Cap, Clint, Wanda and Quicksilver made the original Avengers proud, adding that he rejects the assumption of Pietro’s guilt – and turns to Hank Pym, the man he believes shamed the team the most. Wasp pleads with Thor as he marches up to her ex-husband, reminding him that she and Hank were part of the original Avengers too, its just that unlike the rest of them he didn’t turn out to be suited for this kind of life. And he just “lost his way” for a while, but after recovering he faced the fact he wasn’t a super-hero and retired. Wasp adds that their marriage was over by then, but she knows Hank Pym inside and out, and she knows he is not guilty.
The Norse God backs down and asks who is, and as if on cue someone cries ‘I am!’ All the Avengers simultaneously turn to their accuser – Quicksilver! Raging, Pietro proclaims that he, the fastest man alive is guilty of vengeance! Wonder Man holds Hawkeye back as he tries to rush Quicksilver, telling him that he was defending him all this time. Iron Man announces that he wants to hear Quicksilver’s reasons for betraying them. The mutant speedster reminds Iron Man that he said himself that he was never truly part of the group, though he gave everyone his trust – and the Avengers betrayed him like everyone else had.
Iron Man tells Quicksilver that that is crazy, to which Quicksilver replies that everyone always tells him he is being crazy or paranoid! Quicksilver asks the Avengers who wouldn't be paranoid when Magneto was your father and enslaved he and his sister into his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, or when upon joining Earth’s Mightiest Heroes a synthetic “hero” seduces your sister and the other “heroes” support him! Captain Marvel steps forward and tries to reason with Quicksilver, mentioning that she doesn’t know him, to which Pietro says ‘To know someone you must care’.
Pietro reminds the Avengers of when he was gravely injured in a battle with the Sentinels and how his teammates left him to die, someone protests, telling Pietro that they didn’t know where he was. Almost bitterly, Quicksilver proclaims that he was rescued by Crystalia Amaquelin of the Inhumans, to whom he gave the love his sister threw away! They married and soon after moved to the moon, but that was the final trap Quicksilver says, as a mutant in the real world he was as outcast – but as a mutant in the closed society of the Inhumans, he was the one and only alien!
Quicksilver’s emotions show strong now as he tells the Avengers how Crystal betrayed him, by having an affair with real estate salesman, not to mention his own sister who tried to make him forgive her! ‘But I do not forgive’ cries Pietro furiously, telling the Avengers that he forgives none of them, and that if Gyrich betrays him by failing to destroy them, then he will destroy them himself, as he can only trust himself! As the Avengers look on cautiously, Thor decides Quicksilver is madder than his own brother Loki, while Quicksilver informs them that he has an army behind him and that they shall destroy the Avengers and all they stand for!
Quicksilver tells the Avengers that three things mark them, as he knew them. The circus where the Avengers first fought side by side to become the team, the mansion where Quicksilver first joined them and the installation in Australia where they left him to die, that in those places they will pay for what they have done. Captain America tries to reason with Quicksilver, telling him they can help him, adding that whatever his grievances he must remember how good they were together in “Cap’s Kooky Quartet”, they saved each others lives dozens of times. Quicksilver cuts Cap off, telling him not to remind him as he gets sick to his stomach thinking of how starry-eyed he once was. As the Avengers slowly creep towards Quicksilver, he tells Cap to save his own life now, and not to edge closer to him – as they are all snails in his eyes!
With that said, Quicksilver uses his mutant speed to run out of the cabin, but not far behind him is Captain Marvel, whom Quicksilver notices following her, however his speed renders him sufficiently invisible, which Captain Marvel notices, and so she returns to the cabin. There Thor remarks how he has seen this sort of madness plague Asgard, before telling the Avengers that Quicksilver is as much their brother as he is that of Wanda’s. Thor tells Cap that they, Iron Man and the Wasp need to leave for the point where the Avengers began, but his attempt at command is shot down by both the Wasp and Iron Man.
Iron Man tells Thor that that is the old team, and now they have two teams operating the way they want them and that he will remain with the West Coast team. Wasp backs Tony up saying the East Coast team will go as they are, while thinking to herself even more so since Thor didn’t invite Hank to join his team. Wasp proclaims that the East Coast team will head for the Mansion, to which Monica, as she re-enters through the window, reminds Jan that Gyrich will have it covered. Hawkeye tells her that there is no alternative, and that his team will take the circus in the Southwest, while the Avengers not from a team can go to Australia. Hank Pym watches as the three teams of five depart, where he admits he never knew Thor held a grudge against him, before deciding that there is something important that he too has to do!
Chapter 2: Cardinal SinsCentral Park, where four of the Zodiac Cartel are standing around menacingly. Gemini, Cancer, Taurus and Aries, where the latter is complaining to his teammates, asking them why they should have to work with Quicksilver when there are already twelve members of the Zodiac. Cancer informs Aries that it is because Quicksilver has lived on the moon, which is precious to him, adding that none of them have ever left Earth in all their lives. Taurus smirks that none of them even have lives. To that, Aries reminds his companions that they are Life-Model-Decoy’s that were created by Scorpio, though they have evolved since then, recreating themselves, done by themselves, but no matter how good they get, they will never be alive. Gemini tells Taurus to lighten up, remarking that he may want to get mad, but that Gemini has other ideas! Just then, Quicksilver arrives! Cancer greets Pietro as Aries asks if he can get his hands on some Avengers!
Across the street from Central Park sits another landmark of New York City – Avengers mansion! Inside the great and mighty mansion, one of Washington’s “finest” – Henry Gyrich, who along with Freedom Force have come to oversee Quicksilver’s crusade. Gyrich tells Pietro that he and his associates appreciate his efforts, especially as he “lost” the Avengers several hours ago. Quicksilver tells Gyrich that he knows several of their quarries will be at Avengers mansion momentarily, to which the enigmatic Mystique asks if the Avengers are really that simple.
Not bothering to look at her, Quicksilver simply tells Raven that he considers no Avenger simple, which is why he is going to lead his own team against them. Obviously annoyed, and having no worries about voicing it, Mystique asks what about her team, to which Gyrich asks what her problem is. Mystique tells Gyrich that Quicksilver’s team is just a bunch of criminal LMD’s and that he can’t remove Freedom Force for them. Annoyed himself, Pietro reminds Raven that her very own “Freedom Force” was once the “Brotherhood of Evil Mutants”, adding that it was a much inferior Brotherhood at that.
Raven turns away as Gyrich reminds Raven of how much they value her services, adding that she knows she still has to prove her obedience to him and telling her that Quicksilver can be accommodated to here. The four members of the Zodiac muter to themselves, surprised that they were chosen over Freedom Force, as Gyrich informs Mystique and her team that they will be given full credit for the original capture of the Avengers and asking them to take the back way out of the mansion. Pyro asks if he can shoot one fire burst at Gyrich, but Destiny tells him even a precog does not need powers to know the outcome of that, before deciding that Freedom Force’s part in the drama is over.
On the roof of the mansion, Gyrich’s voice is heard over the intercom of one of the guards on post duty. The guard answers back that it is still quiet, to which another guard says ‘Once we take possession of a place, it stays took sir! Gyrich bellows back that it is “taken” not “took”. Back inside, Gyrich informs Quicksilver that he is turning responsibility over to him, with the situation currently secure. Pietro smiles, thinking of how much a fool Gyrich is, as Quicksilver knows the Avengers better than he – and he knows how they will try and get in!
The Avengers, aided by breathing masks, use a secret under-water passageway beneath the mansion to enter. As the five Avengers climb out of the water and up the ladder to the hatch which will enable them to enter the mansion. The dashing Black Knight jokes about how he is glad they didn’t rush and tell Gyrich about the their sub-marine entrance, to which Hercules agrees, adding that Gyrich will be surprised when they climb straight into his ugly face! At that very moment however, Taurus uses his super strength to pull the ladder back down.
Cap grabs onto the vault at the top, while the Wasp hovers in the air as Captain Marvel in her electric form dives back into the water, where the Black Knight has just fallen into, joining Hercules. Cap suddenly drops into the water and Captain Marvel cries the infamous Avengers call, ‘Avengers Assemble!’ Her voice is transmitted on radio waves and is digitally crisp and clear so that everyone can hear it. Captain Marvel expresses her concern for Hercules, who didn’t have any time to draw breath and doesn’t have his air mask either! Monica realizes that the man Hercules is fighting doesn’t have a mask either and wonders if he doesn’t need to breathe. Hercules himself fights with Taurus while thinking to himself that he could hold his breath for an hour – if he had any, and that he quickly needs to get to the surface for air.
Captain America sees Black Knight in serious danger of drowning as he too is without a mask and struggling with Aries. Cap’s attention is drawn elsewhere – to Quicksilver, who managed to swim in so fast he doesn’t even need to breath. The thing that startles Cap the most is that Pietro is at the purge switch, and as he pushes it down the Avengers and the LMD’s are sucked back into the underground river. Captain America manages to grab Hercules and the Black Knight, but Monica is worried that they will drown before they all reach open water. Monica has an idea though, and she streaks up from the water to the top of the tunnel and creates a hole in it, with the pressure drawing the water behind her.
Captain America pulls Dane and Hercules from the river and applauds Monica for her quick thinking. Monica replies that she had to be quick as their friends would not have lasted much longer. Quicksilver and two of the Zodiac members appear behind the Captain’s and Pietro tells Monica not to put that thought in the past yet, proclaiming that he, Cancer and Gemini are still committed to their destruction. Wasp suddenly appears above the Captain’s and forcefully tells Quicksilver that she has had enough of his threats and she urges the Avengers on. Captain America is a little surprised at Jan and so the Wasp asks him if he forgot she was team leader.
Quicksilver tells Jan that they thought she had drowned, but that doesn’t matter, as she has not escaped her fate. Cancer attacks Wasp, informing her that he is a water sign. Jan asks him what else he is, as he is not the Cancer that the Avengers previously captured. As Captain Marvel attacks Pietro, she informs her teammates that she had heard police reports of a new Zodiac created as LMD’s. Pietro tells Monica that she is correct, to which the surprised Captain America asks Quicksilver if he has allied himself with people who are not even alive.
Gemini mocks Captain America, asking him if he isn't the person who thinks all men are “created” equal. Gemini announces that he has no second thoughts about being an incarnation of the Gemini force – with its ability to expand! With that, Gemini increases his mass and strikes Captain America’s shield. Captain America tells Gemini that the greatest battles in history have been fought and won by underdogs – David vs. Goliath, America vs. the British Empire – and Captain America vs. a Blowhard! Cap strikes Gemini with his shield, telling him that size means nothing, only a will to live – which an LMD cannot possibly know.
Gemini returns to his normal size and tells Captain America that he is right, and that he has changed his mind about siding with Quicksilver. Captain America asks what kind of trick this is, to which Gemini replies it is not a trick and that he has simply reversed himself, adding that they are all incarnations of their signs. Cancer turns to his teammate and tells him to change his mind back again and fight, until his words are cut off by the Wasp who sends her bio-sting into Cancer’s water, effectively shocking him.
With the four Zodiac now defeated, Captain Marvel tells Quicksilver that his dreams of destruction have come to an end, adding that she may not know him, but has seen him in action, before telling him she learns with the speed of thought. Monica comes to a sudden halt when Quicksilver enters one of the buildings, which are scattered throughout the park. She returns to her physical form and stands at the entrance to the building, faced with twenty different tunnels. She jokes that when she starts chasing him through the tunnels they will look like a Marx Brothers movies on a runaway projector. Monica is startled by loud firing, and she realizes that it is not the Zodiac!
In fact, it is Gyrich and his Federal marshals! Hercules and Black Knight have since recovered from their near drowning and Hercules is shielding his teammates by holding up a chunk of the earth, ripped from the ground, to block the bullets. Hercules then suggests that they should not be hiding, but engaging the agents in combat. Wasp tells the Olympian that it may mean their deaths, before reminding him that as much as they all despise Gyrich he is not the real enemy, that Quicksilver is the key!
Gyrich calls out to the Avengers, telling them to give up, informing them that he has all the authority he needs to issue the order. Captain Marvel returns to her teammates and diving into the ground she creates a passageway for her team to escape through. Hercules tells the others that he will only have to strike Gyrich once, but Wasp orders him not to. As the Avengers enter the tunnel, Captain Marvel hopes the other two teams have done better than they. Gyrich and his followers stand over the hole in the ground, angry that even Captain America defied him, before telling the federal agents that it only proves what he has always said – that super-types have to be controlled for the common good, and vowing that they will control them eventually. ‘Right’ one of the federal agents thinks to himself.
Meanwhile, Hank Pym has arrived at the home of the Scarlet Witch and the Vision. The android answers the door and Hank tells Vision that he hopes he isn't disturbing them. The Vision replies that he and Wanda haven’t been able to sleep, and can guess why he has come!
Chapter3: Fixed Assets!
In Monument Valley, Arizona, a sacred Indian spot, where Quicksilver has arrived to join four other members of the Zodiac Cartel. Upon his arrival, Libra realizes Quicksilver is not even breathing hard, despite all the running he has been doing. Leo compliments Pietro, realizing that he does indeed intend to lead all three of the Zodiac clusters. Scorpio reminds Leo that is what Quicksilver said he would do! Turning away and frowning, Pietro tells Leo that he, unlike the majority of mankind, keeps to his word. The cloaked Libra suggests to Quicksilver that he still needs a co-captain in each cluster, as he cannot do everything himself.
Quicksilver disagrees, and raising his voice, shouting out over the vast landscape that normal men “can’t” do what they want to do, but Quicksilver is no “normal man”, but as far beyond “normal men” as – his voice suddenly trails off when the pink-clad Virgo places her hands on Pietro’s chest. Pietro continues his train of thought – that “normal men” are beyond the Zodiac, however they do make a good militia. Virgo tells Quicksilver that she doesn’t mean to pry before asking him what his stand on normal women is, reminding him that he lost his wife because they couldn’t work it out. Quicksilver removes the hands of the only female LMD telling her that he will never work it out again, as marriage was a mistake, as it diverted his energies and could have lost his purity because of it, before suggesting they get to the circus.
This circus has paled in comparison to its larger competitors, but in the smaller towns however, where the entertainment industry is non-descript, it never fails to offer a night of thrills – tonight being no exception! As the two trapeze artists prepare to join hands in mid air, Libra appears in between them, stopping the stunt. Screams start to erupt from all around as Leo frees his “brethren” – real lions, telling them to claim the realm for their own and show the humans why lions together are called prides. Within the big top, chaos runs rampant as the patrons flee in all directions. One patron in particular remembers another time when the Hulk tore up the same circus wit the – ‘Avengers mister’ says Iron Man, finishing the mans sentence and saving him from the lion.
Tigra leaps towards Leo, informing him she remembers how much trouble Cat-People have caused her and that he is her meat tonight! Wonder Man picks up a rampaging elephant, much to the amusement of onlookers. Hawkeye fires several arrows at Quicksilver and Virgo, the two look up and see Clint and Bobbi standing on a trapeze platform. The marksman tells the speedster that he knows it is not easy turn good and stay good and reminds him that they did it together and can keep doing it together. Pietro asks Clint what he knows about togetherness, reminding him that he has quit the Avengers many times. Hawkeye tells Quicksilver that quitting and selling out are two different things.
The man inside the large cannon tells Scorpio to blow him out of there while Hawkeye is talking, and as Clint suggests that his marriage to Bobbi is togetherness. Clint adds that he could never act like Pietro is now for Bobbi’s sake, suggesting to Quicksilver that if he cannot stop his plan for them, then to stop it for Crystalia. With a loud BLAM the human cannonball is fired to the platform where Clint and Bobby are standing. Mockingbird sees him coming and dodges out of the way, but in doing so she pushes Clint off the platform, and she too falls. On the ground, Hawkeye regrets that Bobbi would have been fine if he wasn’t in her way.
Iron Man fires at Scorpio, but the LMD dives underground as Hawkeye tends to his unconscious wife, realizing she will be okay, but angrily he shoots more arrows at Quicksilver. Pietro tells Clint he is an idiot, as he could never hit him with those “lumbering shafts” and races away. But he can still hear Clint as he informs him that he wasn’t aiming at him, as is evident by the arrows taking a 90-degree angle and hitting Libra who was hovering above them.
Hawkeye turns now to Virgo, pointing an arrow at her he asks her what her game is. Virgo replies that she has no death wish, when suddenly the tunneling Scorpio breaks through the ground in front of Clint and tells him that he has death in the form of his scorpion’s neurotoxin and he fires it at Clint. Wonder Man steps in to protect Clint from the poison, informing him that all the animals have been caged. Scorpio tells Simon that the toxin can stop him and every elephant he just carried. ‘Do tell!’ cries Wonder Man as his body re-channels the poison, causing an explosion, knocking he, Clint and Scorpio down.
Iron Man comes to Tigra’s aide, and knocks Leo back, realizing that Greer is tired from fighting either Leo or herself, adding that she has to solve her problems soon or else will go mad! Tony calls to Simon to ask him how he is doing, but when he gets no answer, he discovers Clint and Simon lying stunned on the ground. Wearily, Clint tells Tony that it wears off before trying to warn him of Virgo’s approach behind him. Virgo places something on Iron Man’s armor, and Tony can no longer move! Virgo informs him that she too is good with machines and created this energy siphon.
Virgo tells Iron Man that his team got most of hers, but that it is always the one who is overlooked that gets you in the end! ‘You said it!’ cries Tigra as she pounces on Virgo and rubs her face in the dirt. Iron Man suggests to Tigra that if she gets the energy siphon off his back then he can get after Quicksilver. Greer tells Tony that Pietro will be halfway to Australia by now and that they nay as well just wait for Clint, Simon and Bobbi to recover so they can follow him as a group, while she – Greer stops talking quickly, as she was about to say she wants to ‘play with her prey’!
Meanwhile, in Leonia, Vision calls out to Wanda, asking her where she is. Clad in her costume, Wanda makes her presence known to her husband. She tells him that there are bottles for the sons in the fridge, and that she has to go to her brother. Vision frowns and tells Wanda that she will not.
Chapter 4: Mutant Meltdown! Near the “Ant-Hill” in the Australian outback, Pisces, Sagittarius, Capricorn and Aquarius stand around waiting for Quicksilver. Pisces mentions that he is not so sure about this situation, as Sagittarius adds that it would be nice to hear from their teammates who are overseas still. The stroppy Capricorn states that if Quicksilver doesn’t arrive soon then he is taking over as leader. Quicksilver arrives in time to hear Capricorn’s comment and Pietro tells him not to strain himself. Aquarius tells Quicksilver that he never doubted him and that if he were to choose a sign to lead, it would be he, Aquarius, the rugged individual.
Capricorn looks over his shoulder at Pietro and tells the mutant that he has no use for individuals when they disrupt the plan, suggesting to Pietro that after running halfway around the world he must be tired. Fed up, Quicksilver shoots back, telling Capricorn that he is tired of failure by their fellow LMD’s, as the Avengers have beaten them both times, despite his best efforts. Turning to the “Ant-Hill” Quicksilver informs the last of the LMD’s that they have a chance to rub their noses in the past, and that he is never tired when triumph is within his grasp!
Moments later, Pisces smashes his way into the “Ant-Hill” and tells the Aussies that they know they took this bunker over for government research, but they are taking it for the Zodiac now, and if they give them any back talk they will slap them silly! Pisces shuts-up and he and the others look around the empty bunker, curious as to where the workers would be. Suddenly, the mighty hammer of Thor rebounds from the wall behind the villains. The quintet of villains follow the hammer back to where it came from – Thor, Black Panther, Black Widow, Flacon and the second Iron Man.
Quicksilver gloats, calling Thor and his team a team of rejects, as unlike the East and West coast teams, none of these five have worked together, adding salt to the wound, Pietro informs the Zodiac that the “Iron Man” is only a stand-in. Rhodes informs Quicksilver that he was never just a stand-in, or a reject, despite it taking him some time to realize that for himself. The two teams start to fight each other, Rhodes telling Pietro that he is the only Iron Man they need to take him down. Quicksilver starts to run away, telling Rhodes that he will need to prove that.
Thor attacks Pisces with his hammer as the Black Panther informs the Zodiac, while attacking Aquarius, that they have duties, which keep them from being full-time Avengers and that their status is their choice. As Black Widow follows Capricorn she adds that while she has only worked on a few cases, she appreciates the honor of membership and responsibility, while the Falcon proclaims that some of them don’t like working with crowds when they go to work. Sagittarius agrees, informing Sam that he likes open spaces which is why he didn’t want Hawkeye monopolizing the arrow business as he fires some arrows at Sam.
Falcon dodges the arrows, telling Sagittarius that he has a long way to go threatening him, as Black Widow thinks to herself while kicking Capricorn that some of them don’t like crowds, while others may have pushed the pursuit of freedom too far. That ever since she defected to the West she has exemplified the cult of individuality, especially in her relationship with Matt Murdock, yet in Matt’s hour of need…Natasha’s thoughts trail off as Capricorn tells her she is going to insult him unless she gets her mind back on business. But Natasha is struck down by Aquarius, which was Capricorn’s intended plan.
Aquarius reminds his teammates of what Quicksilver said – that these Avengers do not know how to work together – ‘If only men would be as silent as the beasts’ says Black Panther as he kicks Aquarius from behind, stopping the Zodiac members babble. Natasha thanks T’Challa, regretting that it should have not even been necessary, to which Thor agrees, before reminding himself that even his thoughts have been elsewhere, specifically on that of the changes in the Realm Eternal. Like the ascension of Balder to the throne, and the damage to his own face, which his beard barely hides! As Thor pummels Pisces some more he digresses that it is he who revels in gatherings of the Avengers, yet this was not the time he would have chosen for it. Wanting the battle to finish, he pulls some large equipment over Pisces, whose awe of Thor’s strength is cut off with the crash of the equipment.
Quicksilver is annoyed at the defeat of the Zodiac, regretting that they could be great given time and leadership, but he used them too quickly. As he races away he decides it doesn’t matter as his plan allowed for this possibility, adding that there was a better reason than nostalgia to end the battle in this installation. Pietro’s thoughts are brought to a halt as Rhodes tells him that even though he is fast, he knows how to use the armor, and does so, firing at Pietro, who trips and falls over. Thor calls over congratulating Iron Man, but as they both go in to capture Quicksilver, they hit each other, much to Pietro’s amusement as he speeds away.
As Widow and Panther chase Capricorn, the Zodiac member reminds them that he is a mountain goat and unlike a spider or panther there is no place he cannot climb. As he swings onto a pipe, T’Challa and Natasha leap onto him. Natasha informs Capricorn that when she has her head set on something she can reach anything she wants. Panther tells Natasha to brace herself for the fall – which upon the three reaching the ground, they find the mountain goat has taken the burden of.
As Falcon deflects more of Sagittarius’s weapons, he informs him that more of his teammates are falling, but as Sagittarius points out, so is Flacon when one of his wings is set ablaze by a flame-shaft. Falcon tells Sagittarius not to get too optimistic, and as he falls to the ground he re-arranges his body so that he speeds up enough to dowse the flame and crash into Sagittarius in one swoop! As the other Avengers run by, Falcon asks if that was the last LMD, as he lost count. T’Challa replies that that it is everyone accounted for besides Quicksilver, the one they want the most, Black Widow adds. Thor remarks that he does not think Quicksilver will escape them, to which Rhodes points out that due to his electronic ears, he can hear the rest of the Avengers arriving!
Which is true, as the five Avengers make their way out of the “Ant-Hill” they are joined by ten others. Hawkeye reports that the Zodiac members they captured have told everything to Gyrich, to which the original Iron Man reports that they have all been cleared of any charges! As Hercules makes his way out of the Quinjet he states that he still wants to get his hands on Pietro. Suddenly, all the Avengers are repelled backwards by some strange power.
Quicksilver stands atop the “Ant-Hill”, informing the Avengers that the power was courtesy of the Australian government, and is now his! He reminds the Avengers that they knew the “Ant-Hill” was a research station, but they didn’t know the research was for a way of defending Australia without nuclear warheads. They had developed particle bean weapons, weapons that are as deadly as they are predictable. Holding the detonator in his hand he tells his former teammates that if this is what it takes to secure his revenge, then it will be! He farewells the Avengers, when suddenly, the Vision appears!
Vision floats up beside Pietro and orders the shocked mutant to stop. Pietro tells Vision that whatever his plan, it will be futile, as all it takes is one squeeze of the trigger. Back on the ground, the stunned Avengers watch what transpires. Clint suggests to Captain America that the combined might of their arrows and shield could be able to stop him, but Captain America reminds Hawkeye that Quicksilver would have plenty of time to react before they hit him. Iron Man suggests he hit him with a repulsor ray, to which Thor suggests could cause Pietro’s fist to clench.
Quicksilver warns his brother-in-law that an attack will have serious consequences. Vision replies that he understands, informing Pietro that he brings only a gift. He calls to Captain Marvel, asking for her help. Quicksilver warns Monica as she flies up to join them to stay back and that even she is not fast enough. Vision’s ruby detaches itself from his head and Vision tells Pietro the gift is inside it, informing him that Wanda created it, because she still believes in him. Vision tells Quicksilver that his sister wanted to bring it herself, but he stopped her, as he does not have the faith the Scarlet Witch has.
Vision shines his solar beam into the ruby, as Captain Marvel adds her laser ray, and the forms of two baby boys are seen – holograms of Billy and Tommy, the children of the Scarlet Witch and Vision – Quicksilver’s nephews! Vision reminds Quicksilver that he claims to hate everyone in the world – his wife, his sister, his former teammates, and asks him if he can hate two innocents. Vision tells Pietro that Tommy and Billy need their uncle, just as his own child needs her father. Vision is about to tell Quicksilver that whatever the adults have done to him, the children should not suffer.
But Pietro cries ‘Enough’ and in a heartbeat he is as if he was never in the presence of the Avengers at all, far, far away. Sixteen Avengers know he was there however, and Vision apologizes for not arriving earlier, informing the others that he and Wanda were unsure of the situation until Hank Pym came to them. Thor is surprised Hank contacted Wanda and Vision, to which Wasp sticks up for her ex-husband and tells Thor that no one is more sensitive than he is.
Captain America asks Vision if he thinks they stopped Quicksilver for good, to which the android Avenger replies he wish he knew, but that Pietro is so unstable. And by next week his longtime hatred of him could be transferred onto his sons, but for the sake of his family and everyone else, he wishes he knew. Hawkeye says that he may have overestimated Pietro’s character today, but that he has to be ‘the coldest fish that ever lived to be back anytime soon’.
Changing the subject, Clint reminds everyone of a much better reason they all got together for the weekend – some serious softball! Quickly, he proclaims that he chooses Thor for his team! Everyone turns and frowns at Clint, as Mockingbird tells her husband he is certifiable! The handsome archer asks everyone if they are all tired and if they are Avengers or Campfire girls? With that, all those Avengers with weapons hurl them at Clint, who dodges them, while supposing his teammates are Avengers after all!
Avengers they are, West, East or uncommitted, they are all Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – save one – and he can hear their laughter as he stands upon the “Ant-Hill”, returning to them in silence and shadow.


[User]
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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
And Now the… Night Shift!
The streets of Los Angeles are mean this autumn night, a fact that is not lost on the ex-Avenger called Mockingbird, also known as Barbara Morse Barton. She stands on a building rooftop, and watches a man on the street below, who has buried three people up to their necks. ‘Either I need to have my contact lenses replaced or there’s a seven-foot-tall freak in a hair-shirt burying three guys in the street!’ Deciding that since her optometrist will not open for business for another eight hours, she thinks she should go down there and ask Mr Shovel what the story is.Down below on the street, the large man narrates ‘And now, my captive audience, your favourite graveyard ghoul would like to tell you a bad-time story…just a little something to idle away the time before a car comes along!’
Her staff extended, Bobbi uses it to propel herself from the rooftop, ‘This is what I live for…throwing myself into a situation where the slightest misstep means disability or death’ she thinks to herself, adding that she gambles her all is enough to handle whatever she is up against. ‘Okay, tall, dark and gruesome - what’s the low-down here, offense intended’ Mockingbird calls out. The strange man turns to her, ‘You dare interrupt my tale?’ he asks, turning to her, swinging his shovel, which Mockingbird blocks with her staff. ‘Don’t tell me - a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing, right?’ Mockingbird asks. ‘You mock me, woman!’ the strange man snarls.
The strange man slams the shovel to the ground, in between the faces of his captives, Bobbi leaps out of harm’s way. ‘You got it, doglick. I’m not called Mockingbird because I eat birdseed!’ Bobbi quips, realizing that her foe is strong, although she supposes he has to be to break up cement. ‘Cripes!’ one of the men trapped in the road exclaims. Mockingbird calls her foe “Frankie-boy” and tells him that when it comes to combat, she has gone up against practice bags with better moves than he. ‘My shovel!’ the villain calls out when Mockingbird knocks it out of his hand. He reaches for her staff, but Mockingbird tells him ‘Uh-huh, this is my battle-stave. It telescopes a bit - here, I’ll show you!’ Mockingbird exclaims as she shoves it against his face. ‘Oh, you dropped your shovel’ Mockingbird points out, before standing on the end of it, causing the handle to fling up into his face. ‘I’ll get it’ Mockingbird remarks.
Half an hour later, Mockingbird shepherds her foe, and his three captives, into a police station. ‘Hello, Mr Desk Sergeant. I caught these lads playing in the street. And I do mean in the street’ Mockingbird jokes. ‘Huh? Who?’ the police officer gasps, while another smiles and realizes ‘Hey, you’re Mockingbird, that Avenger married to Hawkeye!’ Mockingbird tells him that he is two thirds correct. Motioning to her tall foe, Mockingbird asks the police if they have any idea who he is. The desk sergeant reveals that he is Roderick Krupp, alias Digger, one of the weirdos in the Night Shift gang. ‘I’m going to need a full statement from you, Ms Bird’ he adds. Mockingbird tells the officer that he can call her “Mock”, while she wonders where she has heard the name “Night Shift” before.
Somewhere outside of Los Angeles, in a towering mansion, the moon glows down upon it, and someone calls out ‘Come on, Tick-Tock. When are Digger and the Moth gonna show?’ The dumpy Tick-Tock looks at his watch and announces that in two of the four time frames he can perceive, the Gypsy Moth will arrive within the next ten seconds. ‘I asked you about Digger, too, ya four-eyed tub of lard!’ the deformed Misfit exclaims as he sits around at a table with his teammates in the Night Shift, who are all watching Dansen Macabre as she dances on the table. ‘Oh, yes, that you did’ Tick-Tock mumbles, before stating that he doesn’t see Digger in any of the immediate futures that it is his fortune to peer into. ‘Ah, what do we need those two for, anyway? Let’s get this show on the road. The Night Shift ain’t getting any younger, you know’ Misfit grumbles.
One of the Brothers Grimm asks Dansen Macabre is she would mind doing her dirty dancing somewhere else, as her twirling scarves are giving him a headache. ‘You have no appreciation for the arts’ Dansen complains, while Needle, Tatterdemalion and Werewolf by Night remain silent as they continue to watch Dansen Macabre. ‘Three seconds to Gypsy’s arrival - two - one’ Tick-Tock calls out, as Gypsy Moth flies into the meeting room from above. One of the Brothers Grimm tells her that just because the Shroud isn’t here to boss them around, is no reason she should make them sit around waiting for her to make her grand entrance. ‘Stifle yourself, Grimm! I’ve learned bad news!’ Gypsy Moth exclaims, revealing that the word on the street is that Digger was busted shaking down the Calamari Brothers earlier this evening - busted by one of the Avengers, Mockingbird.
‘What? He let some cheeky skirt take him in?’ Misfit protests, while one of the Brothers Grimm asks ‘What’re we waiting for? Let’s find out which precinct the heat’s holding him in and break him out!’, but the other Brother disagrees, reminding everyone that the Shroud has always said anything involving the police is his baliwick. ‘Yeah, but the Shroud ain’t here right now, he’s up in San Francisco again doing who knows what’ the first Brother points out. Tatterdemalion suggests they forget the cops and instead nail the Avengers. ‘We were here first - they’re the ones who muscled in on our turf’ he points out, while asking where the Shroud gets off telling them to stay clear of those candy-masks all the time. ‘Those clowns want to start something, I say we finish it!’ he adds. Dansen Macabre announces that she agrees with Tatterdemalion and points out that as she is deputy leader in the Shroud’s absence she believes it is high time they taught those daylight glory-grabbers the lesson that all of the Los Angeles underworld has learned - not to mess with the Night Shift.
Forty-five minutes later, two hearses pull up to the service entrance of the West Coast Avengers’ sprawling seaside estate, in Palos Verdes. One of the Night Shift members asks Tick-Tock what they can expect as far as security, and Tick-Tock announces that ten seconds beyond the gate are some sort of snare coils. The doors to the hearses open, and the members of Night Shift exit the vehicles, as the Brothers Grimm tell Tick-Tock not to steam up his stopwatch, as they have the perfect anti-coil remedy. Tick-Tock suggests that they engage their fog-banks, as there are video cameras, so the Brothers Grimm do so, and fly upwards on the fog-banks, while one of them throws some “magic beans” to the ground, and instantly, a large beanstalk sprouts, which the defense coils tangle themselves up in. ‘That’ll give their snare-coils something to do, old bean’ one of the Brothers jokes.
Hovering overhead, Gypsy Moth decides that her mutant mastery over all things fibrous will make a glorious mess of their monitors’ fiber optics systems, and indeed, she telekinetically tears the fiber optics apart. ‘Enough of this sneaky stuff - I’m going in already!’ Misfit booms as he tears the gate open. ‘This hovel is their headquarters?’ Dansen Macabre asks, surprised, as the Night Shift approach the first building. Gypsy Moth reports that the main building lies beyond, and this first building is apparently someone’s living quarters, she suggests it might be servants.
Shortly, Misfit, Needle and one of the Brothers Grimm enters a bedroom, ‘You one of the Avengers or just some hired help?’ Misfit demands, while the shocked servant sits up in bed, scared. ‘Give this dim bulb yer evil eye, Needle!’ someone suggests, so Needle releases a blast of energy from his eye, and the servant is frozen in place.Upstairs, a woman is in bed reading, when she hears a sound, like something heavy dropped, or someone just broke in. She then hears shouting, and leans over to her beside table, where she hit’s the alarm button, ‘Senor Hawkeye and his friends have many enemies’ she reminds herself, before Werewolf by Night bursts through the door into her room, and she screams. ‘Sorry about the door, lady’ he remarks, before asking her not to scream, as he promises not to hurt her. ‘You have my word as a gentleman and a werewolf’, while he wonders to himself what he is doing here, as he joined the Shroud’s monster club to prey on criminals, not frightened women.
In the main complex, Hawkeye a.k.a. Clint Barton is asleep on the sofa, still in his uniform, when he hears the intruder alarm. He rushes into the communications room and sounds an alarm, announcing over the intercom that there is trouble in the servants’ bungalow. ‘Avengers Assemble!’ he shouts. At that moment, the Vision and Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch sit up in their bed, and the Vision gets his uniform, telling Wanda to remain here with the boys, while he answers Hawkeye’s summons. Wanda tells her husband to be careful, while looking at their twin sons. Wanda hopes that this turns out to be a false alarm, as Mockingbird, Tigra and Moon Knight have quit and formed their own team, and Dr Pym and Mantis away on their own, only she, Hawkeye, the Vision and Wonder Man remain, although Wanda is not even sure if Wonder Man is in tonight, or away at some Hollywood social function. Indeed, Wonder Man’s darkened quarters are empty.
Seconds later, ‘Where’s the Scarlet Witch?’ Hawkeye calls out to the Vision who flies overhead. The Vision replies that she is in their bungalow, looking after their sons, and as he runs across the ground, Hawkeye replies that he hates to say it, but it is just the two of them. ‘Man, is my team ever in sad shape’ Clint thinks to himself. Inside the complex, Tick-Tock realizes that the Vision approaches, and that in two of the four time frames, he vanquishes the Brothers Grimm. He decides that he should tell the Brothers Grimm not to use the funny foam of the exploding eggs, and via communicator, instructs them to use the twinkie-dust. ‘Identify yourselves’ the Vision calls out, but the Brothers Grimm use the dust on him, and he falls to the ground. ‘Grimm’s the name!’ one of the Brothers exclaims. ‘Mine’s the same!’ the other adds, while the Vision wonders how that spray made his intangible form suddenly solidify.
‘Hey, bro - what do you know?’ one of the Brothers Grimm asks, ‘That goofy grape man’s got a bow!’ the other declares as Hawkeye aims his bow and arrow towards the Brothers Grimm. Clint tells himself that it is hard to see out here in the dark, and decides that a couple of flare-arrows should do the trick. However, Gypsy Moth hovers over him and telekinetically snaps his bowstring. Hawkeye goes over to the Vision and helps him up, asking him if he is okay. ‘You’d better be, cause we’re seriously outnumbered’ Hawkeye points out, as the Night Shift team gathers around them, and Needle holds the female staff member hostage. The Vision replies that he will be fine, before alerting Hawkeye to the fact that one of their staff has been taken captive. The Vision adds that he thinks her name is Yolanda.
Hawkeye tells the Vision that he doesn’t know what these weirdos want, but that he recognizes them from the Avengers’ files, as the Night Shift. Hawkeye suddenly spins around as Gypsy Moth flies towards him from behind, and he throws an arrow towards her: ‘Thought you’d sneak up behind me, huh, Moth Lady? Well, there’s more than one way to sling an arrow!’ he points out, while Gypsy Moth maintains her height in the air as some sort of adhesive splatters from the arrowhead against her wings. The Vision notices the Wolf-Man, as he calls him, loping towards him, and yet the Vision has not regained his intangibility. ‘The fool - thinking I need to flap my wings in order to fly! Perhaps a demonstration of how I can levitate fabric is in order’ Gypsy Moth thinks to herself, before she hoists Hawkeye into the air by his costume. ‘Yiiipes!’ Hawkeye exclaims as he is pulled towards Gypsy Moth.
Werewolf by Night and Tatterdemalion both attack the Vision, who is struck by Tatterdemalion’s weighted scarf while Werewolf by Night grabs the Vision’s throat, and the Vision is still functionally impaired. In the air above, the Brothers Grimm float towards Hawkeye, ‘Grape Man’s dropped by for tea’ one of the Brothers exclaims, while Clint wonders if it is the two of them who are making him float. ‘T as in trouble, my dear doppelganger. Allow me!’ the other Brother remarks, before they are struck by the solar beam emitted from the Vision’s forehead, which evaporates their clouds. ‘Our magic clouds!’ one of the Brothers exclaims, as they fall to the ground. Suddenly, Misfit wraps his arms around the Vision, and exclaims ‘Let’s see you break outta this!’. Hawkeye sees the Vision cannot turn intangible still, and as he continues to flat away, he grabs an explosive-tip arrow and throws it towards Misfit, where it explodes against him and causes him to release the Vision.
Even while Hawkeye drifts high and higher into the night sky, his estranged wife Mockingbird heads heavenward of her own volition, climbing up the ladder to Moon Knight’s ship. She calls up the ladder, telling Moon Knight to hold it steady, and that she will be up in a few shakes. As she makes it into the ship, Bobbi greets Marc Spector the Moon Knight and Greer Grant Nelson a.k.a. Tigra, who asks ‘Who did you say you hauled off to the cop-shop?’ and Bobbi explains that it was a fellow who goes by the alias Digger, and is apparently a member of a gang of crooks called the Night Shift, led by the Shroud. ‘The Shroud huh? Never could figure that guy out’ Mockingbird remarks, telling her friends that Hawkeye offered him membership in the you-know-what, but that from most reports, the guy is as crooked as a broken finger.
Mockingbird explains that she was always after Hawkeye to either bust the Shroud, or help clear his rep, whichever the case might be, but he was never interested. Suddenly, Moon Knight changes direction of the ship, and Bobbi asks him why. Moon Knight reports that he knows where to find the Night Shift, as he tracked the Shroud down to his lair once. ‘That is, my human host, Marc Spector did’ Moon Knight thinks to himself, while telling the others that the Shroud even offered to let him take over the leadership of the group. ‘I was suspicious of his offer then as I am now’ Moon Knight adds, before suggesting that three of them can learn once and for all which side the Shroud and his team are really on.
Back at the West Coast Avengers Compound, ‘Tired of flying, Archer? How about I let go of you, now that we’re a hundred feet off the ground?’ Gypsy Moth asks as she hovers over Hawkeye, who tells her not to do him any favors. Below, Dansen Macabre twirls before the Vision, telling him that no man can resist her hypnotic gyrations. ‘Gaze upon me and become my devotee!’ she exclaims, but the Vision replies that he is an artificial man, and tells Dansen that he cannot be affected by her mental manipulations. ‘Or can I? I feel strange…’ the Vision thinks to himself. Suddenly, Gypsy Moth begins to plummet towards the ground, while Hawkeye floats down gently, as a voice exclaims ‘Sure would be improbable if gravity went wild - and one person were suddenly pulled to Earth at great speed…while another floated down like a leaf!’
The Scarlet Witch then steps towards Dansen Macabre and declares that improbabilities become realities when she is around. Wanda tells the Vision not to worry about their sons, as she has Jorge looking after them. The Brothers Grimm come to Dansen’s aid and tell her to step aside, while they one exclaims ‘The Scarlet Wench may do the improbable, but the Brothers Grimm do the impossible!’ they toss some jumping beans towards Wanda, who knows that whatever they have thrown reeks of magick. She casts a hex, despite it being dangerous to use her hexes on real magick, but the alternative, she decides, is being battered. However, the beans turn into cotton balls, and they surround the Scarlet Witch, trapping her in a giant ball of cotton. She can’t gesture her hands and make a hex, while Gypsy Moth stands nearby, ‘My doing’ she thinks to herself, while Hawkeye rushes towards Wanda and tells her to hang on.
Suddenly, ‘HAWKEYE!’ screams Yolanda as he races past her, and sees that Needle is still holding her hostage. ‘Aw, shoot! I almost forgot Yolanda I was so intent upon repaying the Witch -’ Clint thinks to himself, before suddenly discovering that he cannot move. Dansen Macabre tells the Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye and the Vision that they have been defeated. ‘Now gaze upon me and listen’ she begins, explaining that the Night Shift wish to negotiate the release of their teammate Digger, and see that all charges are dropped against him, and, in turn, they will free the scullery maid. Hawkeye doesn’t understand though, he wonders who Digger is, and what he has to do with the Avengers. One of the Brothers Grimm suggests to Werewolf by Night that they go sniff out some more Avengers, as these three jokers can’t be the whole lot of them.And, as the Night Shift prepare to leave the West Coast Avengers’ Compound, three ex members prepare to enter the Night Shift’s headquarters. Moon Knight’s jet hovers by one of the towers, and Mockingbird asks Moon Knight if he is sure that his chopper will keep until they get back. Moon Knight assures her that it will, provided no one tampers with the auto-pilot. The three enter the tower, and Moon Knight tells them to use caution, as the Tower of Shadows, as the Shroud refers to it as, is equipped to deal with intruders. ‘Now you tell us!’ Tigra exclaims, as the trio are captured in a net. ‘Oh, well, steel mesh may deal with most intruders - but not a tiger-woman and an Egyptian God in a man’s bod, hmm?’ Tigra remarks casually as she and Moon Knight easily tear the mesh net apart.
Moon Knight states that the Shroud has changed his defenses since his last visit, and, after several other such intruder detainment systems, the three heroes make their way down a spiralling staircase. Tigra asks the others if they get the idea that nobody is home, as she hasn’t seen hide nor hair of anyone, nor has she picked up a scent that is fresher than two hours. ‘Did you really expect them to be? A group called Night Shift is bound to be out working at this hour’ Mockingbird points out. Examining the décor, Tigra declares that this place is a hoot, and wonders why she didn’t think to have her bungalow furnished in early Addams Family.
Finally, the trio enter a chamber, and on the table is piles of cash and gold. Moon Knight suggests that this must be the Night Shift’s main meeting chamber. ‘Holy smoke - look at all that loot!’ Tigra gasps as she looks at the money and gold. Mockingbird points out that it is probably stolen, and adds that it makes her mad that Hawkeye didn’t have them go after these jokers long ago. Tigra spies a note on the table, and holding it up, it sees that it is from Dansen Macabre, to the Shroud, informing him that the Night Shift has gone to pay a visit on the Avengers to negotiate Digger’s release. ‘Well, now we know where they are at least. So what do we do about it? Go to the Compound? Call up Hawkeye and warn him?’ Tigra asks.
But Mockingbird announces that they will wait here, pointing out that there is no telling when the Night Shift left, so they may miss them in transit. She adds that she didn’t spot a phone anywhere in this place, so there is no way to warn Hawkeye, either. Arms folded, Mockingbird declares that if Hawkeye can’t handle the Night Shifters’ raid, then it serves him right for playing patty-cake with them all this time.
Back at the Compound, ‘These rejects from the Twilight Zone are about to leave and I still don’t know what their beef is’ Hawkeye thinks to himself, deciding that he has to try and speak, even though his vocal cords are as paralyzed as the rest of his body. ‘Don’t…know…what…talking…about…Digger?’ Hawkeye manages to utter. Dansen just smiles and tells Hawkeye that she has no idea what he is croaking about, and nor does she care. She tells her teammates that they will take their leave, and suggests to Hawkeye that he be sure to tell his wife to mind her own business in the future. ‘My wife? Bobbi!’ Clint think to himself, suddenly realizing that Bobbi must have busted Digger, and since he and Mockingbird have not made it public how she and the others quit the team, the Night Shift must think Mockingbird is still operating as a member of the West Coast Avengers. ‘Blast her anyway!’ Clint frowns.
Just then, the members of Night Shift are all knocked aide as Simon Williams a.k.a. Wonder Man swoops down and bowls them over. He tells his teammates that he is sorry he is late to the Halloween party, and jokes that it looks like they saved him some punch. ‘Senor Williams!’ Yolanda gasps as Wonder Man grabs her away from Needle. Wonder Man tells Dansen that he is sorry he was looking in the wrong direction. ‘Fool!’ Dansen exclaims. Wonder Man sets Yolanda down on the ground and tells her to take a powder, so she runs away, while Simon and the Vision tear apart the cotton that Wanda is trapped in. ‘Okay, pretty boy! I seen yer last picture and it stunk! Here’s five thumbs down!’ Misfit exclaims as he grabs Wonder Man, who looks at Misfit and decides that this is no special effect.
Hawkeye is still as stiff as a statue, but is able to move his arms enough to grab a couple of smoke arrows, and he does, then throws them at Werewolf by Night and Tick-Tock. ‘Couldn’t see where the smoke came from -’ Tick-Tock mutters. ‘Thanks to Wonder Man’s timely arrival, we may yet prevail!’ the Vision exclaims as he breaks Needle’s weapon and pushes Tatterdemalion to one side. Dansen realizes that in the chaos brought on by Wonder Man’s arrival, she has let the Avengers slip out of her control. ‘I must get it back’ she decides, and calls out to the Vision with urgency as he looms over Tatterdemalion: ‘Vision! Look out!’ and the Vision turns to her, only to fall under her mesmerizing power once more.
With her hands free, Wanda is able to counter anything that the trickster Brothers Grimm can throw at her, and she casts a hex, which causes the straw that they are spinning into gold to be blown back towards them, and tangles the both of them up with Gypsy Moth. ‘You’re a strong one, fella - but there’s less than a handful of guys on this planet who are stronger than me!’ Wonder Man exclaims as he pushes Misfit off of him. The Scarlet Witch rushes over to Dansen Macabre and elbows her in the face, telling her that if anyone does an exotic dance for her husband, it will be she. ‘Wanda!’ the Vision exclaims.
Back at the Tower of Shadows, ‘Uh-oh’ the Shroud remarks as he returns to his home. ‘Intruders. I feel their presence’ he tells himself, although he is not close enough to determine who they are. He decides that they must be quite accomplished to have made it through his security devices. ‘but they have yet to reckon with the Shroud!’ he tells himself, before teleporting away into the dungeon conference room. Standing in the shadows, the Shroud sees Tigra, Mockingbird and Moon Knight and wonders what the three West Coast Avengers are doing here. Sitting on the table amongst the gold and money, Tigra holds up a piece of paper which she announces is an itemized list of where it all came from. She remarks that judging by the names on the list, she thinks this loot was scored from other criminals. ‘Swell, so when is this mob of monsters with MBA’s going to show up?’ Mockingbird mutters.
Suddenly, Tigra reports that she smells somebody. ‘You have violated the inner sanctum of the Shroud. Speak your business at once!’ the Shroud calls out from the darkness. ‘That voice - it’s him! But where is he? He’s supposed to be able to hide in any shadow!’ Mockingbird thinks to herself, before shouting ‘Show yourself, buster - we don’t talk to folks we can’t see!’ The Shroud tells Mockingbird that she will be having conversations with herself then, and tells her that she can wait here forever if she wishes, as the Night Shift will simply move to one of their many other hideouts. Shroud was able to sense a note on the table from Dansen, and understands that his teammates are the West Coast Avengers’ estate. He decides that he best hurry, and races off.
At that moment, Hawkeye, the Scarlet Witch, Wonder Man and the Vision sorrund the Night Shift, who are all seated on some chairs, and Hawkeye tells them whatever Mockingbird did, she didn’t do it as an avengers. ‘You fright-nighters have no quarrel with us’ the Vision tells them, while Wonder Man reminds Hawkeye that these guys are crooks. ‘We’ve got a quarrel with them, right?’ he exclaims. ‘Oh my, in three out of four timeframes -’ Tick-Tock thinks to himself, leaping up from his seat he tells the Avengers that they have no right to keep them here. ‘I demand we be turned over to the proper authorities at once!’ he exclaims. ‘Sit down, chubs. You’ll get you - what?’ Wonder Man exclaims, as the room is plunged into darkness. ‘The lights! Who turned off the -’ the Vision begins, while Tick-Tock smiles and shouts ‘He’s here!’.
Hawkeye frowns, ‘Three guesses and the first two don’t count!’ he thinks to himself, as he turns up his high-tech hearing aid so he can pinpoint the Master of Darkness. ‘Hey everybody - clam up so I can -’ Clint calls out, while Wanda tries to hex the lights back on, and tells the Vision to use his jewel. The Night Shift members all grin, ‘The boss! Awwright!’ one of the Brothers Grimm exclaims, while Misfit tells Wonder Man that now they have their cavalry. ‘Night Shift! Evacuation pattern seven!’ the Shroud calls out, and instantly, the Night Shift members leap up and scatter. ‘Good ol Shroudy!’ Werewolf by Night thinks to himself, while Hawkeye prepares his bow and arrow, ‘Dad-blast that Shroud, anyway! Somehow he must be making the darkness surround us, but not his goons’ Clint think to himself, supposing that the Shroud must still be lurking about.
‘Hey, Whackos! Hit the floor - now!’ Hawkeye calls out, and decides that whoever he doesn’t hear ducking will assume is the Shroud. An arrow lands against the Shroud and Hawkeye walks over to him, ‘Okay, Night-Stalker. Let’s talk’ Clint frowns. ‘Not here. The usual place. Ten minutes’ the Shroud tells him. The lights suddenly turn on, and Wonder Man exclaims that the darkness is lifting. ‘Come on, people. They can’t have gotten far’ Simon suggests, but Hawkeye instructs his team to let the Night Shift go. ‘What?’ Simon asks, surprised. ‘Trust me, Simon. I know what I’m doing’ Clint announces. ‘That line sounds familiar’ Wonder Man mutters.
Ten minutes later, on the edge of a cliff, ‘That bozo better show’ Clint thinks to himself, knowing that he is going to have a hard enough time explaining this to his team as it is. Suddenly, the Shroud materializes from the darkness, and greets Hawkeye, before explaining that none of this was his idea, and that he was in San Francisco when his teammates acted without his authorization. Hawkeye tells the Shroud that he knows they have a deal, but suggests that if he can’t keep his team in line when he is out of town, then perhaps he is losing his touch and needs to pack it in. ‘Don’t give me that, Hawkeye. I hear that under your sterling leadership, half your team quite on you - including your own wife!’ the Shroud exclaims. Hawkeye looks surprised, and asks the Shroud if he talked to Mockingbird. ‘How is she? I mean, how’d you happen to -?’ Hawkeye begins.
The Shroud reveals that Mockingbird’s group raided his main headquarters earlier this evening, and that she is probably still there. The Shroud suggests to Hawkeye that he talks to his wife, calls her off, and offers to give him the phone number. ‘Great. You don’t know how eager I am to have to talk with her’ Hawkeye mutters, before telling the Shroud that his criminal façade is getting pretty shop-worn. ‘I take it you’re still not letting your gang know your true colors’ Hawkeye adds. ‘Most of them. I still find my cover useful’ the Shroud explains. ‘You fight evil your way. I’ll fight it mine. Agreed?’ the Shroud declares. Hawkeye tells the Shroud that he is going to have to lert his own team know the truth about the Shroud and his operation, though. The men shake hands as the Shroud tells Hawkeye that he trusts his judgment. With that, the Shroud vanishes from the darkness whence he came. ‘Man, I hate guys who make more dramatic exits than me!’ Hawkeye tells himself.


[User]
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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
One of our Androids is Missing!
Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. the mighty Scarlet Witch wakes from an uneasy sleep - one which brought her little rest. She peers around her room in the guest quarters at the West Coast Avengers Compound, Palos Verdes, California. The room is lit by slatted sunlight and Wanda tries to purge from her mind the haunting half guessed memory of shadowy forms and hushed, anxious voices. One name is at the foremost of her thoughts, the Vision - her android husband! Wanda rises from her bed, and although her husband does not require sleep, in the years since their marriage, the two have made a point of sharing a bed on each night that their turbulent lives have allowed. So to Wanda, the presence of her husband at her side has been a great comfort to her, for she has known little peace in her life.
Wanda dresses quickly, donning her pink and red costume, which has earned her, in part, her code-name. ‘Where can he be? I didn’t hear or feel him getting up’ Wanda thinks to herself. Wanda moves carefully through the guest quarters so as to not indiscriminately point a finger and unleash her mutant hex power, which earns her the other part of her codename.
In the converted sitting room outside Wanda’s bedroom, she finds her twin children, Tommy and Billy, still safely asleep at this early hour. Wanda moves as silent as a dream through the rest of the house - but still there is no trace of the Vision in any of the small, tidy rooms. Stepping outside, the air is cool on her face, though not as cool as she might expect. This is not the first time Wanda has realized that it will take her some time to grow accustomed to the pleasant California climate.
Still no sign of the Vision, Wanda soon hears a familiar sequence of sounds. Wanda knows that means a friend and ally is not far away, so she begins moving swiftly across the sprawling expanse of the Palos Verdes Compound. Shortly, she arrives at the huge outdoor training area, and finds an extraordinary sight - her dear friend and long-time teammate Clint “Hawkeye” Barton, strapped to a whirring training mount which thrashes him about, twisting, turning, spinning, the highly skilled Avenger is not phased - and almost faster than the human eye can follow, he loads and fires his trademark bow - and as the arrow strikes its target, despite the thrashing motion Hawkeye is mounted to, Clint’s aim is every bit as unerring as his title suggests.
However, distracted by the absence of her husband, as well as awestruck with Clint’s skill, Wanda strays a few too many paces into the training area - and a frail, dry twig that she steps on, somehow overlooked by the automated groundskeepers, combines with her distraction to foment - potential disaster - for Hawkeye reacts instinctively to the sound, which he takes to be another target springing into place from the ground, he therefore lets fly his lethal shaft - and as in all things, Clint’s aim does not fail him so the arrow speeds straight towards Wanda’s heart.
Instinctively, Wanda summons her hex power, and probabilities flow like water - the odds against an arrow in flight suddenly losing all forward momentum are on in a million. The odds are now one in one, and the arrow clatters to the ground, landing at Wanda’s feet. ‘Jeez Louise, Wanda! That was too close!’ Clint exclaims as he swings past her, before asking what she is doing out here at this time of the morning. ‘I might ask you the same thing!’ Wanda replies. ‘Er…yeah’ Clint mutters, before explaining that since he and Mockingbird have been on the outs, there hasn’t been too many reasons for him to lie around in bed all day.
Hawkeye swings out of the contraption and points out that Wanda hasn’t answered his question, so he asks her again why she is out and about so early. Wanda reveals that she is looking for the Vision, as he wasn’t in the guest house when she woke up. Wanda tells her friend that she is worried about the Vision, that she can feel something is wrong. Clint tells Wanda to fret no more, and remarks that they didn’t spend “Eleventy skillion” dollars on the world’s most sophisticated communications system for nothing! Clint then opens a channel, ‘Yo, Vision! If you’re within the sound of my voice, give a holler!’ Clint calls out.
Inside the West Coast Compound, Dr. Hank Pym is also awake early, busy in one of the labs, he answers Hawkeye’s call, asking him what is going on. Clint greets Hank before remarking that it looks like they have a whole team full of early risers today, explaining that Wanda is out looking for the Vision, Clint asks Hank if he has seen him. Hank replies that he hasn’t this morning, and that he has just been running a systems check on their mainframe computer, remarking that he had a biostatic analysis running overnight and that the result seems to be off by a few decimal places, when suddenly, Hank hears a strange sound from Hawkeye’s side of the communication.
Hank makes his way through the sprawling complex, deciding that the sound was no ordinary communications blowout, suspecting that something zapped the transponder at Clint’s end, meaning Wanda and Clint are in trouble. Entering an elevator, Hank tells himself that he never realized how slow the turbo lifts can seem when you’re in a hurry. Rushing out of the elevator, Hank wonders why the alarms have not sounded, and supposes that the others are asleep, he wonders whether or not to alert them manually, but decides against it until he can see what is happening outside.
But as Hank reaches the patio and makes his way to the training grounds, ‘NO! It can’t be! ULTRON!’ Hank shouts. Indeed, Hank’s creation is attacking the Scarlet Witch and Hawkeye, unleashing blasts of energy at them, Wanda cries out that Ultron is not stopping and that he has neutralized her hex power. ‘Tell me about it, babe!’ Clint replies, ‘I might as well be firing toothpicks at that adamantium shell of his!’.
Meanwhile…the jungle is like none on Earth. The coiling plants are soft and sleek, their flesh like the flesh of man. The breezes that touch the flanks of the big stripped cat with an unusually large mop of hair on its head are like hands caressing its fur. The scents that ride them as the cat stalks through the jungle are insidious, intoxicating. The cat is not deterred, and unerringly, stalks its prey. A large blue deer is several meters ahead, quite unaware of the cats approach - until the cat strikes, bursting forward, the attack is ruthless, merciless - and the killing is made all more terrible since it comes not from a need for food.
It is for sport…for fun - but the large cat ripping into the blue deer fades…as it is only a dream - and Greer Grant Nelson a.k.a. Tigra, the were woman wakes, her mouth stuffed full of feathers from the pillow that she has just destroyed. ‘Oh wow! That was too intense! Too real!’ Tigra tells herself, realizing that she can still feel the bloodlust in her veins, can still taste the flesh of the alien creature. Tigra is indeed troubled, for this is not the first time, and reminds herself that the dream has been building, growing richer in detail, in texture, for weeks now. ‘I wonder…is it time I told the others? Asked them for help?’ she ponders, when her thoughts are suddenly interrupted by a massive boom.
Tigra races from her bungalow, and on the way meets Janet van Dyne a.k.a. the Wasp, who she asks what the noise was. Greer notices also that Janet is flying from the direction of Hank’s bungalow, which she finds interesting, as the Wasp was apparently staying in the big house. Jan replies that she doesn’t know what the noise was, before remarking that it came in the direction of the training area, and motions to the smoke rising over the trees, which Simon “Wonder Man” Williams, who joins them, exclaims is likely to be a whole lot of trouble that they have got, ‘Unless this is somebody’s idea of a wake-up call!’
Janet tells Simon to fly on ahead and reconnoiter, to which Simon replies he was just going to do that, and as he does, tells himself that it seems the Wasp isn’t entirely used to the idea that she is no longer Avengers Chairman, ‘She barked out that command like she was Captain America!’ Simon arrives at the battle scene in an instant, ‘Oh, brother - Ultron!’ he exclaims, thinking to himself that he was hoping they had seen the last of him, before calling out to the deadly villain, ‘Okay chrome-dome, I don’t know what your game is this time…but it stops here!’ Simon warns him.
‘Fool!’ Ultron shouts back, ‘Have you so soon forgotten my power?’ he asks, before giving Simon a reminder as he strikes the powerful Avenger hard with a deadly blast, smashing Simon into a large tree. Simon gathers himself while deciding that he was hit with some kind of magnetic blast, which he doesn’t recall Ultron having a power like that before, so Ultron must have upgraded his arsenal. Simon tells Ultron that he made a good move, before declaring that while they are on the subject of forgetting things, ‘It seems like you must’ve dropped a few bytes along the way!’ Simon then flies over towards Ultron, ‘Or have you forgotten why they call me Wonder Man?’ he asks as his near-indestructible fists strike Ultron’s steel form like the clappers of a great bell - the sound that reverberates across the California hills has the ominous tones of a death knell!
Hawkeye calls out to Wonder Man, ‘Way to go!’ he shouts, while boasting that they will show the walking scrap pile that he is messing with the wrong heroes. Hank tells Clint that his sentiments are brave, but that they don’t want to be betrayed by overconfidence, reminding him that Ultron has had them on the ropes before Wonder Man arrived, and that there is still a chance of him turning the tables again. But even as Hank speaks those dark words, Wanda thinks to herself ‘The Vision missing…now Ultron!’ and her mind begins travelling with the speed of light - back across the great abyss of Time and Space - half a century ago, to an even set in the laboratory of Professor Phineas Horton - an event with all the earmarks of legend!
(Shown with various flashback images)‘Your android looks as human as any of us, Professor! Why do you keep him in that glass cage?’ a scientist asks the esteemed Professor Horton, who replies that there was a miscalculation in the android’s creation, and tells the others to observe what happens when he introduces a small amount of oxygen into the cylinder - ‘Great guns! He’s burst into flame!’ another scientist exclaims as indeed, the android turns to flame.
As Wanda knows, the blazing android soon learned to control his flame - and became known to the world as the original Human Torch! The Human Torch, for a brief handful of turbulent years, served alongside the greatest heroes of his age - Captain America and the Sub-Mariner, known as the Invaders, alongside their sidekicks Bucky and Toro.
But, nearly a decade after his time of glory, there came a day where his unstable chemistry began to catch up with him, where his flame began to burn out of his control. To protect the world he had championed, the Human Torch fled to the far desert, and there attempted to exhaust his power in one last sunburst of human flame. Insensate, he plunged to the hard embrace of the waiting desert floor.
What followed, was a dreamless time of darkness. No thought disturbed his artificial intellect. No emotions stirred his man-made heart - until one day, the darkness fell away - and he looked into this face…’I am the Thinker! I am your master!’ the insane villain cried - and the Human Torch flared once more!
But, the world had changed while the Torch slept, and there was now another who bore his title, a foe of the villainous Thinker - Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four. And with the original Human Torch’s memories not fully restored, he found himself in battle with his youthful counterpart. The battle did not last long though, and the original Human Torch learned the evil nature of his “master”, and allied with the famous Fantastic Four, he returned to confront the Thinker - only to be felled by the treachery of his savior. ‘He’s been affected by the heat of his own flame!’ Johnny Storm said at the time, ‘He’s blazing beyond control!’ Mr Fantastic explained that it was the one infallible method of destroying a flaming android.
The Thinker used the Human Torch’s destruction to make his own escape, and the Torch was left in a lab, despite the Thing’s suggestion that they cannot leave him here, ‘Shouldn’t he get a burial or something?’ but Mr. Fantastic replied that “dust to dust” didn’t apply to the original Human Torch: ‘He was born in a lab, so this is a more fitting final resting place.
And so there the original Human Torch lay…unchanging as outside his silent tomb the weeks and months marched by…until: ‘He is here! Just as the Thinker said he would be!’ Ultron exclaimed as he claimed the Torch’s lifeless body.
(Present)Memories of Ultron-5 bring Wanda’s thoughts full circle, to find that the battle has progressed while her mind travelled through years of past. Ultron blasts Wonder Man into the air, while Hawkeye aims his bow and arrow at the powerful robot, exclaiming that he cannot get a clear shot, as the Wasp is flitting about too close to Ultron. Hank calls out to the Wasp, asking her to fall back, as she cannot hurt Ultron. ‘Maybe not, Hank…but my Wasp’s sting can keep him off guard!’ Janet replies as she blasts Ultron, giving Wonder Man time to gather himself, and get another punch in.
Hawkeye motions to Ultron, pointing out that he staggered, to which Hank exclaims that this is working too well, although he has an idea, and walks over to the battle, calling out to Wonder Man. ‘Can it wait, Doc? I’m kinda busy just at the moment!’ Simon replies. Hank replies that he can see that, before announcing that he was a way to end this fight, and fast. Tigra slinks by as Wonder Man asks what that is, only for Dr. Pym to bombard him with Pym Particles, and Simon instantly begins to shrink. ‘What the heck?’ Wonder Man asks from the ground. ‘You used your shrinking power on me! WHY?’ Simon calls out, before flying up to Hank’s face.
Hank informs Simon that the answer will be immediately obvious in about twelve seconds - ‘Right after you fly straight down Ultron’s throat!’ Simon is shocked by this, and replies that he could get trapped inside Ultron’s indestructible casing, to which Hank assures him that he will not, and asks him to just do it. Simon flies towards Ultron, ‘Okay, but if I end up as part of some printed circuit…I’m gonna be real peeved!’. Steering himself against the inferno he must now face, Wonder Man plunges toward Ultron’s gaping mouth, and finds the entry not guarded by atomic flame, but be a considerably less lethal display.
Simon wonders what gives, as he passed the furnace in Ultron’s mouth without even feeling it. ‘I know my skin is tough, but - hold it!’ Simon’s train of thought is distracted as he notices something around him in Ultron’s body beginning to happen, Simon assumes that the twelve seconds Hank mentioned must nearly be up, and realizes that his body is growing at a rapid pace. ‘Not too long now and it’s going to be a real tight squeeze in here…which is probably just what Hank had in mind!’ Simon realizes as his body returns to its regular size, and rips apart Ultron in the process.
‘Perfect Simon! Just perfect!’ Hank exclaims as everyone gathers around the remains of Ultron’s destroyed form. Hank reveals that when he noticed the amount of damage that Simon’s punches were inflicting on Ultron, he knew that this couldn’t be the real Ultron. Simon understands now, and points out that Ultron’s adamantium shell would have never dented, before asking why they didn’t realize it straight away.
Hank replies that it was probably preconditioning, explaining that they were all so busy fighting what appeared to be a familiar foe, they all saw what they expected to see, after all, he adds, the robot looked, sounded and acted like the genuine article. Janet points out that they were so caught up in the blaze of battle, and adds that she is glad she’s only half an inch long so no one can see how red her face is. Wanda then asks why anyone would send a false Ultron against them in the first place. Hank replies that to distract them would seem the most obvious. ‘To keep us here, while something is going on elsewhere’. Hank then asks his friends to forgive the rather poor humor, before exclaiming ‘Avengers disassemble!’ and orders them to search the Compound.
The Avengers scatter, but while the beautiful Scarlet Witch begins her part of the search, her thoughts turn again towards the Vision. ‘Can this have something to do with his being gone?’ she wonders, recalling what he recently learned from Immortus…
(Shown with Flashback illustrations)‘As Master of Time, I can show you your past, Vision!’ Immortus told Wanda’s android husband, before sending him back through Time and Space to observe the past with the aid of a telepathic syncho-staff, where he was able to observe as an intangible phantom the moments of his own beginning.
The Vision watched as Professor Phineas Horton was reunited with the motionless Human Torch, whom Ultron-5 had brought to a hidden lab, before seeking out the man who had created the Human Torch so long ago. ‘He is mine now, Horton! And once you assist me in brining him back to life…he will be mine for all eternity!’ Ultron proclaimed. Wanda thinks to herself that it is strange how when the Vision first told the Avengers of his genesis, he only spoke of Ultron-5’s involvement, yet as Immortus revealed, Ultron simply stood by while Professor Horton did all the work.
‘Why do you want a new face for him, Ultron?’ Horton asked. ‘Because he must have a completely new life, divorced entirely from his days as a hero!’ Ultron responded. The Vision could only watch the pattern unfolding before him, as the brain patterns of a then-dead man - Wonder Man - were grafted into his synthetic brain. ‘I am certain this computer tape I discovered among Henry Pym’s effects will serve as a model!’ Ultron said as the brain patterns of Simon Williams were placed into the Vision - and thus, the android who had been the Human Torch became the synthezoid soon called the Vision!
‘Welcome to the world of the living, you who will know but a half-life!’ is how Ultron greeted his “son”, introducing himself as Ultron-5, ‘But you may call me master!’. ‘Yes, master!’ the former Human Torch replied, before, as an innocent dupe of an evil force, being sent to destroy the Avengers, and at their first encounter, it was the Wasp who gave him his new name - ‘No - No! It’s some sort of unearthly, inhuman Vision!’ she cried.
However, free from Ultron-5’s evil thrall, the Vision was ultimately made a member of the Avengers, and Wanda recalls that it was some months after that when she met her future android husband….
(Present)Wanda stands on a cliffside, looking out over the ocean, she tells herself that so many years have passed since all that happened, but that it seems like only yesterday. ‘And now the Vision is gone - and I know something is terribly wrong. He would never have left me without -’ her thoughts are interrupted as the communications console nearby goes off, and Hank calls out to Wanda. Wanda goes over to the screen, ‘What is it? You look…’ she begins, until Hank replies that it is the Vision. ‘You’ve found him? Where is he? Is he all right?’ Wanda asks. A solemn Hank replies that it would be better if he told her this face to face.
Shortly, Wanda arrives in the main assembly chamber, where her teammates have gathered, and as she enters, asks what is going on, and where her husband is. ‘He’s…gone, Wanda’ Hank announces, only for Wanda to grab the top of his jumpsuit and shake him, ‘What? What do you mean “He’s gone”?’ she asks, exclaiming ‘I know he’s gone, I thought you were going to tell me -’ suddenly, Clint interrupts Wanda, calmly telling her that she doesn’t understand. ‘Tell her, Hank’ Clint exclaims.
Hank informs Wanda that when he realized the false Ultron was probably a diversionary tactic, he recalled the glitch that he detected in his biostatic program this morning. Motioning to the console, he explains that he came back here and finished the systems check, and what he found was what he feared - ‘Someone has introduced a highly sophisticated computer virus into our system!’ Hank announces, adding that his program was inaccurate because the virus interrupted it to check for data.
‘Data? What data?’ Wanda asks. ‘The Vision, Wanda’ Hank replies, announcing that the virus has erased all trace of the Vision from their files - everything they know about him, every report he filed, it’s all gone. ‘And there’s more!’ Hank reveals, before explaining that he checked with their East Coast teammates, and that the same thing has happened at their end also. Hank explains that the virus introduced here has apparently been transmitted into every computer the link with - which includes SHIELD, the Pentagon and the Fantastic Four - and in all those systems, all trace of the Vision has been obliterated.
‘But…but that’s mad! Insane!’ Wanda exclaims, asking who could do such a thing, and now. Hank frowns as he replies ‘That’s the worst part - for this to have happened means somebody got in through our defensive network. Somebody got past all our alarms, all our codes…everything!’ The Wasp points out that to do that, the culprit would have to be one of them. Clint frowns as he remarks that one of the Avengers has turned traitor. ‘But who?’ he asks. Suddenly, a new voice is heard in the room. ‘Is that really so hard to guess, Hawk?’.
‘Oh…no…!’ Hawkeye whispers, before he and everyone else turns to the doorway to see the culprit. ‘What’s the matter, lover? Aren’t you pleased to see your little wifey again?’. ‘Mockingbird!’ everyone shouts as they look at the smug Barbara Morse Barton….