Back to GatefoldIssue #62 by Steve Crosby
|
Diane Arliss-Newell made a nervous gasp as the elevator door opened and revealed that Edwin Jarvis was inside. She stepped in, giving him a nod and a kind smile, which he returned.
“Diane, what a pleasant surprise,” said Jarvis. “Relaxing in the game room?”
“Actually, I was in the medical lab. It’s hard to believe Speedball could walk out after what he went through.”
“I quite agree, but it seemed to be nothing more than exhaustion. And he did insist on accompanying the Avengers to the Crashpad. Which, as a founding member of the New Warriors, is certainly understandable.”
“Do you think he’s right to be afraid? That they’ve been attacked by the same threat he encountered?”
“We shall have to wait and see.” Jarvis gave a worried grimace. “But even if it is nothing, the Avengers may have to depart immediately. It appears that Muir Island is under attack.”
“Oh dear.”
“Fortunately Beast and the X-Men are en route. I took the liberty of sending a message, assuring them of aid should they require it. Included for Beast was an update on the Vision’s current, uh, status.”
Diane nodded. As a former Avenger, Beast deserved to know that Vision had resurfaced and was now in custody. If that was what it could be called. “After what happened with Ultron, I can’t help but wonder how secure he really is.”
“Without a body, Vision is nothing more than bits of data in a hard drive. We don’t have him connected to anything, and the room is shielded from wireless transmissions. Even if someone knew Vision was here, they wouldn’t be able to free him. No, Diane, he’s quite secure, until the Avengers decide what is to be done.”
That would be a lengthy debate, Diane was sure. Once a long-time and stalwart Avenger, Vision had betrayed the team and nearly destroyed the African nation of Wakanda. It was certainly possible that Black Panther, king of Wakanda and also an Avenger, would demand extradition so that he could pass judgment. Captain America had been adamant that, whatever the options, they would do nothing until a court decided the matter. Until then, Vision was to remain in isolated storage.
The elevator door opened to reveal the extravagant ground floor of Avengers Mansion. Jarvis stepped out as did, much to his surprise, Diane. “I’m going to the library,” she explained. “Find a book I can pass the time with.”
“If you need anything I’ll be in the kitchen.”
To get into the library, Diane needed to cut past the public area, where the Avengers met with members of the press. Just outside the glass doors was the mansion’s patio area, including pool. Generally covered when not in use, Diane didn’t notice that it was uncovered until, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a figure rise out of the water.
It emerged from the pool, a grey thing all tooth and claw. Diane recognized the mutated creature as her brother Todd Arliss, also known as Tiger Shark. She recoiled in fear, a great pounding within her body. Tiger Shark crashed through the glass door, his maw opened wide enough to consume Diane’s head with one bite.
“Eeaauuughhh!”
Altered by the scream, Jarvis went running. He found Diane in the public room, unconscious on the floor. Standing over her was a massive figure with crazy eyes and wild hair. Jarvis recognized him instantly.
“You!” Jarvis gasped, frozen with terror. Instinctively he closed one hand over the other arm, which had been broken long ago. “Mister Hyde!”
Laughing maniacally, Mister Hyde advanced. Before Jarvis could move, one large hand grabbed him by the front of his shirt. A threatening fist was raised. Before it could fall, Jarvis closed his eyes and cried out. There was no one in the mansion to respond.
“Diane, what a pleasant surprise,” said Jarvis. “Relaxing in the game room?”
“Actually, I was in the medical lab. It’s hard to believe Speedball could walk out after what he went through.”
“I quite agree, but it seemed to be nothing more than exhaustion. And he did insist on accompanying the Avengers to the Crashpad. Which, as a founding member of the New Warriors, is certainly understandable.”
“Do you think he’s right to be afraid? That they’ve been attacked by the same threat he encountered?”
“We shall have to wait and see.” Jarvis gave a worried grimace. “But even if it is nothing, the Avengers may have to depart immediately. It appears that Muir Island is under attack.”
“Oh dear.”
“Fortunately Beast and the X-Men are en route. I took the liberty of sending a message, assuring them of aid should they require it. Included for Beast was an update on the Vision’s current, uh, status.”
Diane nodded. As a former Avenger, Beast deserved to know that Vision had resurfaced and was now in custody. If that was what it could be called. “After what happened with Ultron, I can’t help but wonder how secure he really is.”
“Without a body, Vision is nothing more than bits of data in a hard drive. We don’t have him connected to anything, and the room is shielded from wireless transmissions. Even if someone knew Vision was here, they wouldn’t be able to free him. No, Diane, he’s quite secure, until the Avengers decide what is to be done.”
That would be a lengthy debate, Diane was sure. Once a long-time and stalwart Avenger, Vision had betrayed the team and nearly destroyed the African nation of Wakanda. It was certainly possible that Black Panther, king of Wakanda and also an Avenger, would demand extradition so that he could pass judgment. Captain America had been adamant that, whatever the options, they would do nothing until a court decided the matter. Until then, Vision was to remain in isolated storage.
The elevator door opened to reveal the extravagant ground floor of Avengers Mansion. Jarvis stepped out as did, much to his surprise, Diane. “I’m going to the library,” she explained. “Find a book I can pass the time with.”
“If you need anything I’ll be in the kitchen.”
To get into the library, Diane needed to cut past the public area, where the Avengers met with members of the press. Just outside the glass doors was the mansion’s patio area, including pool. Generally covered when not in use, Diane didn’t notice that it was uncovered until, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a figure rise out of the water.
It emerged from the pool, a grey thing all tooth and claw. Diane recognized the mutated creature as her brother Todd Arliss, also known as Tiger Shark. She recoiled in fear, a great pounding within her body. Tiger Shark crashed through the glass door, his maw opened wide enough to consume Diane’s head with one bite.
“Eeaauuughhh!”
Altered by the scream, Jarvis went running. He found Diane in the public room, unconscious on the floor. Standing over her was a massive figure with crazy eyes and wild hair. Jarvis recognized him instantly.
“You!” Jarvis gasped, frozen with terror. Instinctively he closed one hand over the other arm, which had been broken long ago. “Mister Hyde!”
Laughing maniacally, Mister Hyde advanced. Before Jarvis could move, one large hand grabbed him by the front of his shirt. A threatening fist was raised. Before it could fall, Jarvis closed his eyes and cried out. There was no one in the mansion to respond.
"Who Owns the Youth"
“There! I can see them!” Stingray cried out as he flew over the rubble. Those great mounds of wood, glass, metal and masonry had previously been a converted warehouse owned by the Taylor Foundation. Affectionately called the Crash Pad, it had served as headquarters to the New Warriors, a team of young heroes who Stingray now claimed to see. His armor’s sonar made that possible, picking up ambient sound to give Stingray a complete picture of his surroundings. In this case, he had detected the heartbeats and faint breathing of three individuals.
When the Avengers, at Speedball’s urging, had arrived at the headquarters after failing to make radio contact, they found themselves on the heels of a crew from Damage Control. It was like what foreman Lenny Ballinger told Captain America. “People tend to notice when a building falls down.”
Having just landed his sky-cycle Captain America had nodded agreement and offered Avengers assistance. Now that Stingray had discovered survivors, Karnak led the rescue effort. His skills and lifetime of training allowed him to identity sections of rubble that would collapse at the slightest disturbance. Taking care to avoid these areas, Warbird and Binary did the heavy lifting while Quicksilver moved smaller pieces at rapid speed.
Damage Control’s Search and Rescue Team was standing by, ready to help the New Warriors once they were uncovered. Once that was done, the construction crew would clear the debris and begin work, per Damage Control’s contract with the Taylor Foundation. Waiting with them were Captain America, Espirita and an exhausted yet determined Speedball.
“This is because of me,” Speedball said as he helplessly watched the Avengers at their work. “I’m still not exactly sure what I uncovered.”
“The people behind that were responsible for this.” A reassuring hand on Speedball’s shoulder, Captain America tried to keep the younger man’s mind occupied. “So talk me through it again.”
“Okay. In my work as a claims agent for Damage Control, I visited a number of places the Hulk had passed through on his latest attack.” Speedball had begun talking at a near whisper, as his dual professions weren’t common knowledge. “At several sites, there was evidence of other superhuman activity. Those superhumans had disappeared almost immediately afterwards, and I soon realized that I was being followed. A sniper with control over gases nearly killed me, but I was rescued by Timeslip, an old teammate from the New Warriors. She said she was from the near future, and tried to warn be about something before she got shot and vanished.”
Speedball paused, remembering the sight of Timeslip falling to the ground. He hoped she’d returned to her time and gotten treatment. “I ran, using my kinetic reflection power to, ironically, make Hulk-like jumps. Figuring I would be intercepted if I tried to contact Force Works in Metro City, I headed here for New York City. You guys had just fought the Hulk, so I hoped you had some insight. But it wasn’t until after I reached Avengers Mansion that I realized that these bad guys might think I was going to my old team, the New Warriors.”
His tale finished, Speedball once again took in the devastation that he and the Avengers had found. According to Stingray, there were three survivors, and Speedball felt guilty for not knowing who was currently on his old team.
“I think the only original member to stay was Night Thrasher,” Speedball said. “The rest of us, we’d all moved on.”
“I spoke with them a few months ago,” said Captain America. “After we helped them diffuse a situation.”
Speedball gave a laugh that was as much a sob. “Right. I remember reading about Stamford.” And laughing, Speedball didn’t say. He and other members of Force Works had laughed over Night Thrasher’s new team of “rookie wannabees”.
“I’ve found one!” Quicksilver called out. He cleared the immediately vicinity and checked the vitals of an armored man. “It’s Night Thrasher!”
“Thrash!” Speedball bounded forward, leaping through the cleared path to reach his former teammate. He knelt over the founder and leader of the New Warriors, and was shocked to see the man’s eyes were open and aware. “He’s awake! Thrash, it’s going to be okay. What happened?”
Night Thrasher didn’t respond, and Speedball realized that he couldn’t respond. The smell had reached him, fried circuitry and burnt flesh. Night Thrasher’s armor must have been overloaded and taken his nervous system with it.
“We have him sir.” Two paramedics had arrived, and gently settled a gurney beneath the paralyzed man.
A cry from Warbird indicated the other two New Warriors had been found. “It looks like Ricochet and Turbo. Hold on, Binary, we can’t just pick them up.”
Speedball rushed to the side of the two unconscious young heroes. He’d known Turbo from before, and gaped at the sight of her missing arm. “Oh my god, they cut off Turbo’s arm!”
“As I understand that happened some time ago,” said Quicksilver. “During a battle with Moses Magnum. Since then she’s had this prosthesis.” He held up a mangled artificial arm.
Once the New Warriors had been loaded into the ambulances and Captain America conversed with one of the paramedics, he went to speak with Speedball. “Ricochet and Turbo have broken bones, burns, and some internal bleeding, but the odds are good they’ll recover. Night Thrasher’s injury is much more serious and unconventional. A specialist will be meeting him at the hospital.”
“I want to go with them,” Speedball said. “But if whoever did this makes an attack on me…I’ve hurt them enough.”
“Stingray, are we being watched?” When Stingray shook his head, Captain America addressed Speedball. “They’re being taken to a secure, undisclosed location. You should go with them, if only to be checked out yourself and get some rest. I’ll go with you.”
“Should be stay here and process the scene?” Binary asked. “I’m detecting traces of energy. We might be able to identify it or track it in some way.”
“We aren’t tracking anything right now,” Captain America said. “Take some samples if possible and have them analyzed at the mansion. After we’ve learned all we can, including questioning the New Warriors once any of them wakes up, we’ll figure out the next move.”
# # # # # # # # # # #
Running at top speed, Quicksilver reached Avengers Mansion well ahead of his teammates. Ever annoyed, he slowed down at the gate to accommodate the too slow security system. This annoyance grew when he entered the kitchen for coffee only to find the pot empty. Another teammate may have recognized that was a sign of something wrong, but Quicksilver only grumbled that Jarvis was slacking off as he prepared a fresh pot.
Waiting for water to heat and coffee to drip was as torturous as watching snow fall, so Quicksilver left the kitchen. He considered passing the time in the library with a quick read through War and Peace. But then he noticed the patio door was ajar. As Quicksilver pulled it closed, he saw a reflection in the glass and whirled around.
“You! But it can’t be!”
It was the Vision, his cape held in one fist and the other hand raised in a dramatic gesture. “Yes! By exploiting those who would foolishly trust, I have been restored! Once you are eliminated, the naïve Avengers will accept me back, and I shall destroy them from within!”
“I knew it!” Quicksilver talked at full speed as he ran at the Vision, knowing the synthezoid could process his words. “They’d likely believe your story and fake tears. But I’m going to stop you here and now!”
Vision went immaterial, and no sooner did Quicksilver run harmlessly through the synthezoid than he was struck by a powerful beam of energy. He collapsed with a cry of pain, Vision’s laughter following him down.
“You were so right not to trust me. Such a pity you could never convince her!”
Lying on the floor, slowly losing consciousness, Quicksilver saw a body lying under the table. Before blacking out, he could only mutter the name of his sister, the Scarlet Witch. “Wanda…”
# # # # # # # # # # #
Next to return to Avengers Mansion were Karnak, Espirita and Stingray. The two fliers landed on the front walkway, while Karnak piloted his sky-cycle onto the roof. With Karnak were the samples taken from the Crashpad, to be analyze in the mansion’s lab.
“This is my biggest problem with secret identities,” said Espirita to Stingray as they walked through the front door. “If the New Warriors had died, that would have been how the loved ones found out. We often go on dangerous missions, sometimes vanishing for weeks or months at a time, and those who should pray for our safety don’t even know they should.”
Stingray agreed. “These kids, they see it as no different from sneaking out to drag race. It’s bad enough that Diane might receive the worst kind of news one day. I wouldn’t want her to have also realized I’d been lying to her for so long. But like it or not, it’s a choice we each make.”
“At the least, I can pray for them.” Espirita sniffed the air. “After a cup of coffee. Would you care for some?”
“No thank you. I’m going to try and nap before something else comes up.”
Stingray walked up the stairs, removing his helmet. He wanted nothing more than to peel off the armor and get some rest. He heard noises behind the door to his room and thought that his wife Diane must be inside. He smiled. May not rest right away. The door opened to the sight of his wife writhing beneath the sheets with another man.
“Diane!”
She looked up, her hair disheveled, face flushed and sweaty. “Don’t be so surprised. You know you couldn’t possibly compete with Captain America.”
Before Stingray could respond, before he could realize through his shock just how impossible the scene was, something struck him from behind.
# # # # # # # # # # #
Taking a sip of coffee, Espirita hurried into her room, not to rest, but to pray for the health of the New Warriors. Her quarters were sparse, containing only necessities. A plain bed in which to sleep, a small dresser for simple clothes, and an alter at which to pray. Espirita set her cup on the dresser and knelt at the alter. The many candles became lit, filling the tiny space with the smell of incense.
Silently, Espirita prayed to her Lord thy God for the recovery of Johhny Gallo, Dwayne Taylor, and Michiko Musashi, otherwise known as Richochet, Night Thrasher, and Turbo, respectively. Or, if it were beyond her Lord’s mercy to spare them, to forgive their sins and accept the three heroes into his kingdom of heaven.
“The last two I don’t know about,” said an oily voice behind Espirita. “But the Gallo’s soul was promised to me long ago.”
Espirita spun around and gasped at the sight of evil in her presence. Lounging on her bed was Mephisto, supposedly a manifestation of the devil Satan himself. He wore nothing but a sheet and a smile, and waggled his fingers at Espirita. “Hi sexy. Care to jump into bed with me?”
“Begone foul demon!” Espirita had risen to her full height, embraced by an aura of flame. “Your lies and temptations shall have no power here!”
“Oh, such a pity.” Mesphisto gave a playful frown. “I had an exquisite argument prepared to suggest that you are truly my servant. But, as you refuse to be consumed by your fears, I’m okay with only being a distraction.”
Unseen by Espirita, someone had entered the room and grabbed her from behind. As she cried out, a foul-smelling cloth was pressed to her mouth, and Espirita could feel her thoughts growing faint. The flames around her intensified by didn’t seem to be helping. At the least the cloth should have ignited, but it remained in place, Espirita forced to inhale the debilitating fumes. A young man’s voice entered her ears, her mind too foggy to make our more than a phrase.
“-his spell is working.”
# # # # # # # # # # #
Karnak was in the elevator when he heard the scream. Slamming the emergency button, the doors opened on the second floor and he rushed out. He heard a distinct thud in the direction of Espirita’s quarters, and when her door came into view Karnak saw that it was open. Espirita herself was lying on the floor with a large man standing over her.
It was with no hesitation and only a cry of power that Karnak leapt into attack. His hand chopped at the masked man’s temple. It didn’t seem to do any harm, but the man gave a high-pitched shrill and Karnak noticed how young he was. And that his large size wasn’t from muscle mass. Karnak struck again, a jab to the boy’s throat, but it was as ineffective as the last. A wild punch was thrown that Karnak easily deflected and countered with an eye poke that the boy only flinched from with surprise and the expectation of pain.
So, physically weak and unskilled in every way, Karnak noted. But also invulnerable, creating a problem that Karnak would have to take time to solve. Moving around the boy, Karnak grabbed both flabby arms and trapped them behind his head with one arm, while the other arm was pressed against his windpipe. No effect, so Karnak let up on the pressure, kicked the back of a knee to force the boy down and forced the inside of his elbow over the boy’s mouth and nose.
“You’ll have a lot of explaining to do when you wake up,” Karnak said as the boy was struggling to breathe. “Beginning with how you got in here and disabled my teammate.”
“It helped that he’s not alone.”
Karnak looked up and saw standing in the hallway a young woman with a raised arm that was also a cannon. All Karnak had time to do was crouch further behind his captive as a powerful burst of energy was shot at him. That only ensured he would wake up eventually.
# # # # # # # # # # #
“That was a waste of time,” said Warbird as she and Binary were flying back to Avengers Mansion. “By the time we arrive, they’ll have finished analyzing those samples for real.”
“I hope it matches with what I picked up on.” Binary was using her Avengers communi-card while flying, accessing news reports. “There was a definite spike in electro-magnetic energy at the Crash Pad.”
Warbird rolled her eyes. “We know that already, from what happened to Night Thrasher.”
“But I’m sure I would recognize it if I’m near it again,” said Binary excitedly. “Here. According to his report from Montana was knocked aside with very little damage at the point of impact.”
When Binary waved her card toward Warbird, a bit too forcefully. It fell out of her hand, and Warbird nearly crashed into a building laughing while Binary dipped down to retrieve it.
“Ha ha. That’s what I get for texting and flying.” Binary tucked the card away into a nearly invisible slit in his costume. “Hey, do we get anything from all those smart phones being sold? It seems to be the exact same technology.”
“If we are, it would be going to the Maria-Stark Foundation,” Warbird said. The mansion came into sight, and the two heroines touched ground at about the same time. “So, you were about to say you think one of those kids along the Hulk’s path of destruction was involved in the attack?”
Binary nodded. “Well, we can’t be sure until we find him, but it makes sense. This is all tied up in what Speedball was doing.”
It was Binary who opened the front door and entered the mansion first. The foyer was empty and quiet, as was the dining hall seen through the open door. Binary withdrew her smart card and walked further into the mansion.
“Everybody must be downstairs in the lab. I’m going to go see if I’m right.”
Warbird grabbed Binary by the shoulder. “Wait a second.” Warbird’s eyes rolled around in her head, taking in everything that was undisturbed and inviting. “Something’s not right.”
Binary pulled free of Warbird’s hold. “What do you mean? Everything looks fine.” She pressed the card to open communications. “Hey, guys? Warbird and I just got here. Where are you?”
In the back of Warbird’s mind, her seventh sense tickled. “We need to go. Come on.” But was Warbird turned, the open door out of the mansion slammed shut. Though Warbird grabbed the handle and pulled with most of her strength, it wouldn’t budge.
“Magnetically sealed,” said Binary. Now she was feeling the mansion with her senses. “I recognize it. That same energy. You!”
Appearing in the dining hall doorway was Proctor, the other-dimensional version of Black Knight. His Ebony Blade, bristling with cosmic energy stolen from an Eternal, was raised with the point aimed for Binary’s breast. She cried out, pained in spite of her purported invulnerability, and collapsed in her depowered form.
None of that was seen by Warbird. To her eyes, the younger hero had simply collapse, and the figure in the doorway was shifting, unable to maintain a form for more than a second. Had Warbird been paying attention she may have recognized Immortus, Rogue, Mystique, Magneto, an alien Brood, Deathbird, and even the new Binary wearing the original Ms. Marvel uniform. Warbird was focused on the real threat however and, placing herself between Binary and the energy, unleashed her power. Though a foe that felled Binary had to be significant, Warbird initially held back. A good thing, because that blast threw him against the table where he flipped backward to land against it hard. It wasn’t until Warbird advanced, suspecting a ruse, that she saw the true form of an unconscious young man dressed all in black.
“Wow, you are so my hero.” Warbird turned to see a young woman walking down the stairs. Her left arm appeared to be a cannon, though Warbird couldn’t tell if it replaced the arm or was attached. “They said Trauma is the most powerful of us. Omega class.”
“I’ll ask who they are when you wake up.”
Rather than risk a shot from that cannon, Warbird fired a blast at the woman. Instantly the cannon morphed in a shield, soaking in the blast.
“My, I always figured I was more powerful. Thanks to my personal armory here.” As she swept the shield down, it morphed back into a cannon, firing Warbird’s power back at her.
All Warbird could do was throw up her hands before the energy blasted her against the doorframe. Every cell inside of her burned as it tried to process the energy, and succeeded to an extent. Remarkably, Warbird remained conscious, but lay helpless on the ground as the woman finished descending the stairs.
“My, you’re resilient. Adjusting. And before you die, you should know that I actually do call myself Armory.”
A second blast was unleashed. But during all that time, Binary had recovered and thrown herself into its path. She screamed as the power seemed to burn the plasma sheath from her body and incinerated the Avengers card in her hand. The sacrifice didn’t appear to be enough, as the barrage engulfed Warbird as well.
Armory lowered her arm and grinned. “Two for the price of one. How economical.” Then her eyes widened.
When the powerful attack had finished, Binary collapsed, her body once more depowered. But Warbird was now rising to her feet, sheathed in the familiar Binary energy that she was so familiar with.
“How?”
“I’ll figure that out later.” Twin beams shot from Warbird’s eyes. Armory’s weapon morphed, trying to compensate. But the beams were two different forms of energy. While the plasma burst was deflected, the gravity pulse hurled Armory back. She fell hard against the stairs, knocked unconscious.
Sensing a presence behind her, Warbird turned and saw three individuals standing at the far end of the dining room. The lizard creature resembled a woman, while one of the men was solidly built and the other just looked to be overweight. The well-built young man generated spheres of energy in his fists, and Warbird could sense the electro-magnetism.
“See Komodo, I told you they’d have more fight than the New Warriors. I’d almost be worried if she could take Boulder like that.”
With an annoyed grunt, the overweight kid that Warbird assumed was Boulder rushed at her. Warbird said nothing, deciding not to play around and rapid-fired an array of energies. They all hit Boulder, but he didn’t do more than pause briefly before bracing himself and continued on. The next blast Warbird unleashed was high-powered, capable of denting low-grade adamantium. That only made Boulder stagger.
“Looks like we don’t have to worry, Hardball,” said the lizard girl called Komodo. “This Avenger’s got nothing on us.”
“Is that what you think?” Every cell in her body ready to explode with power, Warbird launched herself forward. “Come on!”
# # # # # # # # # # #
Deliriously happy, Speedball couldn’t help himself and hugged the surprised doctor. After pulling away, he turned to Captain America and beamed. “Did you hear that?”
“I did,” said Captain America. “It’s terrific that Night Thrasher will be okay.” All the New Warriors were going to recover from their earlier battle.
Speedball punched one hand into the other, sending tiny multi-colored balls into the air. “Now I can focus all in on hunting these villains down. I’ve been thinking about it and I think the first place to start would be-”
“It would probably be better if we spoke in private.” After giving the doctor a polite nod, Captain America led Speedball out of the waiting. “In fact, it might be better if we meet with everyone back at the mansion. See what they’ve discovered, go over everything we know, then decide how to proceed.”
“Yeah, of course, but there’s no harm in thinking aloud.” Speedball was really pumping himself up, going on while Captain America reached for his beeping card. “We know an attempt was made on my life, and the New Warriors were attacked in the search for me. So it starts with what I know.”
“Avengers Mansion has been attacked too,” Captain America said.
Speedball turned, astounded. “What?”
Captain America held up his card. “An Avenger I.D. card, Binary’s, was just destroyed. Last location was at the mansion.”
“We need to get over there then.”
“Absolutely not.” Captain America walked past Speedball with a purpose. “If the team can handle it, they will. If they can’t, we won’t make a difference. But don’t worry. We have procedures for this.”
“Procedures?” Speedball hurried to keep up with the Living Legend as the descended into the lower levels of the hospital. “They team could be dead for all we know.”
“That’s why procedures were set up, so that nobody panics if that happens.” After pressing a few commands on his Avengers card until it went completely blank, Captain America put it away. “First we go dark, and wait to see what’s reported. I’ll then decide if it’s safe to approach anyone, or if it’s safest to go on alone.”
“Of course.” Speedball sighed with guilt. “We don’t know who they’ll we watching. The X-Men, Fantastic Four, SHIELD…”
“They’ll know to be on alert.” Captain America found a sewer access and forced it open. “Come on.”
Ignoring the smell, Speedball followed. “So where are we going then? A safehouse?”
“A garage with transportation. I’d prefer we keep moving. What you were saying before, you should keep doing. What do you know?”
As the heroes trudged through sewage, Speedball relayed the entire investigation he did for Damage Control. When he reached the part about Hulk jumping off a teenager who survived unscathed, Captain America paused.
“Could you repeat the name of that farm?”
“Van Patrick Organic Farm. But the kid was there visiting a friend. Emery…” Speedball struggled for the name. “I can’t remember.”
“But the friend, the one you spoke to?” Captain America suddenly looked very intent. “His name was Van Patrick?”
“Yeah, Michael Ian Van Patrick,” said Speedball. “I remember because I was thinking at the time, that this kid was like a little, well, you. Why?”
Captain America remembered his conversations with Doctor Abraham Erskine, the scientist that created the Super-Soldier Serum. Specifically he recalled Doctor Erskine about the new life he was making in America, and the family he was preparing to raise.
“To go forward we’ll need to go back,” Captain America said. “Re-interview some of the people you talked to, try to learn more about those abductions. And what exactly it had to do with the Hulk. Maybe then we’ll get a sense of who’s behind this.”
# # # # # # # # # # #
The pain that cut through Warbird’s stupor was a dull throb, the ache that one would feel after a long workout. Her eyes opened, sending a sharp stab of sensation through her skull. She tried to recall her previous moments of consciousness, recalled that she’d somehow absorbed Binary’s power but it hadn’t lasted long. That had quickly been followed with Warbird beaten into submission.
The attempt of shifting her head expanded the pain all down Warbird’s spine. Moving only her eyes, she saw more Avengers bound with her, all in the exact same position. Stingray was even still in his armor, except for the helmet, and Warbird noted they were all still unconscious. Missing were Jarvis and Diane Arliss-Newell, hopefully because they were left behind and not because they’d been killed. Warbird also didn’t see Captain America or Speedball, and held out some hope.
A door behind Warbird opened. At hearing the approaching footsteps Warbird closed her eyes and struggled to control her breathing.
“The pathetic possum play is unnecessary,” said a voice Warbird recognized. “I’m well aware that you’ve recovered faster than these lesser races.”
Warbird’s eyes shot open. Even expecting it, that face of the Red Skull’s repulsed her. “I’m no better than any of my teammates.”
“You know what a lie that is.” Red Skull touched a hand to her cheek, and if Warbird could have recoiled she would have of. His eyes shifted to the dark-skinned woman next to Warbird, and his eyes narrowed in hate. “Especially this one. Such an injustice, that this thing holds power that should be yours by right.”
“Let Binary go,” said Warbird. “And she’ll demonstrate just what she can do with that power.”
“In due time.” Red Skull looked past Warbird, and she could hear more footsteps. “We’ve had to accelerate our plans somewhat, but the testing was successful. Soon we’ll proceed to the final phase.”
“Whatever the Coalition has planned, it won’t succeed,” said Warbird, referring to the alliance of villains the Red Skull was a part of. Several of them were now walking into view; Centurious, Dr. Animal and Professor Power. “Captain America is still free, and as I recall he’s the one that usually foils your…schemes…”
The sight of the Hulk caused Warbird to trail off. She just stared at him, utterly stunned. Red Skull laughed.
“Yes, I believe you’ve met Maestro. Not the real one, simply a copy of his mind that we uploaded into Banner’s brain. Or perhaps you’re speechless by the realization of how we got him.” Red Skull leaned forward, and said the words Warbird dreaded to hear. “Fortunately, I have some connections within your government.”
Next Issue: Red Skull has a team of super-villains old and new that includes the Hulk. Captain America has Speedball. It’s on!
When the Avengers, at Speedball’s urging, had arrived at the headquarters after failing to make radio contact, they found themselves on the heels of a crew from Damage Control. It was like what foreman Lenny Ballinger told Captain America. “People tend to notice when a building falls down.”
Having just landed his sky-cycle Captain America had nodded agreement and offered Avengers assistance. Now that Stingray had discovered survivors, Karnak led the rescue effort. His skills and lifetime of training allowed him to identity sections of rubble that would collapse at the slightest disturbance. Taking care to avoid these areas, Warbird and Binary did the heavy lifting while Quicksilver moved smaller pieces at rapid speed.
Damage Control’s Search and Rescue Team was standing by, ready to help the New Warriors once they were uncovered. Once that was done, the construction crew would clear the debris and begin work, per Damage Control’s contract with the Taylor Foundation. Waiting with them were Captain America, Espirita and an exhausted yet determined Speedball.
“This is because of me,” Speedball said as he helplessly watched the Avengers at their work. “I’m still not exactly sure what I uncovered.”
“The people behind that were responsible for this.” A reassuring hand on Speedball’s shoulder, Captain America tried to keep the younger man’s mind occupied. “So talk me through it again.”
“Okay. In my work as a claims agent for Damage Control, I visited a number of places the Hulk had passed through on his latest attack.” Speedball had begun talking at a near whisper, as his dual professions weren’t common knowledge. “At several sites, there was evidence of other superhuman activity. Those superhumans had disappeared almost immediately afterwards, and I soon realized that I was being followed. A sniper with control over gases nearly killed me, but I was rescued by Timeslip, an old teammate from the New Warriors. She said she was from the near future, and tried to warn be about something before she got shot and vanished.”
Speedball paused, remembering the sight of Timeslip falling to the ground. He hoped she’d returned to her time and gotten treatment. “I ran, using my kinetic reflection power to, ironically, make Hulk-like jumps. Figuring I would be intercepted if I tried to contact Force Works in Metro City, I headed here for New York City. You guys had just fought the Hulk, so I hoped you had some insight. But it wasn’t until after I reached Avengers Mansion that I realized that these bad guys might think I was going to my old team, the New Warriors.”
His tale finished, Speedball once again took in the devastation that he and the Avengers had found. According to Stingray, there were three survivors, and Speedball felt guilty for not knowing who was currently on his old team.
“I think the only original member to stay was Night Thrasher,” Speedball said. “The rest of us, we’d all moved on.”
“I spoke with them a few months ago,” said Captain America. “After we helped them diffuse a situation.”
Speedball gave a laugh that was as much a sob. “Right. I remember reading about Stamford.” And laughing, Speedball didn’t say. He and other members of Force Works had laughed over Night Thrasher’s new team of “rookie wannabees”.
“I’ve found one!” Quicksilver called out. He cleared the immediately vicinity and checked the vitals of an armored man. “It’s Night Thrasher!”
“Thrash!” Speedball bounded forward, leaping through the cleared path to reach his former teammate. He knelt over the founder and leader of the New Warriors, and was shocked to see the man’s eyes were open and aware. “He’s awake! Thrash, it’s going to be okay. What happened?”
Night Thrasher didn’t respond, and Speedball realized that he couldn’t respond. The smell had reached him, fried circuitry and burnt flesh. Night Thrasher’s armor must have been overloaded and taken his nervous system with it.
“We have him sir.” Two paramedics had arrived, and gently settled a gurney beneath the paralyzed man.
A cry from Warbird indicated the other two New Warriors had been found. “It looks like Ricochet and Turbo. Hold on, Binary, we can’t just pick them up.”
Speedball rushed to the side of the two unconscious young heroes. He’d known Turbo from before, and gaped at the sight of her missing arm. “Oh my god, they cut off Turbo’s arm!”
“As I understand that happened some time ago,” said Quicksilver. “During a battle with Moses Magnum. Since then she’s had this prosthesis.” He held up a mangled artificial arm.
Once the New Warriors had been loaded into the ambulances and Captain America conversed with one of the paramedics, he went to speak with Speedball. “Ricochet and Turbo have broken bones, burns, and some internal bleeding, but the odds are good they’ll recover. Night Thrasher’s injury is much more serious and unconventional. A specialist will be meeting him at the hospital.”
“I want to go with them,” Speedball said. “But if whoever did this makes an attack on me…I’ve hurt them enough.”
“Stingray, are we being watched?” When Stingray shook his head, Captain America addressed Speedball. “They’re being taken to a secure, undisclosed location. You should go with them, if only to be checked out yourself and get some rest. I’ll go with you.”
“Should be stay here and process the scene?” Binary asked. “I’m detecting traces of energy. We might be able to identify it or track it in some way.”
“We aren’t tracking anything right now,” Captain America said. “Take some samples if possible and have them analyzed at the mansion. After we’ve learned all we can, including questioning the New Warriors once any of them wakes up, we’ll figure out the next move.”
# # # # # # # # # # #
Running at top speed, Quicksilver reached Avengers Mansion well ahead of his teammates. Ever annoyed, he slowed down at the gate to accommodate the too slow security system. This annoyance grew when he entered the kitchen for coffee only to find the pot empty. Another teammate may have recognized that was a sign of something wrong, but Quicksilver only grumbled that Jarvis was slacking off as he prepared a fresh pot.
Waiting for water to heat and coffee to drip was as torturous as watching snow fall, so Quicksilver left the kitchen. He considered passing the time in the library with a quick read through War and Peace. But then he noticed the patio door was ajar. As Quicksilver pulled it closed, he saw a reflection in the glass and whirled around.
“You! But it can’t be!”
It was the Vision, his cape held in one fist and the other hand raised in a dramatic gesture. “Yes! By exploiting those who would foolishly trust, I have been restored! Once you are eliminated, the naïve Avengers will accept me back, and I shall destroy them from within!”
“I knew it!” Quicksilver talked at full speed as he ran at the Vision, knowing the synthezoid could process his words. “They’d likely believe your story and fake tears. But I’m going to stop you here and now!”
Vision went immaterial, and no sooner did Quicksilver run harmlessly through the synthezoid than he was struck by a powerful beam of energy. He collapsed with a cry of pain, Vision’s laughter following him down.
“You were so right not to trust me. Such a pity you could never convince her!”
Lying on the floor, slowly losing consciousness, Quicksilver saw a body lying under the table. Before blacking out, he could only mutter the name of his sister, the Scarlet Witch. “Wanda…”
# # # # # # # # # # #
Next to return to Avengers Mansion were Karnak, Espirita and Stingray. The two fliers landed on the front walkway, while Karnak piloted his sky-cycle onto the roof. With Karnak were the samples taken from the Crashpad, to be analyze in the mansion’s lab.
“This is my biggest problem with secret identities,” said Espirita to Stingray as they walked through the front door. “If the New Warriors had died, that would have been how the loved ones found out. We often go on dangerous missions, sometimes vanishing for weeks or months at a time, and those who should pray for our safety don’t even know they should.”
Stingray agreed. “These kids, they see it as no different from sneaking out to drag race. It’s bad enough that Diane might receive the worst kind of news one day. I wouldn’t want her to have also realized I’d been lying to her for so long. But like it or not, it’s a choice we each make.”
“At the least, I can pray for them.” Espirita sniffed the air. “After a cup of coffee. Would you care for some?”
“No thank you. I’m going to try and nap before something else comes up.”
Stingray walked up the stairs, removing his helmet. He wanted nothing more than to peel off the armor and get some rest. He heard noises behind the door to his room and thought that his wife Diane must be inside. He smiled. May not rest right away. The door opened to the sight of his wife writhing beneath the sheets with another man.
“Diane!”
She looked up, her hair disheveled, face flushed and sweaty. “Don’t be so surprised. You know you couldn’t possibly compete with Captain America.”
Before Stingray could respond, before he could realize through his shock just how impossible the scene was, something struck him from behind.
# # # # # # # # # # #
Taking a sip of coffee, Espirita hurried into her room, not to rest, but to pray for the health of the New Warriors. Her quarters were sparse, containing only necessities. A plain bed in which to sleep, a small dresser for simple clothes, and an alter at which to pray. Espirita set her cup on the dresser and knelt at the alter. The many candles became lit, filling the tiny space with the smell of incense.
Silently, Espirita prayed to her Lord thy God for the recovery of Johhny Gallo, Dwayne Taylor, and Michiko Musashi, otherwise known as Richochet, Night Thrasher, and Turbo, respectively. Or, if it were beyond her Lord’s mercy to spare them, to forgive their sins and accept the three heroes into his kingdom of heaven.
“The last two I don’t know about,” said an oily voice behind Espirita. “But the Gallo’s soul was promised to me long ago.”
Espirita spun around and gasped at the sight of evil in her presence. Lounging on her bed was Mephisto, supposedly a manifestation of the devil Satan himself. He wore nothing but a sheet and a smile, and waggled his fingers at Espirita. “Hi sexy. Care to jump into bed with me?”
“Begone foul demon!” Espirita had risen to her full height, embraced by an aura of flame. “Your lies and temptations shall have no power here!”
“Oh, such a pity.” Mesphisto gave a playful frown. “I had an exquisite argument prepared to suggest that you are truly my servant. But, as you refuse to be consumed by your fears, I’m okay with only being a distraction.”
Unseen by Espirita, someone had entered the room and grabbed her from behind. As she cried out, a foul-smelling cloth was pressed to her mouth, and Espirita could feel her thoughts growing faint. The flames around her intensified by didn’t seem to be helping. At the least the cloth should have ignited, but it remained in place, Espirita forced to inhale the debilitating fumes. A young man’s voice entered her ears, her mind too foggy to make our more than a phrase.
“-his spell is working.”
# # # # # # # # # # #
Karnak was in the elevator when he heard the scream. Slamming the emergency button, the doors opened on the second floor and he rushed out. He heard a distinct thud in the direction of Espirita’s quarters, and when her door came into view Karnak saw that it was open. Espirita herself was lying on the floor with a large man standing over her.
It was with no hesitation and only a cry of power that Karnak leapt into attack. His hand chopped at the masked man’s temple. It didn’t seem to do any harm, but the man gave a high-pitched shrill and Karnak noticed how young he was. And that his large size wasn’t from muscle mass. Karnak struck again, a jab to the boy’s throat, but it was as ineffective as the last. A wild punch was thrown that Karnak easily deflected and countered with an eye poke that the boy only flinched from with surprise and the expectation of pain.
So, physically weak and unskilled in every way, Karnak noted. But also invulnerable, creating a problem that Karnak would have to take time to solve. Moving around the boy, Karnak grabbed both flabby arms and trapped them behind his head with one arm, while the other arm was pressed against his windpipe. No effect, so Karnak let up on the pressure, kicked the back of a knee to force the boy down and forced the inside of his elbow over the boy’s mouth and nose.
“You’ll have a lot of explaining to do when you wake up,” Karnak said as the boy was struggling to breathe. “Beginning with how you got in here and disabled my teammate.”
“It helped that he’s not alone.”
Karnak looked up and saw standing in the hallway a young woman with a raised arm that was also a cannon. All Karnak had time to do was crouch further behind his captive as a powerful burst of energy was shot at him. That only ensured he would wake up eventually.
# # # # # # # # # # #
“That was a waste of time,” said Warbird as she and Binary were flying back to Avengers Mansion. “By the time we arrive, they’ll have finished analyzing those samples for real.”
“I hope it matches with what I picked up on.” Binary was using her Avengers communi-card while flying, accessing news reports. “There was a definite spike in electro-magnetic energy at the Crash Pad.”
Warbird rolled her eyes. “We know that already, from what happened to Night Thrasher.”
“But I’m sure I would recognize it if I’m near it again,” said Binary excitedly. “Here. According to his report from Montana was knocked aside with very little damage at the point of impact.”
When Binary waved her card toward Warbird, a bit too forcefully. It fell out of her hand, and Warbird nearly crashed into a building laughing while Binary dipped down to retrieve it.
“Ha ha. That’s what I get for texting and flying.” Binary tucked the card away into a nearly invisible slit in his costume. “Hey, do we get anything from all those smart phones being sold? It seems to be the exact same technology.”
“If we are, it would be going to the Maria-Stark Foundation,” Warbird said. The mansion came into sight, and the two heroines touched ground at about the same time. “So, you were about to say you think one of those kids along the Hulk’s path of destruction was involved in the attack?”
Binary nodded. “Well, we can’t be sure until we find him, but it makes sense. This is all tied up in what Speedball was doing.”
It was Binary who opened the front door and entered the mansion first. The foyer was empty and quiet, as was the dining hall seen through the open door. Binary withdrew her smart card and walked further into the mansion.
“Everybody must be downstairs in the lab. I’m going to go see if I’m right.”
Warbird grabbed Binary by the shoulder. “Wait a second.” Warbird’s eyes rolled around in her head, taking in everything that was undisturbed and inviting. “Something’s not right.”
Binary pulled free of Warbird’s hold. “What do you mean? Everything looks fine.” She pressed the card to open communications. “Hey, guys? Warbird and I just got here. Where are you?”
In the back of Warbird’s mind, her seventh sense tickled. “We need to go. Come on.” But was Warbird turned, the open door out of the mansion slammed shut. Though Warbird grabbed the handle and pulled with most of her strength, it wouldn’t budge.
“Magnetically sealed,” said Binary. Now she was feeling the mansion with her senses. “I recognize it. That same energy. You!”
Appearing in the dining hall doorway was Proctor, the other-dimensional version of Black Knight. His Ebony Blade, bristling with cosmic energy stolen from an Eternal, was raised with the point aimed for Binary’s breast. She cried out, pained in spite of her purported invulnerability, and collapsed in her depowered form.
None of that was seen by Warbird. To her eyes, the younger hero had simply collapse, and the figure in the doorway was shifting, unable to maintain a form for more than a second. Had Warbird been paying attention she may have recognized Immortus, Rogue, Mystique, Magneto, an alien Brood, Deathbird, and even the new Binary wearing the original Ms. Marvel uniform. Warbird was focused on the real threat however and, placing herself between Binary and the energy, unleashed her power. Though a foe that felled Binary had to be significant, Warbird initially held back. A good thing, because that blast threw him against the table where he flipped backward to land against it hard. It wasn’t until Warbird advanced, suspecting a ruse, that she saw the true form of an unconscious young man dressed all in black.
“Wow, you are so my hero.” Warbird turned to see a young woman walking down the stairs. Her left arm appeared to be a cannon, though Warbird couldn’t tell if it replaced the arm or was attached. “They said Trauma is the most powerful of us. Omega class.”
“I’ll ask who they are when you wake up.”
Rather than risk a shot from that cannon, Warbird fired a blast at the woman. Instantly the cannon morphed in a shield, soaking in the blast.
“My, I always figured I was more powerful. Thanks to my personal armory here.” As she swept the shield down, it morphed back into a cannon, firing Warbird’s power back at her.
All Warbird could do was throw up her hands before the energy blasted her against the doorframe. Every cell inside of her burned as it tried to process the energy, and succeeded to an extent. Remarkably, Warbird remained conscious, but lay helpless on the ground as the woman finished descending the stairs.
“My, you’re resilient. Adjusting. And before you die, you should know that I actually do call myself Armory.”
A second blast was unleashed. But during all that time, Binary had recovered and thrown herself into its path. She screamed as the power seemed to burn the plasma sheath from her body and incinerated the Avengers card in her hand. The sacrifice didn’t appear to be enough, as the barrage engulfed Warbird as well.
Armory lowered her arm and grinned. “Two for the price of one. How economical.” Then her eyes widened.
When the powerful attack had finished, Binary collapsed, her body once more depowered. But Warbird was now rising to her feet, sheathed in the familiar Binary energy that she was so familiar with.
“How?”
“I’ll figure that out later.” Twin beams shot from Warbird’s eyes. Armory’s weapon morphed, trying to compensate. But the beams were two different forms of energy. While the plasma burst was deflected, the gravity pulse hurled Armory back. She fell hard against the stairs, knocked unconscious.
Sensing a presence behind her, Warbird turned and saw three individuals standing at the far end of the dining room. The lizard creature resembled a woman, while one of the men was solidly built and the other just looked to be overweight. The well-built young man generated spheres of energy in his fists, and Warbird could sense the electro-magnetism.
“See Komodo, I told you they’d have more fight than the New Warriors. I’d almost be worried if she could take Boulder like that.”
With an annoyed grunt, the overweight kid that Warbird assumed was Boulder rushed at her. Warbird said nothing, deciding not to play around and rapid-fired an array of energies. They all hit Boulder, but he didn’t do more than pause briefly before bracing himself and continued on. The next blast Warbird unleashed was high-powered, capable of denting low-grade adamantium. That only made Boulder stagger.
“Looks like we don’t have to worry, Hardball,” said the lizard girl called Komodo. “This Avenger’s got nothing on us.”
“Is that what you think?” Every cell in her body ready to explode with power, Warbird launched herself forward. “Come on!”
# # # # # # # # # # #
Deliriously happy, Speedball couldn’t help himself and hugged the surprised doctor. After pulling away, he turned to Captain America and beamed. “Did you hear that?”
“I did,” said Captain America. “It’s terrific that Night Thrasher will be okay.” All the New Warriors were going to recover from their earlier battle.
Speedball punched one hand into the other, sending tiny multi-colored balls into the air. “Now I can focus all in on hunting these villains down. I’ve been thinking about it and I think the first place to start would be-”
“It would probably be better if we spoke in private.” After giving the doctor a polite nod, Captain America led Speedball out of the waiting. “In fact, it might be better if we meet with everyone back at the mansion. See what they’ve discovered, go over everything we know, then decide how to proceed.”
“Yeah, of course, but there’s no harm in thinking aloud.” Speedball was really pumping himself up, going on while Captain America reached for his beeping card. “We know an attempt was made on my life, and the New Warriors were attacked in the search for me. So it starts with what I know.”
“Avengers Mansion has been attacked too,” Captain America said.
Speedball turned, astounded. “What?”
Captain America held up his card. “An Avenger I.D. card, Binary’s, was just destroyed. Last location was at the mansion.”
“We need to get over there then.”
“Absolutely not.” Captain America walked past Speedball with a purpose. “If the team can handle it, they will. If they can’t, we won’t make a difference. But don’t worry. We have procedures for this.”
“Procedures?” Speedball hurried to keep up with the Living Legend as the descended into the lower levels of the hospital. “They team could be dead for all we know.”
“That’s why procedures were set up, so that nobody panics if that happens.” After pressing a few commands on his Avengers card until it went completely blank, Captain America put it away. “First we go dark, and wait to see what’s reported. I’ll then decide if it’s safe to approach anyone, or if it’s safest to go on alone.”
“Of course.” Speedball sighed with guilt. “We don’t know who they’ll we watching. The X-Men, Fantastic Four, SHIELD…”
“They’ll know to be on alert.” Captain America found a sewer access and forced it open. “Come on.”
Ignoring the smell, Speedball followed. “So where are we going then? A safehouse?”
“A garage with transportation. I’d prefer we keep moving. What you were saying before, you should keep doing. What do you know?”
As the heroes trudged through sewage, Speedball relayed the entire investigation he did for Damage Control. When he reached the part about Hulk jumping off a teenager who survived unscathed, Captain America paused.
“Could you repeat the name of that farm?”
“Van Patrick Organic Farm. But the kid was there visiting a friend. Emery…” Speedball struggled for the name. “I can’t remember.”
“But the friend, the one you spoke to?” Captain America suddenly looked very intent. “His name was Van Patrick?”
“Yeah, Michael Ian Van Patrick,” said Speedball. “I remember because I was thinking at the time, that this kid was like a little, well, you. Why?”
Captain America remembered his conversations with Doctor Abraham Erskine, the scientist that created the Super-Soldier Serum. Specifically he recalled Doctor Erskine about the new life he was making in America, and the family he was preparing to raise.
“To go forward we’ll need to go back,” Captain America said. “Re-interview some of the people you talked to, try to learn more about those abductions. And what exactly it had to do with the Hulk. Maybe then we’ll get a sense of who’s behind this.”
# # # # # # # # # # #
The pain that cut through Warbird’s stupor was a dull throb, the ache that one would feel after a long workout. Her eyes opened, sending a sharp stab of sensation through her skull. She tried to recall her previous moments of consciousness, recalled that she’d somehow absorbed Binary’s power but it hadn’t lasted long. That had quickly been followed with Warbird beaten into submission.
The attempt of shifting her head expanded the pain all down Warbird’s spine. Moving only her eyes, she saw more Avengers bound with her, all in the exact same position. Stingray was even still in his armor, except for the helmet, and Warbird noted they were all still unconscious. Missing were Jarvis and Diane Arliss-Newell, hopefully because they were left behind and not because they’d been killed. Warbird also didn’t see Captain America or Speedball, and held out some hope.
A door behind Warbird opened. At hearing the approaching footsteps Warbird closed her eyes and struggled to control her breathing.
“The pathetic possum play is unnecessary,” said a voice Warbird recognized. “I’m well aware that you’ve recovered faster than these lesser races.”
Warbird’s eyes shot open. Even expecting it, that face of the Red Skull’s repulsed her. “I’m no better than any of my teammates.”
“You know what a lie that is.” Red Skull touched a hand to her cheek, and if Warbird could have recoiled she would have of. His eyes shifted to the dark-skinned woman next to Warbird, and his eyes narrowed in hate. “Especially this one. Such an injustice, that this thing holds power that should be yours by right.”
“Let Binary go,” said Warbird. “And she’ll demonstrate just what she can do with that power.”
“In due time.” Red Skull looked past Warbird, and she could hear more footsteps. “We’ve had to accelerate our plans somewhat, but the testing was successful. Soon we’ll proceed to the final phase.”
“Whatever the Coalition has planned, it won’t succeed,” said Warbird, referring to the alliance of villains the Red Skull was a part of. Several of them were now walking into view; Centurious, Dr. Animal and Professor Power. “Captain America is still free, and as I recall he’s the one that usually foils your…schemes…”
The sight of the Hulk caused Warbird to trail off. She just stared at him, utterly stunned. Red Skull laughed.
“Yes, I believe you’ve met Maestro. Not the real one, simply a copy of his mind that we uploaded into Banner’s brain. Or perhaps you’re speechless by the realization of how we got him.” Red Skull leaned forward, and said the words Warbird dreaded to hear. “Fortunately, I have some connections within your government.”
Next Issue: Red Skull has a team of super-villains old and new that includes the Hulk. Captain America has Speedball. It’s on!