Back to GatefoldIssue #6 by Chris Munn and Steve Crosby
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Washington, D.C.
1984 A.D.
“Hold my calls, Sylvia,” the older man in the suit and tie ordered as he entered his office on Capitol Hill, “I don’t wish to be interrupted for the next bit.”
H. Warren Craddock sighed softly as he collapsed into his leather chair, the burdens of being a United States Senator. The Alien Activities Committee, founded by his own incredible ability of persuasion and paranoia, was floundering as a “special interest” within the Executive Branch. What use was there in having a committee on alien affairs when no evidence of such aliens had been produced since the coming of Galactus?
“We need a new enemy,” Craddock opined as he shuffled through the random assortment of files on his oak desk.
“Consider your request granted, human,” a voice said from the far corner of the office, causing Craddock to jump from his seat. Before the Senator could call for help, a laser beam was fired from the intruder’s pistol, incapacitating the politico. With the smoke still smoldering from his unconscious form, H. Warren Craddock was approached by his assailant, crouching down to run inhuman fingers across his weathered face.
“You see now how this will benefit your race?” the voice of another intruder, a third man, queried to his ally. Kang the Conqueror folded his arms and awaited his reluctant partner’s reply.
“We have you to thank for freeing us from our indignant imprisonment, Warlord,” the alien answered, “and for that – and that alone – we will begin your nefarious scheme.”
The face of the alien, green and grotesque, began to flow like liquid. Within moments, the creature had copied the appearance of H. Warren Craddock. “The Skrull agenda can only flourish with the knowledge you have given us.”
“Certainly,” Kang responded, “for this is merely the beginning, for you and your comrades shall bring about the downfall of the Avengers!”
1984 A.D.
“Hold my calls, Sylvia,” the older man in the suit and tie ordered as he entered his office on Capitol Hill, “I don’t wish to be interrupted for the next bit.”
H. Warren Craddock sighed softly as he collapsed into his leather chair, the burdens of being a United States Senator. The Alien Activities Committee, founded by his own incredible ability of persuasion and paranoia, was floundering as a “special interest” within the Executive Branch. What use was there in having a committee on alien affairs when no evidence of such aliens had been produced since the coming of Galactus?
“We need a new enemy,” Craddock opined as he shuffled through the random assortment of files on his oak desk.
“Consider your request granted, human,” a voice said from the far corner of the office, causing Craddock to jump from his seat. Before the Senator could call for help, a laser beam was fired from the intruder’s pistol, incapacitating the politico. With the smoke still smoldering from his unconscious form, H. Warren Craddock was approached by his assailant, crouching down to run inhuman fingers across his weathered face.
“You see now how this will benefit your race?” the voice of another intruder, a third man, queried to his ally. Kang the Conqueror folded his arms and awaited his reluctant partner’s reply.
“We have you to thank for freeing us from our indignant imprisonment, Warlord,” the alien answered, “and for that – and that alone – we will begin your nefarious scheme.”
The face of the alien, green and grotesque, began to flow like liquid. Within moments, the creature had copied the appearance of H. Warren Craddock. “The Skrull agenda can only flourish with the knowledge you have given us.”
“Certainly,” Kang responded, “for this is merely the beginning, for you and your comrades shall bring about the downfall of the Avengers!”
"The Spoils"
New York City
1985 A.D.
“So…” Craig Hollis began hesitantly, fingers tapping on his knees, “there’s a couple of questions coming to mind right about now.”
Barbara Barton sighed and cocked an eyebrow at her teammate, her eyes staying focused on the newspaper spread across her lap. The two time-lost Avengers had appeared without notice in the empty bathroom of Grand Central Station, thankfully closed for repairs and thus missing the assured throng of onlookers. This wasn’t necessarily that strange, as they had become somewhat accustomed to being dropped into the timestream with little to no details on their mission. But this time was different; instead of the full contingent of Avengers, seven in number, only she and Hollis had been whisked away to this unknown destination.
“Like, okay,” Mr. Immortal continued, tugging at the collar of the shirt he had “borrowed” from the Station’s locker room to disguise his colorful uniform, “is there any reason Immortus had to be quite so vague this time? Kang was here, in this timeline, doing something unexplained to someone involved with alien affairs? How is that helpful at all?”
Mockingbird sighed loudly. “Or how about this one,” she commented wryly, eyes still locked on the newspaper, “of all the teammates I could’ve been stranded with, why did it have to be you?”
Craig lowered his head, staring intently at his knees. “I get the feeling you don’t like me very much…”
Mockingbird finally raised her gaze from the newspaper to look at her comrade, immediately regretting her last statement. “It’s nothing personal, really,” she apologized, “I’m just not really feeling up to idle chitchat. I want to go home, to see my husband again…even if…”
“Even if you don’t know how to tell him that you murdered the Phantom Rider?” Hollis finished for her.
“The bastard brainwashed and raped me,” she replied, a slice of anger evident in her changed tone, “and I didn’t murder him.”
“You just let him die,” Mr. Immortal continued. “Trust me, Bobbie; Clint won’t see the difference between the two.”
“I know,” she answered, her eyes closed to fight back tears, “and I have no idea how to handle it. That’s why I agreed to stay on this mission, in all honesty. So I wouldn’t have to face him yet, so I would have the time to think.”
“If you really want to know,” Craig hesitantly offered, “I can tell you exactly what happens between the two of you. I was there for part of it, the aftermath mostly.”
”Maybe another time,” Barbara replied with as forced a smile as she could muster. “In the meantime, I think I figured out why we’re here,” she said, changing the subject as she held the newspaper up for Craig to read.
It was all there on the front page in big, bold typeface:
THE AVENGERS NO MORE?
Local Team of Heroes Brought Before Congress on Charges of Alien Conspiracy
“If this Daily Bugle is today’s edition,” Mockingbird continued as Craig read the article, “then we’re dead in the opening shots of the Kree/Skrull War. The Skrulls, posing as the founding members of the Avengers, will have disbanded the current team at Avengers Mansion following the hearings. The hearing was yesterday, so that means the Avengers are probably already gone from New York.”
“So you actually do know some history,” Craig said with a slight chuckle, “and here I thought I was the only one of us that actually did his homework when he joined.”
“Don’t ask my how I know this, it just sort of popped into my head just now,” Bobbie stated, stabbing a finger at a picture of an older man on the Bugle’s front page, “but we have to find him: Edwin Jarvis.”
“The Avengers butler? Why?”
“Because the Skrulls and the Kree are about to make this planet their private battleground. With no Avengers to stop it, everybody here is as good as dead. And what Jarvis needs to do…is get the Avengers to reassemble.”
Kree Homeworld of Hala
1985 A.D.
“Ha!” Ronan the Accuser laughed in the face of Rick Jones. “It is impossible to lessen the odds of zero, whelp. These are the odds that you were ever best me! Now away!”
Rick Jones, who was floating helplessly in the power of Ronan’s Universal Weapon, was hurled through an open door that slammed shut. Ronan turned from the chamber, and addressed the three uniformed Kree soldiers that had suddenly appeared.
“No one is to cross this threshold without my consent!” he ordered.
“Yes sir!” the three soldiers said in unison. One, unseen by Ronan, was clenching his fists tight.
Ronan strode off to see to other duties, but mused to himself, “Conversation with an Earthling as dull-witted as that boy should weaken the Supreme Intelligence further. Just now I fear that my own mind has found the stupid.”
Once Ronan was out of sight, the three Kree soldiers removed their helmets. They were in fact Captain America, Black Knight and Vision, in disguise.
“We should cut the enemy down now,” Black Knight declared. Captain America was nodding his head in agreement, but Vision voiced dissent.
“The battle is already one. Even now, Rick Jones is being imbued with the Destiny Force, mental powers so great that he will stop this war himself. Unless that is what Kang came here to stop.”
“In which case we should get in there and make sure everything is okay,” Captain America finished. “Vision, go through the door and open it from the inside.”
The three Avengers of Immortus burst into the chamber, and found it empty except for the Supreme Intelligence. “We’re too late!” Black Knight cried.
“No we are not,” Vision reassured its teammates. “I see the residual energy of a dimensional gate. Rick Jones has been transported into the Negative Zone.”
“Indeed he has,” the Supreme Intelligence informed the new arrivals. “There, the youth will access power beyond imagining. Greetings, Avengers from other eras. Immortus has chosen wisely.”
“He knows who we are!” Captain America declared.
“I am the Supreme Intelligence, all-knowing and all-seeing. This conflict between Kang and Immortus is a minor thing that shall not affect my own far-reaching schemes. Already I have taken actions that will solidify ever-lasting peace between the Kree and the Skrull. It is good however that Immortus brought you three, for Rick Jones will be of no use to me if he is dead!”
“What is it that you think we’re to do, monster?” inquired Captain America.
It was the Vision who answered. “When he emerged from the Negative Zone, Rick Jones will find himself attacked by Ronan, who becomes aware of this scheme. To defend himself, Rick Jones will mentally create heroes from World War II. These heroes will include Captain America and another being called Vision.”
“Correct, but in the infant stage of his manifestation, Rick Jones will not be able to create enough defenders. You three must place yourselves among them. Captain America is suitable, but you other two must be appropriately disguised.” Mental power erupted from the Supreme Intelligence, altering the appearances of Black Knight and Vision.
The pale white of Vision’s body became a light green. His appearance was now that of Aarkon, the other-dimensional policeman who was called Vision in the days of World War II. Gone was Black Knight’s armor, replaced by the red, white and blue garments of the Patriot!
“Now hide yourselves, Avengers. Only when the time is right should you emerge.”
Outer Space, Past the Orbit of Pluto
1985 A.D.
In the far reaches of space, far beyond our own solar system, the Skrull armada was met by a single ship. One insignificant ship against a vast fleet of advanced warships, it at first appeared to be no contest. But this single ship housed Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, the Avengers! The advance force of Thor, Iron Man and Vision repelled the armada’s initial attack and met the enemy in kind!
As the epic conflict went underway, events of a different sort occurred on a minor vessel in the fleet’s center. The Skrulls on board were a flurry of activity, preparing themselves to meet any Avenger that should board their ship. But more importantly, they went about the task of guarding the vessel’s most important passenger and perhaps set him free should the situation require it.
“Stand ready!” the commanding officer ordered. “You!” He pointed at a junior officer, “take your squad to the cell by and keep an eye on the prisoner. At no point is he to escape before required!”
“Yes sir!” The junior officer saluted and ran down the corridor with his squad of eight Skrulls behind him. They passed a pair of unseen intruders, Earthlings much like those currently in battle against the Skrulls. They were time-lost Avengers, Yellowjacket and Arcana, their presence concealed by the latter’s magic.
“Looks to me like our purpose is pretty clear,” Yellowjacket commented to Arcana. Fortunately, she was shielding them from being heard as well as seen. “The Skrulls have a prisoner on board, some kind of living weapon they plan to use against Earth.”
“There was never any record of the Avengers fighting an unusual threat,” Arcana stated. “That must be because we stop it.”
“Either we keep this thing locked up tight,” Yellowjacket remarked with a smirk. “Or we spring him early, and watch as these Skrulls get hosed by their own weapon. It can’t be that hard, considering there’s only the two of us here.”
Arcana shook her head. “I have a sense of multiple chronal fluxes in this vicinity. The others must be off dealing with those. Time is fragile here. The slightest misstep, and much more than Earth will be lost.”
“Then let’s get after those prune faces.” Yellowjacket rushed down after the Skrulls, half-flying due to the rapidly moving wings on his shoulders. His much younger teammate hurried after him, not moving nearly as fast as her father, the fleet-footed Quicksilver.
As unseen by the two Avengers as they were by the Skrulls, Kang the Conqueror observed. “Hmm, so they’re attempting to thwart me here as well. I’ll brook no further interference from these meddling pawns.” Kang approached the Skrull ship’s main console and raised a hand. “Not only should this eliminate a threat, but it will buy me the time I require.”
At contact with the ship’s console, Kang transmitted sophisticated data from his armor, upgrading the ship’s primitive sensors. Immediately, the alarm claxons sounded as the presence of intruders were suddenly detected. The Skrull commander whipped about in astonishment.
“Intruders have breached the ship! How could they have gotten so deep inside?”
“Should we ask before killing them sir?” an under-lieutenant inquired.
“No!” The commander pointed down the corridor. “Adjust your optical nerves according to the ship’s sensors and shoot on sight! We must prevent them reaching the prisoner at all cost!”
Skrull Throne-World of Tarnax IV
1985 A.D.
Anelle, daughter of the Skrull Emperor, was startled awake. She sat up in her bed, holding the sheet tight around her nude body. “Hello? Who is there?”
He walked out of the shadows, the Kree hero Mar-Vell. “There is no need to be afraid. I’m not here to hurt you.”
Somehow, Anelle knew Mar-Vell’s words to be true. “How did you get here? My father ordered you under guard while you are to be building an Omni-Wave Protector.”
“He did, and when I finished I used the Omni-Wave Projector to create an image. While the guards continue to see me working, I stole around them to come here.”
“But why come here? In your freedom you could help you friends, stop my father’s mad schemes.”
Mar-Vell nodded. “Yes, but I know that once you heard the sounds of fighting, you would rush to your father’s aid out of loyalty. I’ve come here to warn you not to, that you could accidently get hurt for no reason. I…would not want you to be hurt.”
The Skrull princess Anelle rose to her knees on the bed and allowed the sheet to fall. “All my life I’ve been told horrible things about the Kree, but in you I see a person more noble and true than most Skrulls. You know that I have to be at my father’s side, if only to talk him down from this madness he’s brought about.”
“Yes, I feared you would say that.” Mar-Vell approached. “Although, if you were too tired, the fighting may be over before you arrived.”
Hidden between the folds of time, Immortus watched and waited patiently for his moment. While in another galaxy, the Supreme Intelligence was pleased at the prospect of what his influence would wrought.
Outer Space, Past the Orbit of Pluto
1985 A.D.
“Oh yeah, this is much more my style!” Yellowjacket hollered as he dove between blasts of laser fire. He plunged in the midst of shooting Skrulls and swung wildly. “No more sneaking around like a tiny ant! This Yellowjacket is looking to sting!”
The laser blasts that burned past Yellowjacket had continued on toward Arcana. The young woman threw up her hands, calling upon her training with Agatha Harkness and conjuring up a mystical force field. The deadly firepower was deflected, but Arcana had no time to reflect on how some of her spells were working while others had failed.
“Luckily I’m keeping their minds fogged,” Arcana yelled for Yellowjacket’s benefit. “But we need to finish this fast while they’re in their default forms!”
“Hell, let them change into whatever shape they like!” Yellowjacket gleefully bellowed as he kicked on Skrull in the face. Another he grabbed by the front of his uniform and hurled into a small grouping. All crashed to the floor. “Bring it on you ugly green suckers! It’s time you all learned how real men fight!”
“For Vishnu’s sake use your stingers!” Arcana yelled as she fired eldritch beams at distant Skrulls. At impact their firearms exploded and the Skrulls were thrown clear. “Or at least hack their system and find out where these Skrulls were headed before they found us!”
“Done and done!” Yellowjacket stretched out a hand and watched as electric stingers shot out of the gauntlet. The two Skrulls in front of him dropped, screaming in pain. At the same time, Yellowjacket snatched something out of the air with his other hand.
“You gotta love these Limbo bugs. This little beauty just downloaded their entire database and is whispering sweet info to my ears. I’ll give you one guess which big celebrity has been a Skrull from almost the beginning.”
“I know all about Alicia Masters,” Arcana responded. “Now which way?”
“Down here!” Yellowjacket threw his arm forward in the direction of a corridor branch. “Now go girly go! We’ve got a weapon to stop!”
New York City
1985 A.D.
“There is no way this is going to work,” Mr. Immortal whispered as he walked in lock-step fashion with Mockingbird, the two super-heroes disguised as civilians walking into a bar. The décor at atmosphere was decidedly English in tone, making the establishment more of a pub.
“Listen,” Barton said softly into Craig’s ear just before entering the pub, “I was a high-level agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. during this time. That gave me access to everything Avengers-related, including the habits of their butler Jarvis. If he’s not at home or the mansion, he’s certainly here.”
“Or off visiting his sickly mother,” Hollis replied. “When it’s gotten to the point that you betray the Avengers to Ultron and accidently sell Stark’s company, you should just suck it up and pull the plug.”
“Just keep your mouth shut and act cool,” she advised as she pushed open the door. The pub was a full of patrons, loud servants winding down after a hard day of being proper gentlemen and ladies. Mr. Immortal got a good eyeful of the English lass dancing on a table, and grunted when Mockingbird elbowed him in the guts. “Focus. He’s over there.”
Sitting alone in a corner was Edwin Jarvis, with only his cloudy thoughts and a tall pint of ale keeping him company. Mr. Immortal approached him while Mockingbird hanged back, and mentally prepared his best Cockney accent.
“Oye! Ain’t you that bloke what services te Avengers?”
Jarvis looked up at the strange, and nodded in a sullen fashion. “Yes, I suppose, before today, I was. Sadly, the Avengers are no more!”
“Crikey! Don’t tell me that bloody Craddock got his way. I watched what he was say’n on the telly and had a mind to pop ‘im one.”
“No, there was no forced shutdown by the government.” Jarvis motioned for Mr. Immortal to sit down. Talking about what had happened had him feeling good. “As the hearing was going on, rioters outside Avengers Mansion broke in and ran amok. I had only just finished tidying up the place before locking up, for the final time.”
“Blimey, if folks had only known all it took to shut the Avengers down was to bust up their place.”
“Oh, no.” Jarvis allowed himself a smile, but then it vanished and it took another long gulp of ale. “It was felt, by three of the most prominent Avengers, that the team had acted irresponsible. Captain America, Iron Man and Thor declared the Avengers to be disbanded. And as there are no longer any Avengers for me to, as you said, service, I am now out of a job.”
“What a crock!” Mr. Immortal declared. “Just cause some members made a bad call don’t give those uppity heroes the right ta call it quits. And what’re you doin’ just sitting here drowning yer sorrows, when you did nothing wrong! If you ask me, you should give those bosses a piece a’yer mind. You ain’t gonna be fired! You’ll quit!”
Jarvis took another drink of his liquid courage, and slammed the empty mug against the table. “By George, you’re right! There’s no way for me to write the heroes themselves, but I can submit a resignation to Tony Stark. I will write him a letter now, immediately!”
Jarvis rose to his feet and stormed out of the pub, intent on writing down all his frustrations. After the butler left, Mockingbird went and joined Mr. Immortal. “Good work. Once Stark receives that letter, he’ll call an emergency session. Once Iron Man, Thor and Captain America realize they were impersonated, they’ll learn of the Skrulls involvement and deal with them.”
“So what do we do now?” Mr. Immortal asked. “Track down this Craddock guy that’s been smearing the Avengers and reveal he’s really a Skrull.”
“Oh, there won’t be any need for that.” Libra, temporal agent of Immortus suddenly appeared at the table, seen only by Mr. Immortal and Mockingbird. “His powers will fail in front of a crowd and a mob beats him to death. It’s done for now, at least your task. I’ll be taking you back to Limbo, where the others will join you as soon as they’ve achieved their goals.”
Outer Space, Past the Orbit of Pluto
1985 A.D.
Micro-filaments from Kang’s gloves were dug deep into the skull of the cowering figure in front of him. Outside the cell, four Skrull guards were unaware of their prisoner’s agony, nor of how close they were to impending doom. Because the agony had a purpose, as Kang sought to bend the victim to his will.
“Poor poor Kl’rt,” Kang muttered with deep pity. “You are nothing like the proud warrior I killed years ago. Perhaps my actions now are what rose you from such depths. Truly, you should come to thank me.”
The imprisoned and tormented Super-Skrull made no response to Kang’s words. In fact he didn’t even hear them. There was only the pain as his brain’s chemicals were diluted and nerve synapses rerouted. Slowly, systematically, the Super-Skrull’s mind was being reprogrammed.
“Even without these copied powers, you should be a formidable foe,” Kang went on. “All of you Skrulls should be almost unbeatable. A race of shapeshifters, and you invade with ships and blasters. Honor is a commendable trait, but at a point it becomes stupid.” Kang leaned in, close to the Super-Skrull’s face. “After conquest, I will make perfect soldiers of you all.”
Sounds of conflict outside the door drew Kang’s attention. Beneath the purple mask he grinned. “Ah, now these knocking at our door are warriors. Again and again they triumph against the most overwhelming of odds. But proud though I am to call them adversaries, they must die all the same.”
The micro-filaments were already retreating back into Kang’s armor when the cell door behind him was forced open. Yellowjacket and Arcana were in the doorway, aghast as the sight of Kang before them. He turned, allowed them to see the form of Super-Skrull. No longer cowering and timid, the mightiest warrior of the Skrull Empire was brimming with a new life. Fire danced behind those alien eyes.
“Welcome, pawns,” Kang greeted the two Avengers. “As always, you’re too late. Meet my latest soldier.”
After taking one look at Super-Skrull, Yellowjacket whirled about and tackled Arcana away from the door. “Oh sh-”
In the vacuum of space, no one heard as the ship exploded in flames.
Kree Homeworld
1985 A.D.
“My Universal Weapon has sensed an uncommon flow of power from the chamber where I have isolated the Supreme Intelligence.” Ronan the Accuser rose from his throne and held the weapon high. “Soldiers of the Kree Empire, to me!”
Scores of armed Kree soldiers gathered, ready to do their ruler’s command. Pointing his weapon in the direction of the Supreme Intelligence’s chamber, he marched forward. His soldiers marched behind with synchronized precision.
“I did not destroy him outright because I hoped to one day harness his matchless intellect,” Ronan mused aloud. “But, that is an error I shall no longer made. Kill him, lackeys—and the Earth-pup with him!”
Surging toward the chamber, Ronan saw the guards were gone.
“Treachery!” Ronan roared. “When this deed is done, I shall purge the empire of all who would dare question my authority!” A burst of power from the Universal Weapon blew the door apart. Inside the chamber, the voice of the Supreme Intelligence could be heard.
“What matters now – is what happens to the eternal Kree!”
Facing off against Ronan and his warriors were Rick Jones and his warriors, heroes of World War II that he created from memory! Namor the Sub-Mariner, Human Torch, Blazing Skull, The Angel, and Fin were seamlessly joined by Captain America and the disguised Vision and Black Knight. The assembled heroes rushed at the Kree, and the battle was joined.
“I know not who your allies are – or whence they sprang!” cried out Ronan. “But you’ve merely provided more targets for our death-dealing blasters!”
Energy blasts were useless against Captain America’s shield however. He and Namor were at the front lines, smashing into the enemy.
“Any idea who these bald-headed rats are, Cap?”
While he did, Captain America lied to his old teammate. “Nope! Just keep sluggin’, Namor!”
Deciding it would be something the Patriot said, Black Knight yelled out as he kicked a Kree in the face, “You lugs picked on the wrong guys this time! Americans are nobody’s patsies!”
“That one is green like the accursed Skrulls,” one Kree yelled out at sight of the disguised Vision. Several concentrated their fire on him, but it did no damage to Vision’s diamond hard form.
“Men have ever called me – the Vision!” Using the smoke from nearby explosions as cover, Vision phased through the ground and reappeared behind the Kree. Quickly going solid, he smashed their heads together.
But the battle was quickly ending. Angel found he was fading, but managed to down two Kree before vanishing completely. The same was true of Blazing Skull, Fin, Namor and Human Torch.
“The costumed ones are vanishing!” Ronan yelled to his soldiers. “Kill the boy now!”
Just as Namor and Human Torch vanished completely, Rick Jones concentrated at the Supreme Intelligence’s urging. “I know what I’ve gotta do! And…I’m…gonna…do it!”
Energy erupted from Rick Jones, freezing the chamber. Only Captain America, Vision and Black Knight were unaffected. “All the other heroes have vanished,” Captain America noted. “But the boy did it. Once Immortus spirits us out, it will be assumed that we vanished with the other constructs.”
“You are correct in your assumption, Captain.” The heroes turned at the voice to see that Kang the Conquerer had appeared behind them. “But not the manner in which you are leaving!”
In Kang’s hands were multi-barreled guns, and he shot multiple bursts at the Avengers. Captain America’s shield deflected the bursts, while Black Knight’s unsheathed Ebony Blade absorbed all bursts that came at him. The Vision simply went immaterial.
“It is illogical for you to make such a direct ass-aaghh!” Instead of passing harmlessly through his body, the energy bursts exploded inside Vision. Chunks of his android body were lost, and he fell to the ground, gravely injured.
“No!” Captain America rushed at Kang. “You won’t take another teammate from me!” But he struck Kang’s force-field, and the backlash sent Captain America flying.
Near Black Knight, Immortus faded into view. “To me Avengers! This foe is beyond you.”
“The Black Knight does not run from battle!” But before he could take more than one step toward Kang, Immortus grabbed Black Knight by the shoulder. The hurling Captain America was also touched by Immortus, and the three disappeared just as Kang unleashed another volley.
“A great pity,” Kang muttered. His gaze fell onto Vision. “But I have the one that matters. You will make for a useful tool in the conflict ahead.” Kang then shifted his gaze to the frozen Ronan. “As for you…it is only fitting that the greatest warriors from both Skrull and Kree serve Kang the Conquerer!”
Limbo
Captain America and Black Knight reappeared inside the palace of Immortus, in the otherworldly realm of Limbo. Immortus himself was with him, and a short distance away were Mockingbird and Mr. Immortal. A split second later, Libra appeared with Yellowjacket and Arcanna at his side.
“I managed to get us out just in time,” Libra muttered with a prayer of thanks.
“Rick Jones as a youth was so different from the other one we faced,” Captain America noted. “That boy did have his wish. He was every inch the hero Bucky was.”
“Rick Jones and Bucky be damned.” The Black Knight whirled to face Immortus. “You took us from the field of battle, and left one of our own to die at Kang’s hands!”
“You guys faced Kang too,” Yellowjacket said between deep breaths. “Did any of us actually succeed?”
“We did,” Mr. Immortal mentioned with no small amount of smug.
“You all succeeded,” Immortus informed the Avengers. “The three greatest Avengers were assembled in time rescue their own and battle the Skrulls. The Skrulls were in turn denied their greatest warrior, who would have killed several of the Avengers otherwise. And Rick Jones was kept alive long enough to end the war itself. As for Vision, he will not be killed, for I know that Kang intends to use him!”
“For what?” Arcanna asked.
Immortus spread his arms wide, and behind him a great image appeared of conflict so epic it threatened to destroy the Avengers’ minds. “Kang now goes to make war against one of your greatest foes. Vision will be forced to observe and record the conflict, and also to warn that era’s Avengers so that they can participate.”
“Why would Kang want the Avengers to get involved?” Mockingbird wondered.
Black Knight had the answer. “Because he is a true warrior who thrives on challenge. The greater the obstacle, the better!”
Immortus nodded his head. “We shall participate as well, because above all else…Kang must die at Ultron’s hands!”
“Oh, you gotta be shitting me,” Yellowjacket said without thinking. “First, no way in hell am I helping Ultron do anything! Second, Kang just kicked out asses from here to Sunday, and now we’re a member short.”
“Correction.” Immortus raised an arm and let it dropped, as though pulling back a curtain. “You were a member short. I took the liberty of bringing a souvenir from the war.”
He appeared from behind a curtain in time, a man all the Avengers recognized. His masked head was cut at the cop, revealing a crop of blonde hair. The mask was a deep blue and went down over his shoulder and chest, where the color became a blood red. Gloves, boots and belt of costume were the same blue color. Where the colors met in the chest’s center was a star burst of the same golden color as his wrist bands.
“My Avengers, I present your newest member,” Immortus declared. “Captain Mar-Vell.”
The End
Time Out!
Some of you readers might have noticed that I’m not Chris Munn. Well, that’s because I’m Stephen Crosby, Munn’s frequent collaborator who finished this issue on his behalf. Some of Munn is in here…somewhere. I had to shift some things around because I’m not nearly the writer Munn is and his plots tend to scare me. But I think I got the gist down okay.
This may well be the last issue of Avengers Immortal. Munn had to step down, this was just me filling-in, and the odds of another writer crazy enough to write time-lost Avengers are slim-to-none. But it’s been a great journey Chris Munn took us on, and in a sense its not over yet, because the big story Munn was building towards is now a reality.
Hold onto your hats, ladies and gentlemen! The Kang/Ultron War is on!
1985 A.D.
“So…” Craig Hollis began hesitantly, fingers tapping on his knees, “there’s a couple of questions coming to mind right about now.”
Barbara Barton sighed and cocked an eyebrow at her teammate, her eyes staying focused on the newspaper spread across her lap. The two time-lost Avengers had appeared without notice in the empty bathroom of Grand Central Station, thankfully closed for repairs and thus missing the assured throng of onlookers. This wasn’t necessarily that strange, as they had become somewhat accustomed to being dropped into the timestream with little to no details on their mission. But this time was different; instead of the full contingent of Avengers, seven in number, only she and Hollis had been whisked away to this unknown destination.
“Like, okay,” Mr. Immortal continued, tugging at the collar of the shirt he had “borrowed” from the Station’s locker room to disguise his colorful uniform, “is there any reason Immortus had to be quite so vague this time? Kang was here, in this timeline, doing something unexplained to someone involved with alien affairs? How is that helpful at all?”
Mockingbird sighed loudly. “Or how about this one,” she commented wryly, eyes still locked on the newspaper, “of all the teammates I could’ve been stranded with, why did it have to be you?”
Craig lowered his head, staring intently at his knees. “I get the feeling you don’t like me very much…”
Mockingbird finally raised her gaze from the newspaper to look at her comrade, immediately regretting her last statement. “It’s nothing personal, really,” she apologized, “I’m just not really feeling up to idle chitchat. I want to go home, to see my husband again…even if…”
“Even if you don’t know how to tell him that you murdered the Phantom Rider?” Hollis finished for her.
“The bastard brainwashed and raped me,” she replied, a slice of anger evident in her changed tone, “and I didn’t murder him.”
“You just let him die,” Mr. Immortal continued. “Trust me, Bobbie; Clint won’t see the difference between the two.”
“I know,” she answered, her eyes closed to fight back tears, “and I have no idea how to handle it. That’s why I agreed to stay on this mission, in all honesty. So I wouldn’t have to face him yet, so I would have the time to think.”
“If you really want to know,” Craig hesitantly offered, “I can tell you exactly what happens between the two of you. I was there for part of it, the aftermath mostly.”
”Maybe another time,” Barbara replied with as forced a smile as she could muster. “In the meantime, I think I figured out why we’re here,” she said, changing the subject as she held the newspaper up for Craig to read.
It was all there on the front page in big, bold typeface:
THE AVENGERS NO MORE?
Local Team of Heroes Brought Before Congress on Charges of Alien Conspiracy
“If this Daily Bugle is today’s edition,” Mockingbird continued as Craig read the article, “then we’re dead in the opening shots of the Kree/Skrull War. The Skrulls, posing as the founding members of the Avengers, will have disbanded the current team at Avengers Mansion following the hearings. The hearing was yesterday, so that means the Avengers are probably already gone from New York.”
“So you actually do know some history,” Craig said with a slight chuckle, “and here I thought I was the only one of us that actually did his homework when he joined.”
“Don’t ask my how I know this, it just sort of popped into my head just now,” Bobbie stated, stabbing a finger at a picture of an older man on the Bugle’s front page, “but we have to find him: Edwin Jarvis.”
“The Avengers butler? Why?”
“Because the Skrulls and the Kree are about to make this planet their private battleground. With no Avengers to stop it, everybody here is as good as dead. And what Jarvis needs to do…is get the Avengers to reassemble.”
Kree Homeworld of Hala
1985 A.D.
“Ha!” Ronan the Accuser laughed in the face of Rick Jones. “It is impossible to lessen the odds of zero, whelp. These are the odds that you were ever best me! Now away!”
Rick Jones, who was floating helplessly in the power of Ronan’s Universal Weapon, was hurled through an open door that slammed shut. Ronan turned from the chamber, and addressed the three uniformed Kree soldiers that had suddenly appeared.
“No one is to cross this threshold without my consent!” he ordered.
“Yes sir!” the three soldiers said in unison. One, unseen by Ronan, was clenching his fists tight.
Ronan strode off to see to other duties, but mused to himself, “Conversation with an Earthling as dull-witted as that boy should weaken the Supreme Intelligence further. Just now I fear that my own mind has found the stupid.”
Once Ronan was out of sight, the three Kree soldiers removed their helmets. They were in fact Captain America, Black Knight and Vision, in disguise.
“We should cut the enemy down now,” Black Knight declared. Captain America was nodding his head in agreement, but Vision voiced dissent.
“The battle is already one. Even now, Rick Jones is being imbued with the Destiny Force, mental powers so great that he will stop this war himself. Unless that is what Kang came here to stop.”
“In which case we should get in there and make sure everything is okay,” Captain America finished. “Vision, go through the door and open it from the inside.”
The three Avengers of Immortus burst into the chamber, and found it empty except for the Supreme Intelligence. “We’re too late!” Black Knight cried.
“No we are not,” Vision reassured its teammates. “I see the residual energy of a dimensional gate. Rick Jones has been transported into the Negative Zone.”
“Indeed he has,” the Supreme Intelligence informed the new arrivals. “There, the youth will access power beyond imagining. Greetings, Avengers from other eras. Immortus has chosen wisely.”
“He knows who we are!” Captain America declared.
“I am the Supreme Intelligence, all-knowing and all-seeing. This conflict between Kang and Immortus is a minor thing that shall not affect my own far-reaching schemes. Already I have taken actions that will solidify ever-lasting peace between the Kree and the Skrull. It is good however that Immortus brought you three, for Rick Jones will be of no use to me if he is dead!”
“What is it that you think we’re to do, monster?” inquired Captain America.
It was the Vision who answered. “When he emerged from the Negative Zone, Rick Jones will find himself attacked by Ronan, who becomes aware of this scheme. To defend himself, Rick Jones will mentally create heroes from World War II. These heroes will include Captain America and another being called Vision.”
“Correct, but in the infant stage of his manifestation, Rick Jones will not be able to create enough defenders. You three must place yourselves among them. Captain America is suitable, but you other two must be appropriately disguised.” Mental power erupted from the Supreme Intelligence, altering the appearances of Black Knight and Vision.
The pale white of Vision’s body became a light green. His appearance was now that of Aarkon, the other-dimensional policeman who was called Vision in the days of World War II. Gone was Black Knight’s armor, replaced by the red, white and blue garments of the Patriot!
“Now hide yourselves, Avengers. Only when the time is right should you emerge.”
Outer Space, Past the Orbit of Pluto
1985 A.D.
In the far reaches of space, far beyond our own solar system, the Skrull armada was met by a single ship. One insignificant ship against a vast fleet of advanced warships, it at first appeared to be no contest. But this single ship housed Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, the Avengers! The advance force of Thor, Iron Man and Vision repelled the armada’s initial attack and met the enemy in kind!
As the epic conflict went underway, events of a different sort occurred on a minor vessel in the fleet’s center. The Skrulls on board were a flurry of activity, preparing themselves to meet any Avenger that should board their ship. But more importantly, they went about the task of guarding the vessel’s most important passenger and perhaps set him free should the situation require it.
“Stand ready!” the commanding officer ordered. “You!” He pointed at a junior officer, “take your squad to the cell by and keep an eye on the prisoner. At no point is he to escape before required!”
“Yes sir!” The junior officer saluted and ran down the corridor with his squad of eight Skrulls behind him. They passed a pair of unseen intruders, Earthlings much like those currently in battle against the Skrulls. They were time-lost Avengers, Yellowjacket and Arcana, their presence concealed by the latter’s magic.
“Looks to me like our purpose is pretty clear,” Yellowjacket commented to Arcana. Fortunately, she was shielding them from being heard as well as seen. “The Skrulls have a prisoner on board, some kind of living weapon they plan to use against Earth.”
“There was never any record of the Avengers fighting an unusual threat,” Arcana stated. “That must be because we stop it.”
“Either we keep this thing locked up tight,” Yellowjacket remarked with a smirk. “Or we spring him early, and watch as these Skrulls get hosed by their own weapon. It can’t be that hard, considering there’s only the two of us here.”
Arcana shook her head. “I have a sense of multiple chronal fluxes in this vicinity. The others must be off dealing with those. Time is fragile here. The slightest misstep, and much more than Earth will be lost.”
“Then let’s get after those prune faces.” Yellowjacket rushed down after the Skrulls, half-flying due to the rapidly moving wings on his shoulders. His much younger teammate hurried after him, not moving nearly as fast as her father, the fleet-footed Quicksilver.
As unseen by the two Avengers as they were by the Skrulls, Kang the Conqueror observed. “Hmm, so they’re attempting to thwart me here as well. I’ll brook no further interference from these meddling pawns.” Kang approached the Skrull ship’s main console and raised a hand. “Not only should this eliminate a threat, but it will buy me the time I require.”
At contact with the ship’s console, Kang transmitted sophisticated data from his armor, upgrading the ship’s primitive sensors. Immediately, the alarm claxons sounded as the presence of intruders were suddenly detected. The Skrull commander whipped about in astonishment.
“Intruders have breached the ship! How could they have gotten so deep inside?”
“Should we ask before killing them sir?” an under-lieutenant inquired.
“No!” The commander pointed down the corridor. “Adjust your optical nerves according to the ship’s sensors and shoot on sight! We must prevent them reaching the prisoner at all cost!”
Skrull Throne-World of Tarnax IV
1985 A.D.
Anelle, daughter of the Skrull Emperor, was startled awake. She sat up in her bed, holding the sheet tight around her nude body. “Hello? Who is there?”
He walked out of the shadows, the Kree hero Mar-Vell. “There is no need to be afraid. I’m not here to hurt you.”
Somehow, Anelle knew Mar-Vell’s words to be true. “How did you get here? My father ordered you under guard while you are to be building an Omni-Wave Protector.”
“He did, and when I finished I used the Omni-Wave Projector to create an image. While the guards continue to see me working, I stole around them to come here.”
“But why come here? In your freedom you could help you friends, stop my father’s mad schemes.”
Mar-Vell nodded. “Yes, but I know that once you heard the sounds of fighting, you would rush to your father’s aid out of loyalty. I’ve come here to warn you not to, that you could accidently get hurt for no reason. I…would not want you to be hurt.”
The Skrull princess Anelle rose to her knees on the bed and allowed the sheet to fall. “All my life I’ve been told horrible things about the Kree, but in you I see a person more noble and true than most Skrulls. You know that I have to be at my father’s side, if only to talk him down from this madness he’s brought about.”
“Yes, I feared you would say that.” Mar-Vell approached. “Although, if you were too tired, the fighting may be over before you arrived.”
Hidden between the folds of time, Immortus watched and waited patiently for his moment. While in another galaxy, the Supreme Intelligence was pleased at the prospect of what his influence would wrought.
Outer Space, Past the Orbit of Pluto
1985 A.D.
“Oh yeah, this is much more my style!” Yellowjacket hollered as he dove between blasts of laser fire. He plunged in the midst of shooting Skrulls and swung wildly. “No more sneaking around like a tiny ant! This Yellowjacket is looking to sting!”
The laser blasts that burned past Yellowjacket had continued on toward Arcana. The young woman threw up her hands, calling upon her training with Agatha Harkness and conjuring up a mystical force field. The deadly firepower was deflected, but Arcana had no time to reflect on how some of her spells were working while others had failed.
“Luckily I’m keeping their minds fogged,” Arcana yelled for Yellowjacket’s benefit. “But we need to finish this fast while they’re in their default forms!”
“Hell, let them change into whatever shape they like!” Yellowjacket gleefully bellowed as he kicked on Skrull in the face. Another he grabbed by the front of his uniform and hurled into a small grouping. All crashed to the floor. “Bring it on you ugly green suckers! It’s time you all learned how real men fight!”
“For Vishnu’s sake use your stingers!” Arcana yelled as she fired eldritch beams at distant Skrulls. At impact their firearms exploded and the Skrulls were thrown clear. “Or at least hack their system and find out where these Skrulls were headed before they found us!”
“Done and done!” Yellowjacket stretched out a hand and watched as electric stingers shot out of the gauntlet. The two Skrulls in front of him dropped, screaming in pain. At the same time, Yellowjacket snatched something out of the air with his other hand.
“You gotta love these Limbo bugs. This little beauty just downloaded their entire database and is whispering sweet info to my ears. I’ll give you one guess which big celebrity has been a Skrull from almost the beginning.”
“I know all about Alicia Masters,” Arcana responded. “Now which way?”
“Down here!” Yellowjacket threw his arm forward in the direction of a corridor branch. “Now go girly go! We’ve got a weapon to stop!”
New York City
1985 A.D.
“There is no way this is going to work,” Mr. Immortal whispered as he walked in lock-step fashion with Mockingbird, the two super-heroes disguised as civilians walking into a bar. The décor at atmosphere was decidedly English in tone, making the establishment more of a pub.
“Listen,” Barton said softly into Craig’s ear just before entering the pub, “I was a high-level agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. during this time. That gave me access to everything Avengers-related, including the habits of their butler Jarvis. If he’s not at home or the mansion, he’s certainly here.”
“Or off visiting his sickly mother,” Hollis replied. “When it’s gotten to the point that you betray the Avengers to Ultron and accidently sell Stark’s company, you should just suck it up and pull the plug.”
“Just keep your mouth shut and act cool,” she advised as she pushed open the door. The pub was a full of patrons, loud servants winding down after a hard day of being proper gentlemen and ladies. Mr. Immortal got a good eyeful of the English lass dancing on a table, and grunted when Mockingbird elbowed him in the guts. “Focus. He’s over there.”
Sitting alone in a corner was Edwin Jarvis, with only his cloudy thoughts and a tall pint of ale keeping him company. Mr. Immortal approached him while Mockingbird hanged back, and mentally prepared his best Cockney accent.
“Oye! Ain’t you that bloke what services te Avengers?”
Jarvis looked up at the strange, and nodded in a sullen fashion. “Yes, I suppose, before today, I was. Sadly, the Avengers are no more!”
“Crikey! Don’t tell me that bloody Craddock got his way. I watched what he was say’n on the telly and had a mind to pop ‘im one.”
“No, there was no forced shutdown by the government.” Jarvis motioned for Mr. Immortal to sit down. Talking about what had happened had him feeling good. “As the hearing was going on, rioters outside Avengers Mansion broke in and ran amok. I had only just finished tidying up the place before locking up, for the final time.”
“Blimey, if folks had only known all it took to shut the Avengers down was to bust up their place.”
“Oh, no.” Jarvis allowed himself a smile, but then it vanished and it took another long gulp of ale. “It was felt, by three of the most prominent Avengers, that the team had acted irresponsible. Captain America, Iron Man and Thor declared the Avengers to be disbanded. And as there are no longer any Avengers for me to, as you said, service, I am now out of a job.”
“What a crock!” Mr. Immortal declared. “Just cause some members made a bad call don’t give those uppity heroes the right ta call it quits. And what’re you doin’ just sitting here drowning yer sorrows, when you did nothing wrong! If you ask me, you should give those bosses a piece a’yer mind. You ain’t gonna be fired! You’ll quit!”
Jarvis took another drink of his liquid courage, and slammed the empty mug against the table. “By George, you’re right! There’s no way for me to write the heroes themselves, but I can submit a resignation to Tony Stark. I will write him a letter now, immediately!”
Jarvis rose to his feet and stormed out of the pub, intent on writing down all his frustrations. After the butler left, Mockingbird went and joined Mr. Immortal. “Good work. Once Stark receives that letter, he’ll call an emergency session. Once Iron Man, Thor and Captain America realize they were impersonated, they’ll learn of the Skrulls involvement and deal with them.”
“So what do we do now?” Mr. Immortal asked. “Track down this Craddock guy that’s been smearing the Avengers and reveal he’s really a Skrull.”
“Oh, there won’t be any need for that.” Libra, temporal agent of Immortus suddenly appeared at the table, seen only by Mr. Immortal and Mockingbird. “His powers will fail in front of a crowd and a mob beats him to death. It’s done for now, at least your task. I’ll be taking you back to Limbo, where the others will join you as soon as they’ve achieved their goals.”
Outer Space, Past the Orbit of Pluto
1985 A.D.
Micro-filaments from Kang’s gloves were dug deep into the skull of the cowering figure in front of him. Outside the cell, four Skrull guards were unaware of their prisoner’s agony, nor of how close they were to impending doom. Because the agony had a purpose, as Kang sought to bend the victim to his will.
“Poor poor Kl’rt,” Kang muttered with deep pity. “You are nothing like the proud warrior I killed years ago. Perhaps my actions now are what rose you from such depths. Truly, you should come to thank me.”
The imprisoned and tormented Super-Skrull made no response to Kang’s words. In fact he didn’t even hear them. There was only the pain as his brain’s chemicals were diluted and nerve synapses rerouted. Slowly, systematically, the Super-Skrull’s mind was being reprogrammed.
“Even without these copied powers, you should be a formidable foe,” Kang went on. “All of you Skrulls should be almost unbeatable. A race of shapeshifters, and you invade with ships and blasters. Honor is a commendable trait, but at a point it becomes stupid.” Kang leaned in, close to the Super-Skrull’s face. “After conquest, I will make perfect soldiers of you all.”
Sounds of conflict outside the door drew Kang’s attention. Beneath the purple mask he grinned. “Ah, now these knocking at our door are warriors. Again and again they triumph against the most overwhelming of odds. But proud though I am to call them adversaries, they must die all the same.”
The micro-filaments were already retreating back into Kang’s armor when the cell door behind him was forced open. Yellowjacket and Arcana were in the doorway, aghast as the sight of Kang before them. He turned, allowed them to see the form of Super-Skrull. No longer cowering and timid, the mightiest warrior of the Skrull Empire was brimming with a new life. Fire danced behind those alien eyes.
“Welcome, pawns,” Kang greeted the two Avengers. “As always, you’re too late. Meet my latest soldier.”
After taking one look at Super-Skrull, Yellowjacket whirled about and tackled Arcana away from the door. “Oh sh-”
In the vacuum of space, no one heard as the ship exploded in flames.
Kree Homeworld
1985 A.D.
“My Universal Weapon has sensed an uncommon flow of power from the chamber where I have isolated the Supreme Intelligence.” Ronan the Accuser rose from his throne and held the weapon high. “Soldiers of the Kree Empire, to me!”
Scores of armed Kree soldiers gathered, ready to do their ruler’s command. Pointing his weapon in the direction of the Supreme Intelligence’s chamber, he marched forward. His soldiers marched behind with synchronized precision.
“I did not destroy him outright because I hoped to one day harness his matchless intellect,” Ronan mused aloud. “But, that is an error I shall no longer made. Kill him, lackeys—and the Earth-pup with him!”
Surging toward the chamber, Ronan saw the guards were gone.
“Treachery!” Ronan roared. “When this deed is done, I shall purge the empire of all who would dare question my authority!” A burst of power from the Universal Weapon blew the door apart. Inside the chamber, the voice of the Supreme Intelligence could be heard.
“What matters now – is what happens to the eternal Kree!”
Facing off against Ronan and his warriors were Rick Jones and his warriors, heroes of World War II that he created from memory! Namor the Sub-Mariner, Human Torch, Blazing Skull, The Angel, and Fin were seamlessly joined by Captain America and the disguised Vision and Black Knight. The assembled heroes rushed at the Kree, and the battle was joined.
“I know not who your allies are – or whence they sprang!” cried out Ronan. “But you’ve merely provided more targets for our death-dealing blasters!”
Energy blasts were useless against Captain America’s shield however. He and Namor were at the front lines, smashing into the enemy.
“Any idea who these bald-headed rats are, Cap?”
While he did, Captain America lied to his old teammate. “Nope! Just keep sluggin’, Namor!”
Deciding it would be something the Patriot said, Black Knight yelled out as he kicked a Kree in the face, “You lugs picked on the wrong guys this time! Americans are nobody’s patsies!”
“That one is green like the accursed Skrulls,” one Kree yelled out at sight of the disguised Vision. Several concentrated their fire on him, but it did no damage to Vision’s diamond hard form.
“Men have ever called me – the Vision!” Using the smoke from nearby explosions as cover, Vision phased through the ground and reappeared behind the Kree. Quickly going solid, he smashed their heads together.
But the battle was quickly ending. Angel found he was fading, but managed to down two Kree before vanishing completely. The same was true of Blazing Skull, Fin, Namor and Human Torch.
“The costumed ones are vanishing!” Ronan yelled to his soldiers. “Kill the boy now!”
Just as Namor and Human Torch vanished completely, Rick Jones concentrated at the Supreme Intelligence’s urging. “I know what I’ve gotta do! And…I’m…gonna…do it!”
Energy erupted from Rick Jones, freezing the chamber. Only Captain America, Vision and Black Knight were unaffected. “All the other heroes have vanished,” Captain America noted. “But the boy did it. Once Immortus spirits us out, it will be assumed that we vanished with the other constructs.”
“You are correct in your assumption, Captain.” The heroes turned at the voice to see that Kang the Conquerer had appeared behind them. “But not the manner in which you are leaving!”
In Kang’s hands were multi-barreled guns, and he shot multiple bursts at the Avengers. Captain America’s shield deflected the bursts, while Black Knight’s unsheathed Ebony Blade absorbed all bursts that came at him. The Vision simply went immaterial.
“It is illogical for you to make such a direct ass-aaghh!” Instead of passing harmlessly through his body, the energy bursts exploded inside Vision. Chunks of his android body were lost, and he fell to the ground, gravely injured.
“No!” Captain America rushed at Kang. “You won’t take another teammate from me!” But he struck Kang’s force-field, and the backlash sent Captain America flying.
Near Black Knight, Immortus faded into view. “To me Avengers! This foe is beyond you.”
“The Black Knight does not run from battle!” But before he could take more than one step toward Kang, Immortus grabbed Black Knight by the shoulder. The hurling Captain America was also touched by Immortus, and the three disappeared just as Kang unleashed another volley.
“A great pity,” Kang muttered. His gaze fell onto Vision. “But I have the one that matters. You will make for a useful tool in the conflict ahead.” Kang then shifted his gaze to the frozen Ronan. “As for you…it is only fitting that the greatest warriors from both Skrull and Kree serve Kang the Conquerer!”
Limbo
Captain America and Black Knight reappeared inside the palace of Immortus, in the otherworldly realm of Limbo. Immortus himself was with him, and a short distance away were Mockingbird and Mr. Immortal. A split second later, Libra appeared with Yellowjacket and Arcanna at his side.
“I managed to get us out just in time,” Libra muttered with a prayer of thanks.
“Rick Jones as a youth was so different from the other one we faced,” Captain America noted. “That boy did have his wish. He was every inch the hero Bucky was.”
“Rick Jones and Bucky be damned.” The Black Knight whirled to face Immortus. “You took us from the field of battle, and left one of our own to die at Kang’s hands!”
“You guys faced Kang too,” Yellowjacket said between deep breaths. “Did any of us actually succeed?”
“We did,” Mr. Immortal mentioned with no small amount of smug.
“You all succeeded,” Immortus informed the Avengers. “The three greatest Avengers were assembled in time rescue their own and battle the Skrulls. The Skrulls were in turn denied their greatest warrior, who would have killed several of the Avengers otherwise. And Rick Jones was kept alive long enough to end the war itself. As for Vision, he will not be killed, for I know that Kang intends to use him!”
“For what?” Arcanna asked.
Immortus spread his arms wide, and behind him a great image appeared of conflict so epic it threatened to destroy the Avengers’ minds. “Kang now goes to make war against one of your greatest foes. Vision will be forced to observe and record the conflict, and also to warn that era’s Avengers so that they can participate.”
“Why would Kang want the Avengers to get involved?” Mockingbird wondered.
Black Knight had the answer. “Because he is a true warrior who thrives on challenge. The greater the obstacle, the better!”
Immortus nodded his head. “We shall participate as well, because above all else…Kang must die at Ultron’s hands!”
“Oh, you gotta be shitting me,” Yellowjacket said without thinking. “First, no way in hell am I helping Ultron do anything! Second, Kang just kicked out asses from here to Sunday, and now we’re a member short.”
“Correction.” Immortus raised an arm and let it dropped, as though pulling back a curtain. “You were a member short. I took the liberty of bringing a souvenir from the war.”
He appeared from behind a curtain in time, a man all the Avengers recognized. His masked head was cut at the cop, revealing a crop of blonde hair. The mask was a deep blue and went down over his shoulder and chest, where the color became a blood red. Gloves, boots and belt of costume were the same blue color. Where the colors met in the chest’s center was a star burst of the same golden color as his wrist bands.
“My Avengers, I present your newest member,” Immortus declared. “Captain Mar-Vell.”
The End
Time Out!
Some of you readers might have noticed that I’m not Chris Munn. Well, that’s because I’m Stephen Crosby, Munn’s frequent collaborator who finished this issue on his behalf. Some of Munn is in here…somewhere. I had to shift some things around because I’m not nearly the writer Munn is and his plots tend to scare me. But I think I got the gist down okay.
This may well be the last issue of Avengers Immortal. Munn had to step down, this was just me filling-in, and the odds of another writer crazy enough to write time-lost Avengers are slim-to-none. But it’s been a great journey Chris Munn took us on, and in a sense its not over yet, because the big story Munn was building towards is now a reality.
Hold onto your hats, ladies and gentlemen! The Kang/Ultron War is on!