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Issue #15 by Steve Crosby
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Prologue
Black was co-mingled with green. She walked amidst both on her way toward the center. Lying there on a slab was a corpse, clothed and anointed in accordance with the ritual. Priests in black surrounded the body, prepared to begin.
“All is in readiness Madame,” said an aide dressed in green. “At your word, they will die so that he will live.”
For those insolent words she raised a hand, and the aide dropped dead from the knife she held. “No,” she said aloud for all those in attendance. “Today, a hand becomes a fist. Begin!”
The priests chanted, and it seemed to all observing that energy transferred from them to the corpse. One by one, the priests fell. The corpse then came to life, and stood up straight.
Green lips curled into a smile. As yet she lacked a skull, but the bones had now crossed.
Black was co-mingled with green. She walked amidst both on her way toward the center. Lying there on a slab was a corpse, clothed and anointed in accordance with the ritual. Priests in black surrounded the body, prepared to begin.
“All is in readiness Madame,” said an aide dressed in green. “At your word, they will die so that he will live.”
For those insolent words she raised a hand, and the aide dropped dead from the knife she held. “No,” she said aloud for all those in attendance. “Today, a hand becomes a fist. Begin!”
The priests chanted, and it seemed to all observing that energy transferred from them to the corpse. One by one, the priests fell. The corpse then came to life, and stood up straight.
Green lips curled into a smile. As yet she lacked a skull, but the bones had now crossed.
“NO ONE LEFT BEHIND”
“You don’t think Ultron’s returned,” said Namor the Sub-Mariner.
“If it had, Doom would have faced an all-out attack,” said Captain America as his attention was focused on the Quinjet controls. On the seat beside him was the inactive Gremlin drone that had started this quest. “This is more likely Alkhema, Ultron’s manufactured bride.”
To this statement Namor nodded. The two men had fought together and against one another across more than half a century, since the days of World War II. On that day, the former Invaders were speeding across Europe in an Avengers Quinjet to save one of their own.
“Had you ever learned why Ultron wanted Jim Hammond?” Namor asked.
Captain America shook his head. “Only theories, but they were never confirmed. Ultron had stripped an inert Human Torch for parts in creating Vision, so it must have wondered when he later appeared on his own. That was due to Immortus, some kind of chronal duplicate made for some unknown purpose.”
“So when Ultron learned that Kang, a time-traveler, was acting against it…” Namor frowned. “Linking Human Torch to that would have been a stretch. A machine like Ultron wouldn’t have the imagination to think like that.”
“For all we know, Kang’s…” Captain America didn’t want to use the word son when referring to Marcus Immortus. “Ultron had had an agent of Kang’s captive. He may have fed Ultron information. What we know for sure is that Ultron had a plan for Hammond, and one of Hank Pym’s final acts was to stop it.”
”So it may be that Alkhema is following its maker’s playbook,” Namor suggested.
“Or this could be for an independent scheme. All of Ultron’s creations learned to think for themselves.” Captain America paused, bad memories coming to his mind. “Jocasta chose to rebel. Alkhema chose to be sadistic.”
It was Namor that decided to say the unspoken. “And Vision chose to be ruled by his emotions, for good and ill. If this machine is so dangerous, perhaps the Avengers should meet us.”
Captain America shook his head. “I’ll send them a message on the situation. First, we’ll try this ourselves. Jim deserves that much.”
Flying to the location of Doctor Doom’s tagged equipment did not take long, it was only a short distance away in Germany. Captain America tried not to think about his last visit to Germany, about the missing Nomad, most likely in the hands of HYDRA. Their recent attack on the Helicarrier meant there was something worse coming, Captain America was certain. Once this was done, he’d need to meet with Fury and Sharon, find out what had been uncovered.
The sight of a modern, state-of-the-art factory building sent Captain America’s mind careening back to the task at hand. “This is it.” He accessed the computers to see what information there was on the property. “Owned by some conglomerate, Kronas.”
“Fitting.” Namor unstrapped himself and moved toward the exit.
“Wait, we need probable cause before we can storm the building.” A system on the console pinged. The Quinjet’s sensors had detected something else, and Captain America raised his eyebrows at the reading.
“You followed a dangerous villain.” Namor forced open the hatch and flew out.
# # # # #
“Soon we shall be together.”
Alkhema caressed a computer array, though touch was not necessary for its commands to be followed. A transmission activated the device taken from Doctor Doom, which vaguely resembled a bandolier. It rested on a slab of Wakandan Vibranium, the remnants of what Ultron had seized. Cables of varying sizes connected the device with Alkhema’s own machines, including a helmet-like contraption suspended inches over one end of the slab.
The air crackled with energy faster than light as tachyon particles converged. Doctor Doom’s temporal device began to fill out, conforming around a shape that was beginning to take form inside it.
“More power!” The machines around Alkhema sparked, barely able to contain the power coursing through them. Lying on the slab, the shape was now resembling a man, the head obscured by the helmet. The cables from the helmet had taken on a pulsating glow. Retrieval was only one of Alkhema’s goals.
The lights above Alkhema’s head dimmed momentarily. One machine sparked so severely that smoke began to pour from it. An automated safety drone sprayed the machine with foam. On the slab, the humanoid had shape but no features, a blank slate that was now beginning to struggle. At Alkhema’s command the Vibranium flowed, forming restraints over its occupant.
“No no no,” said Alkhema in a voice as soothing as nails in a skull. A hand of metal stroked a formless cheekbone. “Not until the download is complete.”
# # # # #
“Imperious Rex!”
Namor had crashed through upper levels to find them abandoned. Clearly, no humans had been inside the building for some time. He smashed through floor after floor, until he was several levels beneath the earth and surrounded by robotic guards with a crude similarity to Ultron.
“At last!” Namor dodged around a beam of lasers that shot from one robot’s eyes. His fist punched through its head, metal being no match for Atlantean might. “I was almost afraid The Avenging Son was being ignored!”
Several more robots blasted at Namor while the others closed in. One laser caught Namor across the thigh, scorching him painfully. Two of the approaching robots he grabbed as shields, deflecting several blasts before he smashed them against more machines. Bashing through a wall of metal, Namor flew away from the remaining robots.
Near the end of a corridor, Namor found more machines waiting. Beams shot out of their eyes, but Namor twisted in the air to dodge these. He crashed into them, reducing the machines to scraps with several powerful blows. More were coming, however, from either end of the hall.
“How many must I destroy before your mistress faces me?!” Hurling several robots back in one direction, Namor made a great flying leap in the other. He flew in a zig-zag pattern, prepared to dodge more lasers. But when these robots fired, it was with wide beams that encompassed the whole corridor. There was no scorch when Namor flew into the red haze and against the machines. It was simply very hot.
Five times Namor smashes his fists against one robot before it went down. He looked down and saw the knuckles of one hand were scraped raw and bleeding. The machines behind were firing the same wide beams. The air was so hot Namor struggled for breath. The sweat dripping down his skin may as well have been blood.
Two robots crashed into him, bringing the once-Prince of Atlantis to his knees. Namor struggled to free himself as more robots converged. But they were unyielding metal, and he was dried flesh.
# # # # #
As he stalked silently through the empty factory, Captain America did his best to put aside the sounds of battle going on below. Namor was playing his part. Captain America had to do his.
Records accessed through the Quinjet computer had told the whole story. Workers suddenly sent away due to refurbishing. There were records of contracting, correspondence before the factory management and corporate headquarters, everything required to survive a cursory look. If Captain America hadn’t already been certain of Alkhema’s involvement, he wouldn’t have accessed satellite footage to find that no trucks or workers of any kind had been on the site. Any refurbishing would had to have been done using existing materials. Hence the bare upper levels, virtually all the manufacturing equipment stripped away.
Captain America hoped that some old systems still existed. Namor was a powerful man, but he had weaknesses. He couldn’t hope to fight off Alkhema’s security forever without assistance. Kicking open the door to a utility room, Captain America was glad to see that he could provide it.
# # # # #
The first drop upon his brow was the most glorious thing Namor had ever felt. To his parched body, it seemed an eternity until the next drop, though that was almost immediately. Then came the cascade, as though he were in the ocean again.
Namor flexed his hydrated muscles, driving the robots back. He looked up at the broken ceiling, where water was falling through the tremendous force. “You have my thanks, Captain,” Namor whispered through cracked lips. “Imperious Rex!”
# # # # #
The loud crashes caught Alkhema’s attention. It turned from the captive, who was no longer struggling, and stepped through the door that opened on approach. Water flowed in up to Alkhema’s ankles, and at contact many of the computers were shorting out. It didn’t matter. The procedure was done. The mind now only had to reboot on its own.
At the far distant end of the corridor was the intruder, Namor with his ridiculous winged feet. A shift in the light made it appear as though Alkhema’s frozen mask was smiling.
“How considerate, meat. You’ve saved me the trouble of hunting you.”
With a wordless roar, Namor launched himself at Alkhema. It stalked forward to meet him, sloshing through the water with no effort. They collided, man and machine, and it was the man that was hurled back. Thrown against the wall, Namor dropped to avoid a blow from Alkhema that ripped away a section of metal. He returned with a powerful uppercut that drove the machine back only a step.
“Surprised?” Alkhema asked. “I saved the good parts for myself.”
Nuclear fire erupted from the machine’s face. Namor flew over the blast and slammed into Alkhema from behind. It was driven face first into the water, which immediately began to boil.
“The schemes of your mad maker are thwarted,” said Namor.
The water did nothing to obscure Alkhema’s laughing voice. “You are too late!” With little effort it rose out of the water, pushing Namor off. He had to remain in the air to avoid the still-bubbling liquid. It gave him now leverage when Alkhema swung around, slamming her metal arm into his side. Namor crashed back against the wall, struggling to focus on staying aloft. Grabbing hold the arm, Namor pulled himself closer to Alkhema and bashed his fists against its head.
As the two were pummeling at each other, Captain America snuck past and entered the room Alkhema had left. In the darkened room he saw a figure rising from what appeared to be a table and feared the worst.
“Ultron!”
The figure turned, and from the light of flames emanating from its hands Captain America saw that it was Jim Hammond, the original Human Torch.
“Maybe Alkhema could have restored him. But his actions didn’t inspire loyalty. She chose to the original plan. Ultron had wanted to reunite his ‘children.’”
Looking more closely, Captain America saw that while this thing was wearing Jim Hammond’s body, there was another mind underneath. The expression – that confident yet dispassionate sneer – told Captain America who he was facing.
Vibranium, Human Torch. “Vision.”
“That I am,” said the synthezoid that had originally been constructed from Hammond’s remains. “A glimpse of tomorrow, what all the world shall someday become. So many of you Avengers barely stopped me the last time, and now there is only you.”
“It was one man that beat you before,” said Captain America, remembering Hank Pym.
“He had help from Photon, actually. That is so old-fashioned of you, to ignore a black person’s contributions. Or is it because she’s a woman? Either way,” Vision raised a fiery hand. “Let’s burn that ignorant prejudice away.”
Captain America ducked down and executed a leg sweep. Water kicked up, showering Vision and briefly dousing his fire. It strode forward and saw that Captain America was running away. Walking out of the room from which it had been reborn, Vision saw the ruined walls and heard Namor and Alkhema fighting a near distance away.
“She would never forgive me for taking her kill,” Vision mused. “Still, I never did fight Namor properly, and this would be the way to do it.”
But as Vision was about to turn and join in the battle it paused to think. Captain America had come here expecting, at the worst, Ultron. There was no way he wouldn’t have a plan for that…for rescuing Human Torch. The sight of a circular object on Captain America’s back hadn’t registered with Vision at first; everybody expects to see the shield. But Alkhema had that here for study. Vision recalled the memory of what it saw, a machine that was oddly familiar, perhaps connected to… Accessing archived memories, Vision found it, and understood.
# # # # #
Three walls buckled and caved when Namor was smashed against them. Lying in several inches of water, he was well hydrated and at the peak of his strength, but try as he might the machine was stronger. He struggled to his feet as Alkhema lumbered toward him.
“Bored now.” Alkhema triggered a circuit, electrifying its outer hull. The current ran along the water and into Namor.
“Nngggh.” The pain was negligible, mostly compounding the bruises and aches already sustained. Namor sank to his knees, teeth grit with effort and focus. “Monster, your kind was the first I met on the surface world.”
“Yes, I am aware of your so-called epic battles with Human Torch.” Alkhema was stomping through the wreckage of the second wall. “That he had such difficulty with you, clearly his legend is overrated.”
“I refer to those that took amusement in the suffering of others.” Taking a large block of masonry in both hands, Namor stood tall. “But like the Human Torch, you make the folly of underestimating the Avenging Son!”
Namor hurled the block through the wall he’d smashed a hole in, further damaging the load-bearing structure. The building groaned, then a section collapsed, everything in the levels directly above Alkhema. Tons of metal and rock fell on top of the android. The Sub-Mariner knew better than to think his opponent beaten. It was a delaying tactic only and he planned to make use of it. He took to the air, not going up through the hole made by the collapse but across through the lower corridors.
There came a beeping sound. Namor pressed the communicator given him by Captain America and spoke. “I’ve delayed Alkhema. What did you find?”
“She managed to bring back the Human Torch. Only know he’s been possessed by Vision.”
“Better him than Ultron.”
“You haven’t encountered him since he turned. There’s something else. My shield is here.”
“An odd place for it to drop.”
“Ultron tried to steal it in the Savage Land. It makes sense they would try to recreate the alloy.”
“I suppose you want me to search for it, as long as I’m here,” said Namor in a dry tone.
“I’m keeping Vision busy with a chase right now. I’d rather not, but if it comes to a fight the shield would help.”
“Fine.” Namor broke off the communication. He flew back towards the lab where the Human Torch had been held.
# # # # #
Flames exploded up through the floor. Captain America leapt back just in time to avoid Vision when it burst into view. Beyond a sheath of fire, the familiar face of Jim Hammond was twisted by dispassion and cold examination.
“That Gremlin on you back. I want it.”
Captain America turned his body sideways, careful to keep his back away from Vision. “You’ll have it soon enough.”
“By now you must have contacted the Avengers,” it said. “That is your plan, for them to restrain this body so you can rewrite its programming with a backup of Hammond. But they are hours away, and you will be long dead before their arrival.”
A wide, narrow stream of fire arced toward Captain America. Instinct said to back-flip over the attack. Captain America took the other route, rushing into the flames and trusting in his uniform. Sure enough the fire tried to snake around, to get at the Gremlin, but Captain America blocked them all with his chest and arms. The heat was painful, and he had no doubt severe burns would form.
“You’ll have to try better than that,” said Captain America as he rapidly backpedaled.
“I could engulf this room, this whole building. Fire would consume you from the inside out if I so chose. Even with the shield you are no match for me. Death by the same fire that killed Hitler.”
Instead of hurling fireballs Vision simply made a gesture and flames crawled along the walls, floor and ceiling toward Captain America. If this was meant to scare Captain America, it didn’t show.
“Before it was a puppet show, and now a fireworks display.” Captain America narrowed his eyes and couldn’t suppress a knowing smile. “This was your downfall last time, Vision. It’s the downfall of a lot of villains we fought, of the role you’re trying to play!”
Heat flared behind Vision’s eyes. “A role? This is no role!”
Vision’s side of the room exploded into flames, so bright that Captain America needed to put a hand over his eyes. He could just barely back out the image of a man on fire flying at him. The other hand reached for a pouch on his belt.
“If you are that eager to die Captain I am happy to obl-ahhh!”
A canister exploded in Vision’s face, dousing it with potassium bicarbonate. The flames immediately doused beneath a cloud of white, Vision crashed to the floor at Captain America’s feet. It struggled to overcome to the chemical agent, flickering flames beginning to burn through the white foam.
“That’s my friend’s face.” Captain America kicked it there. Vision rolled along the floor. “And I’d prefer him back.”
“At…at the expense of my life,” Vision gasped. “Push him in and you shove me out.” Fire pushed out. “I will not return to storage!”
Captain America dived out of the flame’s path. He rolled onto his back, pulled out another canister. Vision had returned to a standing position, almost completely aflame. It raised one hand, a massive fireball building within.
“You should have run.”
On Captain America’s belt, a device had been pinging for several minutes. Now it was pinging rapidly, and with a fireball staring him in the face Captain America smiled.
Namor burst through the section of floor between Captain America and Vision, screaming, “Imperious Rex!” On his arm was the unbreakable shield, taking the full force of Vision’s fireball. Namor surged ahead, smashing against Vision shield-first. No able to go intangible, the synthezoid crashed through the opposite wall.
“Away!” Vision launched itself into the air. A defenseless Captain America was one thing, but in close quarters Namor could do serious damage. One arm unleashed a stream of flame down at Namor, while the other was raised up and burned the ceiling. It was choosing to take the advice just giving to Captain America. Vision was going to run.
Without so much as a glance toward Captain America, Namor gave chase, still holding the shield. That was fine with Captain America. He took the moment of quiet to pull the Gremlin of his back and pulled off a section of casing. Revealed were wires previously cut, now being twisted back together.
“Well well.” Alkhema pulled itself up through the hole in the floor. “It looks like I’ll get to kill some meat after all.”
“Don’t bet on it.” Captain America jumped back as the Gremlin sprang to life. It flew at Alkhema, tendrils poised to strike.
# # # # #
Vision screamed in defiance of the rain. Turning his body in mid-air while still flying straight up, it threw stream after stream of fire at the Sub-Mariner. None of the flames burned in a straight line, instead snaking in zig-zag patterns.
Flying upward in chase, Namor broke several of the fire streams against Captain America’s shields. Those that came at him sideways he twisted to avoid, utilizing his tiny ankle wings in surprising aerial feats.
“This is not your element!” Namor’s voice would have sounded confident if it weren’t filled with such anger. Jim Hammond, the original Human Torch, had been one of the few surface-worlders he truly respected. He had also once respected Vision, a pawn that had broken free and found redemption as its own self. To see that opportunity squandered, and now operating the body of a friend, infuriated the Avenging Son of Atlantis.
“Nor is this yours!”
Vision suddenly dropped. If it could get close to Namor, burn him with flames without getting ripped apart, then all the water in the sky would not help. The flames that surrounded Vision turned the rain to steam, obscuring the space between it and Namor.
The Sub-Mariner increased his speed. The shield was held up in front of him, edge-first. Should Vision get cut in half, well, the Human Torch could be rebuilt.
Through the steam, Vision almost didn’t seen Namor until they were about to collide. It shifted to the side, missing the shield’s edge by scant inches. A billow of flame erupted from Vision’s hand, engulfing Namor.
“Aarrgh!” Namor swung the shield and the flames dissipated. The water helped, but those burns hurt and exacerbated his earlier wounds. His stamina was reaching its limits, while the machine had none. He needed to get close to it and end the battle soon.
Vision was not about to let Namor get too close. For one with little experience in the air beyond gliding, it showed remarkable skill in just staying out of the Sub-Mariner’s reach. Flame after flame was expelled, and while none were getting close enough to burn they were keeping the Atlantean dry in the rain. Captain America would have thrown the shield, and likely would have struck Vision, but Namor certainly wasn’t about to give up in the little protection he had.
Namor’s hand shot out and closed over one of Vision’s ankles. Fire crawled over his exposed hand, but with teeth grit Namor pulled Vision close. The shield was pushed upward, smashing against Vision’s chest and it was pulled down. It felt something break inside. Vision flared, filling the sky with terrible fire.
Namor screamed in agony as he burned but did not let go. He smashed up with the shield again and again. It was simply a matter of who would be overwhelmed first.
Vision heard a roar of engines, and from the corner of its eye saw Alkhema slowly flying up at them. It smiled, certain that Alkhema must have already killed Captain America. Together they would make short work of Namor.
But much to Vision’s surprise, Alkhema slammed against it. The rocket on its back cut out as those metal arms wrapped around the fiery machine. Too much weight for Vision to carry, the two began to drop until halted by Namor’s grip. Then the Sub-Mariner let go.
“I’m here to take back what’s mine,” said Alkhema into Vision’s ear as they fell together. The tone was completely different, more human, masculine.
That was when Vision realized who had it. Hammond, the Human Torch.
They fell to Earth, Hammond on the bottom but its frame was more than strong enough for it. More inside Vision broke, but it still functioned and struggled to free itself. The body of Alkhema was too strong however, and Hammond was not letting go.
Namor landed a few feet away and collapsed almost to his knees. Burns covered his body, his hair and costume were completely burned away. Still, the rain fell heavy, and in moments he stood tall once more. He looked past the struggling Vision and Human Torch, and nodded at the approaching Captain America.
“It was a good plan.”
“Your strength made it work,” Captain America said. “The Avengers will be here soon, Human Torch. But if you can do it now I won’t object.”
“This body is cruel and unclean. I won’t have mine defile a minute longer.”
A metal hand pressed against Vision’s face. Realizing what was to come, its eyes widened in fear.
“No! No, please! You know more than any what life for us is! Please, don’t kill me!”
Human Torch had heard similar words years ago, in a bunker under Berlin. The madman who begged then hadn’t moved him, nor was he moved by Vision’s pleas. Cables extended from Hammon’s fingers into what had and would again be his own skull. Vision made one last struggle, then went still and instant before Alkhema. Long seconds passed before Alkhema’s arms fell away limp and the Human Torch rose, strong and whole.
The sheath of fire dropped, revealing the human form of Jim Hammond in his red bodysuit. There was no question in Captain America’s mind that it was his old ally. The features were bruised and beaten, but possessed of a compassion that many humans lacked. This was a man that took none of the small things for granted. A man much like Vision had been.
Human Torch bent over the inert Alkhema robot and removed something. He approached Captain America, holding out a small cartridge drive. “I managed to lock Vision away in here. What’s to done with him is up to you. Whether he can be…rehabilitated, or if the verdict is reached, executed.”
Captain America accepted the prisoner, reading between the lines of what Human Torch had said. Proper hearings, treating Vision as though it was a man and not a synthezoid with a programmable mind. Matters that Captain America agreed with, and said as much. “The Avengers will do everything we can to help him.”
“We need to go back and retrieve Doctor Doom’s property,” Namor said. He lightly tossed the shield back to Captain America. “He won’t accept any excuse that it was destroyed in the battle. And neither will I.”
“I can do that, think I even saw it earlier,” Captain America said. The cartridge drive he put into a belt pouch, the shield onto his back. “Namor, you and Human Torch should go to the Quinjet. There are supplies on board that can treat your injuries.”
Namor waved off the suggestion. “I am fine. The Avenging Son has no need…no need of…”
Sub-Mariner collapsed face-down at Human Torch’s feet.
# # # # #
Epilogue
After ten years of semi-retirement, Shannon was still a light sleeper. The noise awoke her immediately. Reaching through the hole in the mattress, she withdrew the gun and clip. Checking both and loading the weapon, she crept from the room and into the hallway.
It was a short distance to the closed bedroom door, for Shannon went slowly and carefully. She had repeated this many times in the past decade, often twice or three times a night. All had been false alarms, but training had demanded she never lower her guard. Without a sound she opened the door, saw that the boy was sleeping peacefully.
With the principal secured, Shannon went about her routine of securing the perimeter. She descended the stairs noiselessly, taking care to avoid the step kept loose for just that purpose. It was on the final step that she noticed the shadow and immediately turned to fire up.
The loud gunshot took the man at the top landing square in the head. He fell without a shot fired, the insides of his skull painting the wall behind him. Shannon rushed back up the steps, jumping the body. Where there was one there would be many. Protocol was clear. Shannon had to evacuate her principal to the rendezvous.
At a sound below she turned and fired again. She’d caught the man who’d tripped over the body at the side of the head. He went down stunned, and a second shot finished him. Nearby a window shattered. Shannon rushed for the door and opened it with one hand while shooting with the other.
Inside, the boy was out of his bed with a man’s arm around his neck. The bullet went through the man’s open mouth before he could say anything. Shannon grabbed him by the wrist, screaming that they had to go. He couldn’t hear a word over the ringing in his ears.
Shannon pulled him after her out the door and always ran into a living shadow. The sword in its hand slashed down. She stepped aside and it passed inches from her face. In the same motion she raised the gun and fire. The shadow exploded into a gaseous mist.
From the mist there was a brief glint and suddenly Shannon found a knife in her chest. She fired again, hoping to get the thrower. The wound was nothing if she didn’t open in. She could still get him out, get him to safety.
A large hand grabbed her by the wrist, and the gun fell useless. “That’s my knife you’re trying to steal.” It was wrenched out, and a spray of blood painted over the first man’s brains.
Shannon’s legs failed her. The floor rushed up at her, as it did for the boy held her in death-grip. The boy she’d watched over, raised for nearly a decade in place of her own children. All those years one purpose, and now she’d failed at it.
His scream was the last Shannon heard.
NEXT ISSUE: A secret long-kept from Captain America is revealed!
“If it had, Doom would have faced an all-out attack,” said Captain America as his attention was focused on the Quinjet controls. On the seat beside him was the inactive Gremlin drone that had started this quest. “This is more likely Alkhema, Ultron’s manufactured bride.”
To this statement Namor nodded. The two men had fought together and against one another across more than half a century, since the days of World War II. On that day, the former Invaders were speeding across Europe in an Avengers Quinjet to save one of their own.
“Had you ever learned why Ultron wanted Jim Hammond?” Namor asked.
Captain America shook his head. “Only theories, but they were never confirmed. Ultron had stripped an inert Human Torch for parts in creating Vision, so it must have wondered when he later appeared on his own. That was due to Immortus, some kind of chronal duplicate made for some unknown purpose.”
“So when Ultron learned that Kang, a time-traveler, was acting against it…” Namor frowned. “Linking Human Torch to that would have been a stretch. A machine like Ultron wouldn’t have the imagination to think like that.”
“For all we know, Kang’s…” Captain America didn’t want to use the word son when referring to Marcus Immortus. “Ultron had had an agent of Kang’s captive. He may have fed Ultron information. What we know for sure is that Ultron had a plan for Hammond, and one of Hank Pym’s final acts was to stop it.”
”So it may be that Alkhema is following its maker’s playbook,” Namor suggested.
“Or this could be for an independent scheme. All of Ultron’s creations learned to think for themselves.” Captain America paused, bad memories coming to his mind. “Jocasta chose to rebel. Alkhema chose to be sadistic.”
It was Namor that decided to say the unspoken. “And Vision chose to be ruled by his emotions, for good and ill. If this machine is so dangerous, perhaps the Avengers should meet us.”
Captain America shook his head. “I’ll send them a message on the situation. First, we’ll try this ourselves. Jim deserves that much.”
Flying to the location of Doctor Doom’s tagged equipment did not take long, it was only a short distance away in Germany. Captain America tried not to think about his last visit to Germany, about the missing Nomad, most likely in the hands of HYDRA. Their recent attack on the Helicarrier meant there was something worse coming, Captain America was certain. Once this was done, he’d need to meet with Fury and Sharon, find out what had been uncovered.
The sight of a modern, state-of-the-art factory building sent Captain America’s mind careening back to the task at hand. “This is it.” He accessed the computers to see what information there was on the property. “Owned by some conglomerate, Kronas.”
“Fitting.” Namor unstrapped himself and moved toward the exit.
“Wait, we need probable cause before we can storm the building.” A system on the console pinged. The Quinjet’s sensors had detected something else, and Captain America raised his eyebrows at the reading.
“You followed a dangerous villain.” Namor forced open the hatch and flew out.
# # # # #
“Soon we shall be together.”
Alkhema caressed a computer array, though touch was not necessary for its commands to be followed. A transmission activated the device taken from Doctor Doom, which vaguely resembled a bandolier. It rested on a slab of Wakandan Vibranium, the remnants of what Ultron had seized. Cables of varying sizes connected the device with Alkhema’s own machines, including a helmet-like contraption suspended inches over one end of the slab.
The air crackled with energy faster than light as tachyon particles converged. Doctor Doom’s temporal device began to fill out, conforming around a shape that was beginning to take form inside it.
“More power!” The machines around Alkhema sparked, barely able to contain the power coursing through them. Lying on the slab, the shape was now resembling a man, the head obscured by the helmet. The cables from the helmet had taken on a pulsating glow. Retrieval was only one of Alkhema’s goals.
The lights above Alkhema’s head dimmed momentarily. One machine sparked so severely that smoke began to pour from it. An automated safety drone sprayed the machine with foam. On the slab, the humanoid had shape but no features, a blank slate that was now beginning to struggle. At Alkhema’s command the Vibranium flowed, forming restraints over its occupant.
“No no no,” said Alkhema in a voice as soothing as nails in a skull. A hand of metal stroked a formless cheekbone. “Not until the download is complete.”
# # # # #
“Imperious Rex!”
Namor had crashed through upper levels to find them abandoned. Clearly, no humans had been inside the building for some time. He smashed through floor after floor, until he was several levels beneath the earth and surrounded by robotic guards with a crude similarity to Ultron.
“At last!” Namor dodged around a beam of lasers that shot from one robot’s eyes. His fist punched through its head, metal being no match for Atlantean might. “I was almost afraid The Avenging Son was being ignored!”
Several more robots blasted at Namor while the others closed in. One laser caught Namor across the thigh, scorching him painfully. Two of the approaching robots he grabbed as shields, deflecting several blasts before he smashed them against more machines. Bashing through a wall of metal, Namor flew away from the remaining robots.
Near the end of a corridor, Namor found more machines waiting. Beams shot out of their eyes, but Namor twisted in the air to dodge these. He crashed into them, reducing the machines to scraps with several powerful blows. More were coming, however, from either end of the hall.
“How many must I destroy before your mistress faces me?!” Hurling several robots back in one direction, Namor made a great flying leap in the other. He flew in a zig-zag pattern, prepared to dodge more lasers. But when these robots fired, it was with wide beams that encompassed the whole corridor. There was no scorch when Namor flew into the red haze and against the machines. It was simply very hot.
Five times Namor smashes his fists against one robot before it went down. He looked down and saw the knuckles of one hand were scraped raw and bleeding. The machines behind were firing the same wide beams. The air was so hot Namor struggled for breath. The sweat dripping down his skin may as well have been blood.
Two robots crashed into him, bringing the once-Prince of Atlantis to his knees. Namor struggled to free himself as more robots converged. But they were unyielding metal, and he was dried flesh.
# # # # #
As he stalked silently through the empty factory, Captain America did his best to put aside the sounds of battle going on below. Namor was playing his part. Captain America had to do his.
Records accessed through the Quinjet computer had told the whole story. Workers suddenly sent away due to refurbishing. There were records of contracting, correspondence before the factory management and corporate headquarters, everything required to survive a cursory look. If Captain America hadn’t already been certain of Alkhema’s involvement, he wouldn’t have accessed satellite footage to find that no trucks or workers of any kind had been on the site. Any refurbishing would had to have been done using existing materials. Hence the bare upper levels, virtually all the manufacturing equipment stripped away.
Captain America hoped that some old systems still existed. Namor was a powerful man, but he had weaknesses. He couldn’t hope to fight off Alkhema’s security forever without assistance. Kicking open the door to a utility room, Captain America was glad to see that he could provide it.
# # # # #
The first drop upon his brow was the most glorious thing Namor had ever felt. To his parched body, it seemed an eternity until the next drop, though that was almost immediately. Then came the cascade, as though he were in the ocean again.
Namor flexed his hydrated muscles, driving the robots back. He looked up at the broken ceiling, where water was falling through the tremendous force. “You have my thanks, Captain,” Namor whispered through cracked lips. “Imperious Rex!”
# # # # #
The loud crashes caught Alkhema’s attention. It turned from the captive, who was no longer struggling, and stepped through the door that opened on approach. Water flowed in up to Alkhema’s ankles, and at contact many of the computers were shorting out. It didn’t matter. The procedure was done. The mind now only had to reboot on its own.
At the far distant end of the corridor was the intruder, Namor with his ridiculous winged feet. A shift in the light made it appear as though Alkhema’s frozen mask was smiling.
“How considerate, meat. You’ve saved me the trouble of hunting you.”
With a wordless roar, Namor launched himself at Alkhema. It stalked forward to meet him, sloshing through the water with no effort. They collided, man and machine, and it was the man that was hurled back. Thrown against the wall, Namor dropped to avoid a blow from Alkhema that ripped away a section of metal. He returned with a powerful uppercut that drove the machine back only a step.
“Surprised?” Alkhema asked. “I saved the good parts for myself.”
Nuclear fire erupted from the machine’s face. Namor flew over the blast and slammed into Alkhema from behind. It was driven face first into the water, which immediately began to boil.
“The schemes of your mad maker are thwarted,” said Namor.
The water did nothing to obscure Alkhema’s laughing voice. “You are too late!” With little effort it rose out of the water, pushing Namor off. He had to remain in the air to avoid the still-bubbling liquid. It gave him now leverage when Alkhema swung around, slamming her metal arm into his side. Namor crashed back against the wall, struggling to focus on staying aloft. Grabbing hold the arm, Namor pulled himself closer to Alkhema and bashed his fists against its head.
As the two were pummeling at each other, Captain America snuck past and entered the room Alkhema had left. In the darkened room he saw a figure rising from what appeared to be a table and feared the worst.
“Ultron!”
The figure turned, and from the light of flames emanating from its hands Captain America saw that it was Jim Hammond, the original Human Torch.
“Maybe Alkhema could have restored him. But his actions didn’t inspire loyalty. She chose to the original plan. Ultron had wanted to reunite his ‘children.’”
Looking more closely, Captain America saw that while this thing was wearing Jim Hammond’s body, there was another mind underneath. The expression – that confident yet dispassionate sneer – told Captain America who he was facing.
Vibranium, Human Torch. “Vision.”
“That I am,” said the synthezoid that had originally been constructed from Hammond’s remains. “A glimpse of tomorrow, what all the world shall someday become. So many of you Avengers barely stopped me the last time, and now there is only you.”
“It was one man that beat you before,” said Captain America, remembering Hank Pym.
“He had help from Photon, actually. That is so old-fashioned of you, to ignore a black person’s contributions. Or is it because she’s a woman? Either way,” Vision raised a fiery hand. “Let’s burn that ignorant prejudice away.”
Captain America ducked down and executed a leg sweep. Water kicked up, showering Vision and briefly dousing his fire. It strode forward and saw that Captain America was running away. Walking out of the room from which it had been reborn, Vision saw the ruined walls and heard Namor and Alkhema fighting a near distance away.
“She would never forgive me for taking her kill,” Vision mused. “Still, I never did fight Namor properly, and this would be the way to do it.”
But as Vision was about to turn and join in the battle it paused to think. Captain America had come here expecting, at the worst, Ultron. There was no way he wouldn’t have a plan for that…for rescuing Human Torch. The sight of a circular object on Captain America’s back hadn’t registered with Vision at first; everybody expects to see the shield. But Alkhema had that here for study. Vision recalled the memory of what it saw, a machine that was oddly familiar, perhaps connected to… Accessing archived memories, Vision found it, and understood.
# # # # #
Three walls buckled and caved when Namor was smashed against them. Lying in several inches of water, he was well hydrated and at the peak of his strength, but try as he might the machine was stronger. He struggled to his feet as Alkhema lumbered toward him.
“Bored now.” Alkhema triggered a circuit, electrifying its outer hull. The current ran along the water and into Namor.
“Nngggh.” The pain was negligible, mostly compounding the bruises and aches already sustained. Namor sank to his knees, teeth grit with effort and focus. “Monster, your kind was the first I met on the surface world.”
“Yes, I am aware of your so-called epic battles with Human Torch.” Alkhema was stomping through the wreckage of the second wall. “That he had such difficulty with you, clearly his legend is overrated.”
“I refer to those that took amusement in the suffering of others.” Taking a large block of masonry in both hands, Namor stood tall. “But like the Human Torch, you make the folly of underestimating the Avenging Son!”
Namor hurled the block through the wall he’d smashed a hole in, further damaging the load-bearing structure. The building groaned, then a section collapsed, everything in the levels directly above Alkhema. Tons of metal and rock fell on top of the android. The Sub-Mariner knew better than to think his opponent beaten. It was a delaying tactic only and he planned to make use of it. He took to the air, not going up through the hole made by the collapse but across through the lower corridors.
There came a beeping sound. Namor pressed the communicator given him by Captain America and spoke. “I’ve delayed Alkhema. What did you find?”
“She managed to bring back the Human Torch. Only know he’s been possessed by Vision.”
“Better him than Ultron.”
“You haven’t encountered him since he turned. There’s something else. My shield is here.”
“An odd place for it to drop.”
“Ultron tried to steal it in the Savage Land. It makes sense they would try to recreate the alloy.”
“I suppose you want me to search for it, as long as I’m here,” said Namor in a dry tone.
“I’m keeping Vision busy with a chase right now. I’d rather not, but if it comes to a fight the shield would help.”
“Fine.” Namor broke off the communication. He flew back towards the lab where the Human Torch had been held.
# # # # #
Flames exploded up through the floor. Captain America leapt back just in time to avoid Vision when it burst into view. Beyond a sheath of fire, the familiar face of Jim Hammond was twisted by dispassion and cold examination.
“That Gremlin on you back. I want it.”
Captain America turned his body sideways, careful to keep his back away from Vision. “You’ll have it soon enough.”
“By now you must have contacted the Avengers,” it said. “That is your plan, for them to restrain this body so you can rewrite its programming with a backup of Hammond. But they are hours away, and you will be long dead before their arrival.”
A wide, narrow stream of fire arced toward Captain America. Instinct said to back-flip over the attack. Captain America took the other route, rushing into the flames and trusting in his uniform. Sure enough the fire tried to snake around, to get at the Gremlin, but Captain America blocked them all with his chest and arms. The heat was painful, and he had no doubt severe burns would form.
“You’ll have to try better than that,” said Captain America as he rapidly backpedaled.
“I could engulf this room, this whole building. Fire would consume you from the inside out if I so chose. Even with the shield you are no match for me. Death by the same fire that killed Hitler.”
Instead of hurling fireballs Vision simply made a gesture and flames crawled along the walls, floor and ceiling toward Captain America. If this was meant to scare Captain America, it didn’t show.
“Before it was a puppet show, and now a fireworks display.” Captain America narrowed his eyes and couldn’t suppress a knowing smile. “This was your downfall last time, Vision. It’s the downfall of a lot of villains we fought, of the role you’re trying to play!”
Heat flared behind Vision’s eyes. “A role? This is no role!”
Vision’s side of the room exploded into flames, so bright that Captain America needed to put a hand over his eyes. He could just barely back out the image of a man on fire flying at him. The other hand reached for a pouch on his belt.
“If you are that eager to die Captain I am happy to obl-ahhh!”
A canister exploded in Vision’s face, dousing it with potassium bicarbonate. The flames immediately doused beneath a cloud of white, Vision crashed to the floor at Captain America’s feet. It struggled to overcome to the chemical agent, flickering flames beginning to burn through the white foam.
“That’s my friend’s face.” Captain America kicked it there. Vision rolled along the floor. “And I’d prefer him back.”
“At…at the expense of my life,” Vision gasped. “Push him in and you shove me out.” Fire pushed out. “I will not return to storage!”
Captain America dived out of the flame’s path. He rolled onto his back, pulled out another canister. Vision had returned to a standing position, almost completely aflame. It raised one hand, a massive fireball building within.
“You should have run.”
On Captain America’s belt, a device had been pinging for several minutes. Now it was pinging rapidly, and with a fireball staring him in the face Captain America smiled.
Namor burst through the section of floor between Captain America and Vision, screaming, “Imperious Rex!” On his arm was the unbreakable shield, taking the full force of Vision’s fireball. Namor surged ahead, smashing against Vision shield-first. No able to go intangible, the synthezoid crashed through the opposite wall.
“Away!” Vision launched itself into the air. A defenseless Captain America was one thing, but in close quarters Namor could do serious damage. One arm unleashed a stream of flame down at Namor, while the other was raised up and burned the ceiling. It was choosing to take the advice just giving to Captain America. Vision was going to run.
Without so much as a glance toward Captain America, Namor gave chase, still holding the shield. That was fine with Captain America. He took the moment of quiet to pull the Gremlin of his back and pulled off a section of casing. Revealed were wires previously cut, now being twisted back together.
“Well well.” Alkhema pulled itself up through the hole in the floor. “It looks like I’ll get to kill some meat after all.”
“Don’t bet on it.” Captain America jumped back as the Gremlin sprang to life. It flew at Alkhema, tendrils poised to strike.
# # # # #
Vision screamed in defiance of the rain. Turning his body in mid-air while still flying straight up, it threw stream after stream of fire at the Sub-Mariner. None of the flames burned in a straight line, instead snaking in zig-zag patterns.
Flying upward in chase, Namor broke several of the fire streams against Captain America’s shields. Those that came at him sideways he twisted to avoid, utilizing his tiny ankle wings in surprising aerial feats.
“This is not your element!” Namor’s voice would have sounded confident if it weren’t filled with such anger. Jim Hammond, the original Human Torch, had been one of the few surface-worlders he truly respected. He had also once respected Vision, a pawn that had broken free and found redemption as its own self. To see that opportunity squandered, and now operating the body of a friend, infuriated the Avenging Son of Atlantis.
“Nor is this yours!”
Vision suddenly dropped. If it could get close to Namor, burn him with flames without getting ripped apart, then all the water in the sky would not help. The flames that surrounded Vision turned the rain to steam, obscuring the space between it and Namor.
The Sub-Mariner increased his speed. The shield was held up in front of him, edge-first. Should Vision get cut in half, well, the Human Torch could be rebuilt.
Through the steam, Vision almost didn’t seen Namor until they were about to collide. It shifted to the side, missing the shield’s edge by scant inches. A billow of flame erupted from Vision’s hand, engulfing Namor.
“Aarrgh!” Namor swung the shield and the flames dissipated. The water helped, but those burns hurt and exacerbated his earlier wounds. His stamina was reaching its limits, while the machine had none. He needed to get close to it and end the battle soon.
Vision was not about to let Namor get too close. For one with little experience in the air beyond gliding, it showed remarkable skill in just staying out of the Sub-Mariner’s reach. Flame after flame was expelled, and while none were getting close enough to burn they were keeping the Atlantean dry in the rain. Captain America would have thrown the shield, and likely would have struck Vision, but Namor certainly wasn’t about to give up in the little protection he had.
Namor’s hand shot out and closed over one of Vision’s ankles. Fire crawled over his exposed hand, but with teeth grit Namor pulled Vision close. The shield was pushed upward, smashing against Vision’s chest and it was pulled down. It felt something break inside. Vision flared, filling the sky with terrible fire.
Namor screamed in agony as he burned but did not let go. He smashed up with the shield again and again. It was simply a matter of who would be overwhelmed first.
Vision heard a roar of engines, and from the corner of its eye saw Alkhema slowly flying up at them. It smiled, certain that Alkhema must have already killed Captain America. Together they would make short work of Namor.
But much to Vision’s surprise, Alkhema slammed against it. The rocket on its back cut out as those metal arms wrapped around the fiery machine. Too much weight for Vision to carry, the two began to drop until halted by Namor’s grip. Then the Sub-Mariner let go.
“I’m here to take back what’s mine,” said Alkhema into Vision’s ear as they fell together. The tone was completely different, more human, masculine.
That was when Vision realized who had it. Hammond, the Human Torch.
They fell to Earth, Hammond on the bottom but its frame was more than strong enough for it. More inside Vision broke, but it still functioned and struggled to free itself. The body of Alkhema was too strong however, and Hammond was not letting go.
Namor landed a few feet away and collapsed almost to his knees. Burns covered his body, his hair and costume were completely burned away. Still, the rain fell heavy, and in moments he stood tall once more. He looked past the struggling Vision and Human Torch, and nodded at the approaching Captain America.
“It was a good plan.”
“Your strength made it work,” Captain America said. “The Avengers will be here soon, Human Torch. But if you can do it now I won’t object.”
“This body is cruel and unclean. I won’t have mine defile a minute longer.”
A metal hand pressed against Vision’s face. Realizing what was to come, its eyes widened in fear.
“No! No, please! You know more than any what life for us is! Please, don’t kill me!”
Human Torch had heard similar words years ago, in a bunker under Berlin. The madman who begged then hadn’t moved him, nor was he moved by Vision’s pleas. Cables extended from Hammon’s fingers into what had and would again be his own skull. Vision made one last struggle, then went still and instant before Alkhema. Long seconds passed before Alkhema’s arms fell away limp and the Human Torch rose, strong and whole.
The sheath of fire dropped, revealing the human form of Jim Hammond in his red bodysuit. There was no question in Captain America’s mind that it was his old ally. The features were bruised and beaten, but possessed of a compassion that many humans lacked. This was a man that took none of the small things for granted. A man much like Vision had been.
Human Torch bent over the inert Alkhema robot and removed something. He approached Captain America, holding out a small cartridge drive. “I managed to lock Vision away in here. What’s to done with him is up to you. Whether he can be…rehabilitated, or if the verdict is reached, executed.”
Captain America accepted the prisoner, reading between the lines of what Human Torch had said. Proper hearings, treating Vision as though it was a man and not a synthezoid with a programmable mind. Matters that Captain America agreed with, and said as much. “The Avengers will do everything we can to help him.”
“We need to go back and retrieve Doctor Doom’s property,” Namor said. He lightly tossed the shield back to Captain America. “He won’t accept any excuse that it was destroyed in the battle. And neither will I.”
“I can do that, think I even saw it earlier,” Captain America said. The cartridge drive he put into a belt pouch, the shield onto his back. “Namor, you and Human Torch should go to the Quinjet. There are supplies on board that can treat your injuries.”
Namor waved off the suggestion. “I am fine. The Avenging Son has no need…no need of…”
Sub-Mariner collapsed face-down at Human Torch’s feet.
# # # # #
Epilogue
After ten years of semi-retirement, Shannon was still a light sleeper. The noise awoke her immediately. Reaching through the hole in the mattress, she withdrew the gun and clip. Checking both and loading the weapon, she crept from the room and into the hallway.
It was a short distance to the closed bedroom door, for Shannon went slowly and carefully. She had repeated this many times in the past decade, often twice or three times a night. All had been false alarms, but training had demanded she never lower her guard. Without a sound she opened the door, saw that the boy was sleeping peacefully.
With the principal secured, Shannon went about her routine of securing the perimeter. She descended the stairs noiselessly, taking care to avoid the step kept loose for just that purpose. It was on the final step that she noticed the shadow and immediately turned to fire up.
The loud gunshot took the man at the top landing square in the head. He fell without a shot fired, the insides of his skull painting the wall behind him. Shannon rushed back up the steps, jumping the body. Where there was one there would be many. Protocol was clear. Shannon had to evacuate her principal to the rendezvous.
At a sound below she turned and fired again. She’d caught the man who’d tripped over the body at the side of the head. He went down stunned, and a second shot finished him. Nearby a window shattered. Shannon rushed for the door and opened it with one hand while shooting with the other.
Inside, the boy was out of his bed with a man’s arm around his neck. The bullet went through the man’s open mouth before he could say anything. Shannon grabbed him by the wrist, screaming that they had to go. He couldn’t hear a word over the ringing in his ears.
Shannon pulled him after her out the door and always ran into a living shadow. The sword in its hand slashed down. She stepped aside and it passed inches from her face. In the same motion she raised the gun and fire. The shadow exploded into a gaseous mist.
From the mist there was a brief glint and suddenly Shannon found a knife in her chest. She fired again, hoping to get the thrower. The wound was nothing if she didn’t open in. She could still get him out, get him to safety.
A large hand grabbed her by the wrist, and the gun fell useless. “That’s my knife you’re trying to steal.” It was wrenched out, and a spray of blood painted over the first man’s brains.
Shannon’s legs failed her. The floor rushed up at her, as it did for the boy held her in death-grip. The boy she’d watched over, raised for nearly a decade in place of her own children. All those years one purpose, and now she’d failed at it.
His scream was the last Shannon heard.
NEXT ISSUE: A secret long-kept from Captain America is revealed!