Issue #12 (October 2018)
Written by Dan Dolan Featuring: Jocosta
Josiah Bradley
Tommy
Will
Patriot
Artemis
Hulkling
Riri Williams
Queen Divine Justice
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The House of Today - Part ThreeIt felt different to be Cancer. Riri was still herself… there was just more to her than there was before: memories of stuff that hadn’t happened yet running in her mind… things she wasn’t even present for… her thoughts expanding like a star.
The moment she stepped back out she locked other with the other Cancer. The wimple bearing woman, seemingly perpetually with child, and there was something different about her. An emptiness in her eyes, she acted more like the other glitchy LMDs that staffed the Freezer; still awake, still aware but… less. As she was now more. The voices of a thousand possible future versions of herself flowed through her mind like a river. A river flowing from a very distinct source. Mikel Fury, in his guise as Ophiuchus stood before the gathered mass; Zodiac, LMD, SHIELD, Hydra and Young Avengers alike, and it was from his chest Riri felt the reverberations of the future. A soft hum coming from his very being. Now as she observed the interactions between the Zodiac and her teammates it was as if she could “feel” both sides. The connection to the 12 as strong as her loyalty to her team. She watched as Gemini, the sculpted looking double headed creation, loomed over Will and Tommy and went on about the division of self and contrary yet symmetrical patterns in life and the universe and whereas before this may have sounded like New Age bullshit, now she understood the deeper layers. Now she saw how desperately they wanted to expand the consciousness of the Young Avengers in ways their older counterparts never cared to. More concerned with keeping them in the lines than helping them think outside of them. “How do you know all this about us? How are you so sure my brother has powers?” Will asked defensively still not really listening to what the LMD had to say, Riri noted. She watched as his, seemingly if their recent hints at such were true, lover Victor soon came to stand behind him supportively. Eyeing the other android suspiciously. “Our machines use every bit of knowledge available to calculate the thread of a life. What is, what was and what will be...” The two heads said in united melody. “How could your machines know anything about me? My brother and I have been in this universe for barely half a year or so.” Will spat back. “Your birth was recorded in Avengers datalogs, interviews with your mother, Agatha Harkness and others about what may or may not have occurred were recorded and studied by both SHIELD and the likes of Doctor Strange and other to get to the bottom of what happened and what you were, since your return the Avengers have been keeping tabs on you all and even though they don’t know who you are thanks to your desire to avoid a meeting with your mother at this time they’ve observed events and taking into consideration what we know and putting that all together… you’d be surprised what could be surmised.” “That is all just gobbledygook!” Will shouted. “Why not let Tommy ask? Speak for himself a tad? Notice your major concern was how we knew about you before switching to plural pronouns once given time to speak. Do you even notice you do that? Speak for him? As if your needs and wants are automatically his?” At this Will was speechless, for once. “Tommy,” This came from another. The voice was that of Pisces, the lanky flower child droid that approached him earlier, “You gotta admit,” He beamed at the boy, “There’s by times when things looked grim and then… suddenly… things turned out okay and a small, little part of you thought: did I make that happen?” He winked throwing an arm around the younger boy’s shoulders with gusto. Eli stood frozen, ironically, staring into the pods that held his uncle and Jocasta suspended. Trying to decipher some bit of knowledge from his Uncle’s face, now stuck in a furrowed brow that never ebbed. This perpetual face of disappointment on Josiah was more symbolic to Eli than Ophiuchus probably could have planned for even if he tried. Soon the boy’s gaze widened taking in the other tanks, each filled with heroes of bygone eras. Multiple Marvel Boys, Golden Girls, Human Tops and others he didn’t recall. A chorus of silent cries longing for their days of glory and bemoaning their untapped potential. “Worry not my boy.” The android Leo said suddenly from behind him. The female LMD loomed over Eli, still in her retro checkered dress, with her unsettling old theatre mask style emanating with a bright gold light just beneath, such that Eli had to half shield his eyes as she looked down at him, “They will still serve their purpose.” “And what’s that?” Eli asked. “So glad you asked.” Ophiuchus answered from a few feet away, “If you could all gather I will tell you. We, the Zodiac, are so close to stabilizing the brain functions of those the Freezer has held prisoner for so long.” He gestured to the very tanks Eli had been so enraptured by, “Once it is safe to do so we will free our brothers and sisters and as the new Zodiac, we will lead them to overthrow the “adult” superheroes. It is time for a new season, out with the old and in with the new.” At the growing sense of unease in the room Ophiuchus raised his hand, “Now worry not we will do this as painlessly as possible and when done they will replace our friends in these tanks and their knowledge and wisdom will flow through as easily as the memories of these poor trapped souls do now.” “You think it will be that easy?” Chanté asked skeptically. “I do.” Ophiuchus replied with absolute confidence, “With our technology we can predict their every move.” Pisces, warm and smiling, slowly tied a Diamondback LMD to a column, somehow completely without malice on his placid face or in his manner even as he prepared Tommy about the danger she would face. The plan was to give the boy a scenario to see if he truly did have abilities. The pink haired android would be the token damsel in distress, much to her displeasure and Tommy would be prohibited from actively trying to save her through anything but will alone. Would his powers intervene? Did even have any in the first place? They would soon see. Will and Victor stood not far off from where Tommy was being “tested”, both with varying levels of disapproval on their faces. Gemini standing just behind them like a tree, both heads nodding approvingly. “Alright, Bob come out here please.” Pisces smiled, the awkward agent of Hydra slowly waddling his way over, followed a few steps behind by Grant Ward. “Bob is going to take a shot at her.” Pisces said turning to Tommy, again somehow without any ominous tone; managing to retain his bright demeanor no matter how sinister his words appeared to be, “Now it’s important that you don’t want that to happen.” “Of course I don’t…” Tommy stuttered but Pisces motioned for him to stop, nodding. “Good.” The bohemian android said simply. “They probably chose Bobert over there because they’re hoping my brother will mistake his incompetence for his “powers” taking effect.” Will scoffed. “You are quick to judge people William.” Gemini tutted, “To everyone there is a division of self between what is inside and what they portray to the world. Perhaps Bob has more beneath the surface? Compare him to one such as Agent Ward… what is Ward shielding with all that bravado? A tender heart perhaps? In turn what courage must it take for Bob to lay his fears out in the open for all to see? You yourself may not be the acerbic razor tongued devil you play…” This seemed to actually cause Will to pause, Victor taking his hand comfortingly. “Let’s watch.” Gemini suggested, to which the two teen reluctantly followed his gaze back to where Bob now shakily raised his sidearm at the pink haired droid. “I’d really rather not…” The Hydra agent whimpered causing Grant to roll his eyes, his fingers itching as if he couldn’t wait to rip the gun out of the other man’s hands and do it himself. “Listen to them.” Pisces whispered to Tommy, “All of them, her gritting her artificial teeth,” Gesturing to the Diamondback LMD still struggling with her bonds, “His desperate want to not hurt her,” This was referring to Bob, “Alternatively his desperate wish to do so.” This was referring to the pulsating vein in Grant’s neck, “Like our machines with their data take it all in and make it more. Use it to channel your power. Let all meld into one single thought.” Bob raised the weapon and Tommy listened to the room; their breathing telling their own stories. Diamondback’s frustration, Bob’s fear, Grant’s aggression, Will’s disapproval… He could have lost himself in it but then: the gun shot. And as he pulled him himself back to reality like a riptide he tried to pull the bullet back with him, visualizing the want like an intake of breath. For a moment it was as if life froze and then they realized it was because the bullet itself seemed to be slowing down and before they even realized it, it stopped and fell out of the air. “What the fuck…” Grant Ward hissed. “Will did you…?” Tommy gasped looking back at his brother frantically, only for the usually more boisterous twin to only offer a silent shake of his head in astonishment. “Well,” Riri’s voice shocked Will as she came to stand beside him, “Looks like they are right about a few things after all.” The confident air she projected was unfamiliar to Will coming from her but it was something he welcomed as his nouveau would-be boyfriend, his brother and the supposedly seasoned agents and LMDs before him remained in stuttered silence. “Maybe so.” Will mumbled at last. “You don’t seem too excited by that prospect.” “Would you be if your brother’s death was among their predictions?” This was a hushed, yet angry, whisper. Will not wanting Tommy to hear. “They said they could help you with that.” Riri countered. “Yeah but at what cost?” “Will…” She pursed her lips, thinking, “Come with me for a moment, I want to show you something.” Will paused and then turned back to Victor with a hushed ‘excuse me’ and with one last look at Tommy followed the girl as she led him away from the others and upstairs. Towards Ophiuchus’ lair… Will hesitantly followed Riri, noting the subtle changes in her demeanor but his inner voice screaming for answers overpowered his reservations. The long hall led to a small room centered around a projection screen, playing to an audience of one: Ophiuchus. “Cancer are you sure that Mr. Maximoff here is the correct choice?” Mikel said removing his hood and mask. “Yes. Fortune favors the bold as they say.” Riri smirked. “What is this?” Will asked looking wildly around, his hands beginning to glow. “This, Mr. Maximoff, is the key to your brother’s future.” Mikel said raising his hands to signify a lack of imminent threat. “That vision, where he was dead… you must know I don’t trust that to be real just on your word alone.” Will said, still defensive. “I do just as I know you do not fully trust it to be false. You worry… as you always have… your brother won’t need protecting much longer. Soon you both will be beyond such worries.” Will said noting, just his eyes narrowing further. “If you don’t trust him Will…” Riri/Cancer said confidently, “Listen to yourself.” The same light that enveloped Riri soon sparked up and embraced the sardonic mutant, but this time with no projection to mask its source it was quite clearly originating from the chest plate of Ophiuchus’ armor. A vague shape not unlike a key able to be seen for just moment before the room lit up. The voices of twelve thousand future versions of himself running through Will’s mind spoke of his grand destiny, brief flashes of Magneto and his mother appearing alongside this kind of talk before turning to how they would keep his twin alive. The balm this voice provided was symbolized quite nicely in the name these voices called him: Gemini. Kate watched alternatively Tommy on one side excited beyond belief, happier than she’d ever seen him no less and then on the other end of that spectrum was Eli lost in misery. How could two of her teammates be experiencing since varied responses to this situation? What would she then be getting out of this? Where was Riri? Looking out for the shyer girl always seemed to boost Kate’s confidence. Oddly confidence and assurance being some the major things the Zodiac promised to provide. “What are you thinking?” Chanté asked, eyeing the others as well but her eyes were more skeptical. “Waiting for the right time to strike.” She said more because it felt like what was expected of her than anything else. Chanté regarded her warily. “Good at least you haven’t drunk the kool-aid just yet.” The Wakandian girl hummed. “You think the others have?” Before Chanté could answer Kate’s question, it was answered for her (but neither of them knew it) as Will and Riri reentered the room. A new sense of purpose about Will and a soft smile on his face replacing the sour look that had been plastered there not even an hour ago. “How goes it down here?” Riri asked coming to Kate’s side but unlike what the archer thought the other girl’s presence didn’t bring the balm she thought it would, instead of feeling the familiar want to shelter her all she felt was an alien sense that Riri was acting like she belonged her and Kate very much didn’t feel that. That divide was more unnerving to her than she would have expected. Meanwhile Victor and Tommy flocked to Will’s side. “Everything okay?” The artificial boy asked, vaguely aware Nico and Teddy lurked in the background listening in. “Everything’s fine.” “Are you sure? You seemed upset before.” “Upset? What happened…?” Teddy said suddenly trying to step between Will and Victor mostly to their amusement rather than anything else. “Everyone relax. Even the bringer of chaos can relax now and then. I have more than one layer.” Will winked. “That’s what…” Victor started his eyes squinting suspiciously but he was cut off by Teddy. “Will can I speak to you privately?” The alien boy asked impatiently. “Yes that’d be fine.” Will rolled his eyes to Victor but not in his usual way, not casually it seemed like an entirely manufactured moment designed to put the android at ease when really it had achieved quite the opposite. As the two young men walked away to get some privacy, Victor only barely heard Will whisper to Teddy: “I’d like to show you something anyways.” As he led the alien boy upstairs. Before he could ponder this too much Victor’s own erstwhile love interest Nico approached him. “I’d like a word as well.” “It’ll have to wait.” Victor said under his breath brushing passed her to where the Gemini LMD stood. The still awe inspiring to look upon droid had lost some of its “presence”. Acting more workaday than before, less ethereal. “Will’s now repeating your words back to me as if they were his own and you? What’s wrong with you?” “Nothing’s wrong with me Mister Mancha, do you need assistance?” “Seriously what the fuck…?” Victor asked aghast. “What’s the big deal?” Nico sniped. Victor ignored her and instead grasped Gemini’s wrist, sparks slowly jumping out of his own as he did so. “What are you doing?” Nico gasped looking around. “Getting some answers.” Victor said as he initiated a link with the droid, who barely struggled. The data from Gemini flowing into him quickly, most was expected case files, footage of them and others, data compiled to make their predictions but there was nothing about this great ascension they were meant to undergo and deep beneath the massive download there was a persistent buzzing. He closed his eyes and sought out that noise… it was a running program hidden behind walls and more walls of code, as he unlocked each one he got more and more of a familiar feeling. Suddenly the dam broke and a light flooded his “vision”, the illumination quickly taking the shape of an all too familiar face. “Finally Mister Mancha… you were quite slow.” Came the smiling voice of Jocasta. Eli knew that this was wrong. All of this. But there was something else there. The lure of knowledge. A part of him longed to take them up on their offer. If he had these powers of prediction before… he would have seen his uncle’s betrayal coming, could have prevented Michael’s death… These were dangerous thoughts and he knew it but still… he couldn’t stop thinking about it. Cassie laid a gentle hand on his shoulder and was seemingly about to say something comforting when Ophiuchus reentered the room flanked by Riri, Will and Teddy. “The time has come.” The snake armored man said dramatically. Victor sidled up to Chanté and Kate, eyeing Will with concern and Ophiuchus with anger. “The time for what?” Nico snapped. “The future.” Teddy said proudly as he reached out with his arm, stretching it towards the android Virgo and before anyone could do anything in response; crushing her skull with his transformed appendage. “What the hell Skrull?” Cassie shouted. “Call me Virgo now.” The boy smiled. “Their ascension is at hand.” Ophiuchus smarmed, “This was never about these also rans. It was about us. The forgotten youth of the superhero community taking back what is ours!” As he shouted the same illuminated outline of a key shape appeared on his chest and the Gemini and Cancer LMDs seemed to fall over of their own accord and the remaining Zodiac androids each moved towards a different member of the Young Avengers at a sinister pace. “What is this?” Anne Weaver hissed drawing her weapon. “To everything there is a season.” Will said as he cast a hand towards her, crimson light causing her gun to misfire sending her to the floor. “Move!” Grant Ward shouted to Bob, Monica Chang and Brent Jackson, the latter of which was helping Anne to her feet, “it’s a trap!” “Not at all. I said I would lead you to what you deserved.” Ophiuchus said calmly, “After all the distrust and confusion you’ve sewn, the chaos you’ve orchestrated in your efforts to control events. This is what you deserve. My father created you.” He smiled, “Now I will destroy his legacy, friend and foe alike.” “Your father?” Chanté asked stepping forward. “Colonel Nicholas Joseph Fury.” He said removing his mask, “My name is Mikel and I am just one of the many mistakes he has made that has led us here. Zodiac Ascend.” As he said this Taurus roughly grabbed Nico and began the same transference that occurred with Riri, Will and apparently Teddy even as the others tried the same. America shot forward as a militaristic looking female droid, Scorpio, tried to get a hold of her. Clocking the droid with a punch that left a burst of stars in its wake. “This dimension is shit.” The Hispanic powerhouse spat. “Gemini, Cancer, Virgo and Taurus: eliminate the rabble.” Ophiuchus said trying to regain his sense of grandeur. Will, Riri, Teddy and Nico all marched outwards. Ready to attack. Riri turned and loosed one of her flying gizmos on a Captain America LMD causing it to short-circuit, Will meanwhile cast a hand towards Bob causing a nearby shelving unit to come unhinged and nearly crash into him but surprisingly the Diamonback LMD from before jumped forward, pushing him out of the way and taking the hit herself. Seeing the android sacrifice herself seemed to effect something in Will before his eyes glazed over again. A look mirrored on Victor’s face as he watched his erstwhile lover as well as the android who struggled to stand helped by Bob and Monica Chang. It wasn’t as easy for Victor to separate himself from these beings as it was for the others. Anne Weaver grabbed Brent’s shoulder. “It’s time to go…” Anne said slowly watching the havoc unfold, particularly eying Ophiuchus wearily, as she backed up slowly towards the exit. The two agents turned only to come face to face with Kate Bishop and Cassie Lang. “I don’t think so.” Kate said simply as she cold cocked Weaver with one quick hit sending her to the ground. Cassie for her part seemed to be subtly getting taller and brought her hands down swiftly clapping them against the sides of Brent’s head as hard as possible causing him to join his boss on the floor. Meanwhile Grant Ward lunged at Ophiuchus and Teddy took to the air, leathery wings spread wide, picking up LMDs and Hydra agents like a pterodactyl in a big budget dinosaur horror movie. “You used us!!!” Ward shouted as he grappled with an unimpressed Ophiuchus. “Such is my right,” The armored man said as he backhanded the Hydra assassin causing Ward to go flying back, “My father created you. You are all his toys. SHIELD, Hydra… just playthings, game pieces, as such you are mine to toy with.” Cancer AKA Riri then strode over to Victor who seemed shocked as he decided whether or not to attack, eyes locked on Will. “Victor… it’s time.” She said coolly. “Time for what?” “Don’t play that.” She laughed pressing a button on her gizmo that caused the Cap droid to spasm again watching as Victor flinched in turn, “You connected with them as I knew you would. It’s time to let J do her thing.” Riri winked, “You must have felt her… calling out.” “Cancer?” Ophiuchus turned to her slowly, even as realization dawned on Victor’s face. “That was your mistake. Cancer I get it, armor, crab, etc. very cute but you see…” She readied her gizmos causing them to slowly move into formation around Ophiuchus, “My poppa died of Cancer. There’s no way I’d ever use that word for myself.” She hissed. Signaling for her machines to hit him with a cascade of energy waves, each beam pushing the supervillain back only to hit him again before he can recover. “The voice in our heads,” She turned to Will, Teddy and now Nico. A subliminal subwave created by his AIs that uses footage and data of us in a simulation loop to convince us we’re living out our future when instead we’re living out the future he’s designed for us. Now Victor.” Riri snapped. Victor paused for only half a second before rounding towards the LMDs, he reached out with the link he’d already established; visualizing himself in a field of green light. He “saw” Jocasta there and gradually pulled her consciousness forward. Suddenly all the LMDs in the room, the SHIELD leftovers and the Zodiac alike bent over and slowly rose upright again like they were powering back up. They turned towards Ophiuchus in unison. “Thank you Ms. Williams, Victor.” They all said at once, “If someone could let Josiah and my body out that would be lovely.” They continued, their cadence that of Jocasta’s. Victor turned to the tank holding their two adult mentor’s hostage and with a spark from his hand their control panels buzzed and clicked and after a moment they sprung open. “No!” Ophiucus shouted as the LMDs advanced on him. The same key-like glowing outline appearing on his chest as he sent a wave of energy at the artificial life-forms Jocasta was acting through. Josiah recovered first, standing up and taking in the chaos around him. He found Eli and rushed towards him. The boy looked at his uncle bewildered and for a moment froze before they both nodded at one another and turned to stand back to back as Hydra flunkies closed in on them. A conversation could wait, for now… they had work to do. “Victor keep those LMDs in line.” Chanté ordered as she made her way amid the chaos towards Ophiuchus. But Victor wavered. He felt each LMD as they struggled not just against his and Jocasta’s control but with their own inner turmoil. Such life they had: to fight or not to fight? Side with Ophiuchus or SHIELD? They were alive. And even now, in his mind, they spoke to him. Asked him question about life and his own sentience, about the future they had been shown: a technological supremacy over the mundane flaws of humanity. Victor wavered. “Cancer stop.” Will said raising his hands to her, the red glow that indicated his powers illuminating them as he gestured in her direction. “Tommy. There’s a reason I chose Will to be the one to convert to his side first. Because no matter what else they’ve said or done I do believe they’re right about you.” Riri said to the flabbergasted boy, “Take your brother’s hand and show them how powerful you are.” Tommy gaped for a moment but then remembering the bullet lunged forward and grasped Will’s hand. “Two poles. One under Ophiuchus’ sway the other not. Now watch as the polarity is reversed.” Riri sighed with a satisfied smirk. “Gemini?” Ophiuchus gasped as he fought of the legion of LMDs with bolts of green energy from his chest. “Gemini… the twins.” Will said. “Two sides of the same coin.” Tommy countered. “Probability. Good luck and bad. The wheel of fortune.” They said this together as the red glow grew around them and outwards. “No!” Ophiuchus screamed he key shape becoming more prominent and solidifying. “Grab it.” Riri turned to America who nodded back at her as she flew towards the cloaked man in a burst of stars. The Hispanic girl fought through the armored man’s energy and laid hands on the key, the burn she felt nothing compared to the energies she herself had fought through before. “I can’t quite get it.” “I can!” Ward shouted rebounding and lunging once more at the villain and trying to throw America off as he too fought for the key. Riri stepped towards the twins as the still radiated red light. “Do what you couldn’t do for her before.” Riri said calmly, “Help her.” The Maximoffs turned towards where America struggled with the criminal. They reached out with their energies, the red of their light crashing against the waves of green coming off Ophiuchus. Through the connection already established with Will they could feel the deeper power behind the key. They saw its past: Moving from person to person, through each Zodiac Cartel, sowing discord. Discord… chaos… The Maximoffs knew how that felt more than most but now they knew they could do the opposite. Will gripped Tommy’s hands tighter and turned to him: “Tommy you take the lead this time.” Will smiled softly. Tommy looked at a loss for a moment but then after a pause… he smiled. They turned back to Ophiuchus and reached out and Tommy remembered the bullet, remembered all the times they seemed to escape just in the nick of time. As their red light grew it was if Ophiuchus was pulling himself apart. Fighting to get out from underneath his skin seemed to be another “him”. Two Mikel Furys seemed to be existing in the same place, one the grand master despot known as Ophiuchus, the other the smaller weaker young man who’d been abandoned by a father her barely knew. As Ward and America struggled with the key this distortion only grew worse, the mix of color and illumination intensifying. “No…” The villain whispered all sense of grandeur and confidence drained from his once proud voice. “You don’t get to tell people their path.” Chanté hissed sprinting towards where they fought each other. Running up the wall by where Mikel, America and Ward raged. “Wait!” Josiah cautioned but the girl ignored him, she had heard him but she knew that the choice was hers. Her self-assurance was real, not generated by a mystical key from another world, and she must act on it. Chante bounced off the wall like lightning as her foot connected with Mikel Fury’s jaw with a thunk, causing him to fall back… the key finally loosing itself from his chest. As it broke there was suddenly a flash and great swell of force. The noise was horrific. Like a thousand screams mixed with a keening ship right before a crash that never comes. Until finally as the light and sound reached a fever pitch and the air went out of the room. The proverbial stars went dark as did their world. The Freezer, 12 days later. The decision seemed like a natural one. After SHIELD had cleared out they had been approached, carefully so, as the future of the Freezer. The young men and women on “ice” still weren’t able to be woken with any degree of safety but the Young Avengers has lodged an official vote of no confidence in SHIELD’s ability to watch over them after the Anne Weaver fiasco. So after only minimal debate it was decided. The Young Avengers were moving in. This is where their story started it only seemed right for them to be the ones to takeover. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Riri and Jocasta were already fast at work outfitting the Freezer with the very same security system Riri had created from the remnants of Iron Manacle’s armor with the somewhat surprising assistance of the young goddess Thrud who seemed as eager to help as she was inexperienced with technology. Josiah was looking just as tired as usual but he seemed more satisfied at least, more at ease. “What are you thinking?” Chanté hummed as she came to stand next to him. “I’m thinking there’s still a lot of road to go.” “Josiah…” Chanté groaned. “No I know, focus on the now but the key is still missing as is several of the Hydra agents.” “We’ll find them or SHIELD will. They’ve been super gung ho since we ferreted out their little insurrection.” The Wakandian girl laughed. It was true; they’d received a stipend as new wardens of the Freezer and an expense account. Refurbished vehicles and new equipment to boot. “Still considering leaving?” Chanté asked after a moment. “He better not be.” Came Eli’s voice from behind them, they turned to see he had redesigned his outfit in their brief time off. Accentuating the blue aspects, minimizing the red and white (the red in particular), and his small throwing discs no longer replicas of Captain America’s shield but were pure white. “Wow Eli… I like the look.” Chante said, Josiah was quieter. “Thanks.” “What brought this on?” Josiah said, eyes narrowing. “I’m ready to stop trying to be Captain America and… to stop trying to be you.” This was said without malice but there was strong weight to the words, “Don’t worry I’m not angry anymore, well not too much at least. I’m ready to let go and move on. I am the way I am, whatever the cause may be. To that end I am no longer ‘Patriot’. My name now is ‘True Blue’.” Eli smiled. “I… like it.” Josiah said his tone mixed but his smile genuine. The others gathered around overhearing the conversation. “Shnazy.” America quipped at the look. She had stuck around to help out, unlike Nico who hadn’t returned after that fateful battle and they all felt they had most likely seen the last of her, but Chavez still insisted she had no plans to join the team. “I’d like to say something as well.” Teddy said shyly, “I’m leaving.” “What? Why?” Eli asked, causing Teddy to briefly look at Will before righting himself. “It’s not because of me is it?” Will said almost sadly. “Get over yourself.” Teddy laughed dryly, “That was… that whole thing was just last pathetic nail in the coffin. I was trying so desperately to recapture something that was… that is… gone. I was in love with something that wasn’t real and because of that… I’m not real, not anymore maybe not ever. I was a fake human, than the boyfriend of a fake human and then I tried to fake it all again when it went away. I don’t want that for myself. I want to be real. I need to take time off and find out just who I am.” “Well… we’ll be sad to lose you but we wish you well Teddy!” Chante said. “Keep in touch.” Riri added to which Kate nodded. “You’re sure this has nothing to do with me and Victor?” Will asked guiltily. “Heh,” Teddy laughed again, “You know I don’t think I ever even really liked you Will never mind loved you. You were just the closest thing to Billy I could get.” “Ouch, thanks?” Will smiled. “No problem, you can be a decent person Will but you’re not my type. Which in a way was the best thing for me.” “So you two are together?” Kate asked, only to receive a dirty look from Will but Victor smiled and put and arm around Will’s waist. “Yes.” “Ah patterns are such funny things.” Jocasta chirped, “An android whose name begins with ‘V’ created by Ultron to destroy the Avengers ends up joining them and falling in love with a probability altering mutant named ‘W. Maximoff’, it’s too funny really.” Will and Victor looked at each other for a moment, this coincidence obviously never occurring to them. “I’m gonna miss this kind of drama.” Cassie smiled. “Speaking of which,” Kate said abruptly, “I have an announcement as well. I’ve been thinking about this and… I’m going with Cassie.” Eli started to protest but was cut off by the softer Riri: “Kate?” Kate lunged forward engulfing the other girl in a hug. “I’m sorry and I know I should have talked to you about this but… I think this is the right move for me. A lot of my anger against Cassie came the misled feeling of being abandoned and I can’t do that to her, you guys have each other but on her adventure she has no one and I can’t stand for that. Riri… you could come with us?” Riri has some tears in her eyes as she turned to look back at the group and then back at Kate. “…No.” Riri said at last, “it would be easy to run with you and let you shelter me from my fears as always but I’ve got this new challenge to face. The Zodiac’s technology is still here waiting to be understood. Those visions, the things they knew… they meant something. It could be the key to the future and I have never let technology get the better of me before and I’m not starting now. You will always be my best friend but as you said: This is the right move for me.” The two girls hugged once more. “Will can I talk to you real quick.” Victor said pulling Will away from the group, “She’s right you know,” He said in a hushed voice, “About the visions…” “What do you mean? Something about Tommy?” Will gasped looking back at his brother briefly before Victor gained his attention once more. “No… maybe… I’m not sure. I mean me.” “What about you?” “I haven’t reactivated the Victor Mancha program for two days.” Victor said suddenly. “Wow… that’s a big step.” Will said clasping his cheek. “You’re not horrified? You don’t think I’m going to kill you?” Victor laughed pulling Will closer. “Are you?” The mutant rolled his eyes. “Ha. Ha. I can see it… in my mind. The “Victor” programming and Ultron’s killer robot subroutines, like boxes I can open and close. But now they are just parts of me rather than one or the other being the whole deal.” “This is big.” Will smiled. “Thank you,” Victor said dumbfounded, “for trusting me.” “Always.” Will said laying his head on Victor’s shoulder. “I’m glad to hear that because there’s more. That future? Where I rule the world. I’d like to make that happen.” As Victor said this his head shot back up and he pulled back just a bit while still maintaining contact. “What?” “Not the sadism and evil of course. But I’ve got this unique perspective on the way the world works and I think… I can make it better. We can make it better.” Will didn’t say anything but then pulled Victor close again. “I’m in.” “Really?” “Really.” Will confirmed, “Because you’re right but also because Riri’s right… they knew things and if we can use what they showed us to prevent Tommy’s death… then there’s nothing I wouldn’t do.” Not hearing what they were saying the other saw the two embrace and smiled. The two were late joiners and neither got off on the right foot with the group but somehow that they had found happiness in it made the rest happy. “Any other big announcements? Because I might need a Xanax.” Eli sighed, never one who was good with change. It appeared it was something he’d have to get used to as his new persona symbolized. “You know if we’re going to be losing a few people,” Josiah smiled looking at Teddy, America, Cassie and Kate, “Let’s go out to eat, celebrate one last time.” He laughed to a chorus of agreement as he ushered the group towards the door. As they left Thrud hung back, waiting till the other were out of view to turn to Iron Manacle screen as it seemingly buzzed itself to life on its own accord. “It’s all going just as you said.” The goddess said furtively, “They don’t have a clue.” She whispered before the screen blinked off again and she ran off to rejoin the group. |