The night was young and Nicole wasn’t doing a damn thing with it.  She was sitting at the doorstep of Avengers Mansion and looking up at the stars.  That was where she drew her power yet; she had always felt uncomfortable up there.  She could take drugs, thugs, guns and other Earth centered criminals.  Fighting clones and alien wars made her just feel like she was playing some big video game.

Okay not exactly the best explanation.  Too many have died for it to be compared to that, Binary thought grimly as she remembered how Proctor so ruthlessly decimated the Shi’ar Empire.  He killed their Empress without a care and her limply hanging body still haunted Nicole’s nightmares.  Thor had thrown her head first into the world of super heroes and she loved him for it.  The man had given her a chance when she didn’t even deserve one.  He trusted in her and by doing so allowed her to turn her life around.

Now, she was seeing the fruits of her labor and could only guess at whether she should eat of them.  Part of her screamed to take the offer, but she didn’t want to throw her teammates into politics.  She may not have been fond of all of them, but they were the closest thing she had to real friends.  All her life people pretended to befriend her for sex, money, or some other personal gain.  The Avengers wanted none of that.  They treated her with respect and dignity.  It would be utterly wrong of her if she did not do the same.

“Why stare at them when you can meet them up close and personal?” Jack asked as he walked up behind Binary.  The Avenger tried to stay out of the Mansion as much as possible.  Quoi being in there just made him sick to his stomach.  That murder’s protection was a vile injustice.

“Surprised you’re up this late,” Binary replied.

Jack sat down next to Binary and suddenly the night seemed calmer for both of them.  “You shouldn’t be.  I flew for days at a time up there.  I can control my sleeping habits.”

Nicole laughed.  “Whatever happened to good ol’ insomnia?”

“So last year.  Don’t you know we Avengers have to develop a new personal problem every season?”

“As long as you avoid trying to get a Nicole Richie look I can deal with the other issues,” Binary smiled.

There was a bit of silence between the two until Jack asked, “So do you think it’s crazy how we got replaced by X-Men?”

Binary sighed.  “I knew you were going to bring it up eventually.  Butters you that much huh?”

Jack shrugged.  “Not really.  I just think it’s a bit crazy.  Doesn’t seem like something Cap would do.”

“Name one person on this team who’s been acting normal?”

“You,” Jack quickly answered.

“Like hell!  If I had been, I would have cussed a few folks out by now,” Binary joked.

“Yea…”

“Red Skull screwed us over good didn’t he?” Binary sighed.

“Wish I could answer no.  He beat the hell out of us.  The fact he’s out there laughing somewhere pisses me off.”

Binary nodded.  “Same here.  Just imagine how Cap feels?  That man is the definition of being your own worst critic.”

Once again, Jack shifted the area of conversation.  “So just why are you out here by yourself anyway?”

“Contemplating.”

“Ahh, contemplating is always good.”

Binary smiled and shook her head.  “You were supposed to ask what I was contemplating about, smart ass!”

“What a woman thinks is territory I rather not tread.”

Nicole play punched him in the shoulder.  Jack grabbed his arm in mock pain and said, “That could get you a counseling you know?  Injuring teammates is strictly forbidden.”

“Looks like I’m not the only one trying to break that rule,” Binary said.

“Can we please not talk about him?”

“Fine.  How was the Japan stay?”

“Humbling.”

“That’s it?  No Godzilla?  No Mothra?”

“Red Skull and his men were thorough in what they wanted to do.  Sunfire blames himself for our defeat.  He feels his quick temper took him out of the battle too early when he could have made a difference,” Jack-of-Hearts said.

“You know he’s probably right.”

“Oh c’mon!  We all share the blame for that battle.  Cap shouldn’t have went off alone for one!”

Binary could see she was going to have to explain herself better. “All I’m saying is some self reflection isn’t a bad thing.  Shiro, if the stories are true, has to be one of the most stubborn men on the planet.  He’ll cope with this.”

Jack decided to let it go. “Yea, guess you’re right.  So what were you contemplating?”

“The NAACP wants me to be their “super” spokesman,” Binary said.

If Jack had any opinion at all he didn’t let it show.  “So what are you going to do?  Sounds like quite the opportunity.”

“I don’t have the slightest clue what I want to do.  If I say yes I’m throwing the Avengers into a hot bed of politics.  If I say no I might be given another opportunity to make real, positive change.  Then again I’ve never been good at playing nice and I’m sure some of the members will bump heads with me.  I get enough of that with Panther.”

“I’m sure he loves you too,” Jack grinned.

Binary rolled her eyes.  “Don’t even play.  That ass is the last person on Earth I would EVER be a fan of.”

Jack understood and even shared some of Binary’s resentment towards T’Challa.  The man had essentially told a group of Avengers that they weren’t getting the job done.  He had pointed to Milwaukee as an example, but Wakanda had never lifted a finger against Doom.

Standing up Jack looked at the stars and said, “You’ll make the right decision Nicole.  I have faith in you.”

X-51 had been standing at the edge of the balcony for almost two hours without moving.  Andromeda had passed by him three times and was beginning to wonder if the robotic unit was experiencing some sort of malfunction.  She finally walked out onto the balcony and tapped X-51 on the shoulder.  It was surprisingly cold. 

“Are you alright?”

::Yes.  I am merely processing thoughts::

“Then I’m a fool,” Andromeda laughed.  “I thought you were looking at the stars.”

::I was.  My mind allows me to process over a thousand activities at once.  I am also reading all of George Martin’s books simultaneously.::

Andromeda was always baffled at the nature of X-51.  Machines were hardly uncommon in Atlantis, but she wasn’t sure how to look at her teammate.  He was no mere machine.  At times he almost seemed human, but when you got right to the core of it he was merely metal and wires.  Didn’t that constitute a mere machine?

“In Florida you were made into a flesh and blood human.  What was it like?” Andromeda asked.

X-51 turned to her with eyes that were cold and haunting.  ::It was frightening and beautiful all at once.  I honestly have no words.::

“I’m sorry she did that to you.  It wasn’t right.”

“No words can explain how mad Captain America is about the existence of this team,” Everett Ross said in front of an assembled Avengers Africa.

The team was seated around a circular, brown table.  Seated directly from Ross was Doc Diamond, the leader of Avengers Africa.  He took off his square pink glasses and set them on the table.  Doc wanted Ross to be able to see his eyes and see how serious he was when he said, “To be frank, I really don’t give a damn what Captain America thinks about this team.”

Twister slapped the table and exclaimed, “That’s what I’m talking about!  The Avengers over in America have never paid any attention to the strife of Africa. We’re getting more help from Genosha than we have ever received from them.  Why the hell should we be concerned with how they might feel about us?”

“Because they might try and shut us down.  Isn’t that right Ross?” Seraph explained.  He folded his large, muscular arms across his chest and awaited Everett’s answer.

The young man nodded.  “I have a feeling if T’Challa doesn’t wake up soon they’ll make a move.  Cap is pissed and he’s going through a lot of personal shit.  He might not be making exactly sound decisions.”

Doc Diamond put on his glasses and stood up from his table.  “Well, then it’s your job to make one thing very clear to them Ross.  If they even attempt such a move I’ll be knocking right on Magneto’s door.  Best believe he’s dying for an opportunity to help solidify his positive position in Africa.  Fighting off Americans trying to shut down an African team would do just that.”

The Iranian men nervously pointed their guns at the three approaching men.  It was obvious they were superhumans from their flashy uniforms, but none of the men were familiar with any of them.  At the head of the group was an officer of the Republican Guard who cried out, “Stop where you are and prepare for arrest!”

At the head of the group was a man wearing a metallic red helmet and long red gloves that came up past his elbows.  A bit of red armor descended down from his helmet and reached over his pectorals.  Two red straps wrapped around his back from that point and connected to his crimson pants. 

Eric the Red sighed and said, “Oh I can’t stand these simpletons!  Sundown.”

The man standing next to Eric nodded and rose into the air.  He was a handsome blonde with black glasses and white bodysuit that had a large red ring in the middle of it.  Sundown had black gloves and boots to match.  When he rose high enough into the air orange solar power poured out of those hands and slammed into the Iranian men.  Only burning husks were left after the assault.

“Thank you,” Eric said as Sundown touched the ground.

Turning to his other companion Eric smirked.  “Now it’s your turn Phat.  I desire some information from this particular oil refinery.”

Phat nodded from underneath his gray sweat suit and said, “Weapons tech?”

“Something like that.  Now go and use your talents to get us into this facility before the authorities arrive.”

The three walked over the burnt bodies and walked up three flights of stairs until they were at an entranceway of the refinery.  Phat walked up the keyhole and stuck out his finger.  The finger stretched outward and shaped itself into the specific key needed to access the door.  With a quick turn the door was open and Eric patted the wayward mutant on the back for a job well done. 

“It’s the Americans!  It’s the Americans!” a Venezuelan man cried out as a large mass struck into the oil refinery he had worked at for nearly 10 years.  The sound of bristling fire and exploding metal filled his ears.  He instinctively dove to the ground and narrowly missed a large chunk of shrapnel slamming into his head.

In truth, that large mass was really an alien by the name of Ry’Lor.  He was an ancient warrior who had made it his mission to make the world better for all.  This decision was one he came to after an encounter with Moonstar and the mutant team known as X-Force.  Now he was putting this decision into action by the side of Eric the Red.

Things were simple for Jack.  Quoi didn’t belong here.

He didn’t deserve to be here.  Billions had died by his hand.

Jack’s people.  Innocent people.

He was going to betray them.  Cap should have seen it.

Jack could kill him now.  They would thank him for it.

The Contraxians deserved justice.  How could he do it?

What made him think it was okay?  The bastard.

Jack watched the bastard.  Playing crazy.

Ha!  The murderer knew what he was doing.

Hart sighed.  “You’re going to get yours.  Just not tonight.”

The Next Day

As always Captain America was the first to step into one of Ross’s briefings because despite how mad he was with Ross, Steve Rogers was still a punctual man.  And secretly, Steve was hoping that Ross had some new information on The Red Skull.  Every single time he thought about Japan he was filled with renewed fury.  That monster would pay for what he did to his little girl.

The last Avenger to make it into the briefing room was Quicksilver.  He had been spending time with his sister and would not cut it short for anything, except a dire emergency.  One of Ross’ briefings was definitely not one of those situations.

Ross smiled smugly at Pietro.  “Glad to see you could make it.”

“Just hurry and get this over with you twit,” Pietro said.

“I’ll do my best,” Ross laughed as he walked around the table and handed everyone a manila folder.  “If you’ll look at those you’ll see some nasty little things have been going on in the past few hours.”

Captain America flipped through the pictures.  “Venzeula.  Iran.  The Gulf Coast.”

“All places where oil is located.  So who did the deeds?  Do we think they’re connected?” She-Hulk asked.

X-51 looked up.  ::If you turn on your television I think you’ll find out the answer to that question::

Ross turned around and reached up to press a button that turned on a large plasma screen.  Plastered on the center of the television was Eric the Red.  Behind him was a scenery of flames and black smoke.

“If you look behind me I’m sure you’ll see that something just blew up.  An oil refinery my friends and I intend to destroy every last one unless every nation on this planet decides to hand over all nuclear weapons and military intelligence to Factor Three.  Don’t mistake this as a game because it’s not.  I have no illusions of world domination.  Just world unity and as I’m sure the United States understands, no peace can be achieved without great sacrifice.  I’ll give the nations of Earth two days to deliver on my demands.  Otherwise your energy sources will be crippled and anarchy will ensue.”

Captain America balled up his fists in anger.  Another megalomaniac with delusions of power.  He was no better than The Red Skull.  At least Skull had the decency to admit he was a monster.  This man pretended to have actually want peace.  The Avengers were going to take him down and take him down very hard. 

“Oh and just so I don’t have a complete message I would like to end with something a bit positive.  Stay in school kids.  Maybe you can learn to listen to sense.”

With the end of the transmission Everett turned to the Avengers.  “Guess that’s just about all the briefing you guys need.”

The infirmary room was still.  Nothing moved.  Only the beeps and twerps of machinery were audible.  Then there came forth a scream

Begin Interlude

I lost to the Avengers.  Many can probably lay claim to that title, but I felt like I was the biggest loser of all.  I watched as Red Skull and his forces made fools of the Avengers.  I still curse the fact that couldn’t be me.  To see the looks of utter defeat and humility on the faces of the Avengers must have been priceless.  Victory had been so close for me, but it slipped away in those last precious moments.

Who is to blame for that defeat?  I don’t like to lay blame.  It is not the way of a Roman legionnaire to act so individualistically.  Admittedly, I blame myself despite that philosophy.  The Avengers humbled me just as Black Panther and the Fantastic Four before them.  Roman blood still flows through me.  I can’t help but to feel rage.  Can I be blamed for that?  If only Mars had given me the strength I needed at that pivotal moment.  The Earth would have been made over in mine and Calizuma’s image.  I would have been Emperor of a Rome more massive than any ever known.

But, there is one important lesson to be found in Red Skull’s victory.  Persistence is rewarded and for those strong enough it is rewarded handsomely.  For Red Skull had suffered many a defeat by the hand of Earth’s shortsighted “heroes”.  Yet, he found opportunity and pounced on it.  I shall do the same.  An opportunity is fast approaching. I can feel it. 

The Avengers surrounded the hospital bed of Moondragon and each was trying to assess the situation in their own way.  A previously comatose teammate had suddenly and quite excitedly woke up.  Heather was claiming to know where Eric the Red was.  Only hours ago the leader of Factor 3 declared no source of oil would be safe unless all the world’s military secrets were handed over to him within three days.  It was hardly a veiled threat.  Factor 3 had already struck refineries in Iran, the Gulf Coast, and Venezuela.  All the Avengers had seen the pictures and the attacks were thorough.  The refineries had been burnt to the ground.  Nothing was left.

“How were you able to find Eric the Red?” Pietro asked a bit skeptical of Heather’s claim. Everyone was just so happy to have Heather back that they didn’t take the time to ask the tough questions.  How did she know Eric the Red?  Why in her comatose state did she reach out to him?

Heather scowled at Pietro.  She felt his scrutiny and took offense to it.  “I did not reach out to him.  Someone reached out to me.  Obviously, this is a trap, but they claim to have my cousin, Sundragon, captured.”

Captain America put a hand to his chin and said, “Sundragon and you share similar abilities?”

“Yes.  I can’t be sure, but I think Pamela may have stumbled across this fiend’s plot.”

“We’re assuming, when we need to know.  This opponent is well organized and has a plan.  All of this could be a big ruse.  If we plan to do combat with him we must be the same way,” Andromeda said.

“She’s right.  Tell us what you know Heather and we’ll plan accordingly from there.  We need to hurry though.  Time is working against us here,” Captain America ordered.

“Do you think they will come?” Ry’lor asked

Eric the Red swiveled in his chair and rose from it.  He walked down four steps that were the entrance to the platform he was seated on and said, “Oh they were going to come regardless.  We could potentially be dealing with any number of supers considering the scope of my threat.”

Sundown was standing next to the massive Ry’lor and looked like a string in comparison.  Adjusting his sunglasses he said, “The Saudis have The Janissaries and Genosha has its own oil trade going.  Those could be two significant enemies outside of the normal ones.”

Eric the Red nodded.  “Yes, Magneto would be the farther things from pleased if I struck.  I’ve already invited the Avengers into my den.  It wouldn’t be wise to send Magneto an invitation as well.”

A robust, young black woman was standing in a corner of the complex with her arms folded across her chest.  She had curly, short black hair and full lips.  Human-sized fly wings protruded from her back and the incandescent lights of the room made their translucent nature all the more apparent.  When she heard mention of Genosha she said, “The Fallen Angels would get their asses kicked!  Bring them and the punk Avengers on!”

“Angel, your enthusiasm is appreciated, but save it for the fight ahead.  We have a long road in front of us, but with strength like yours I have faith it will work out for the best,” Eric replied.  His cause was a righteous one and it had to succeed.  He had already suffered defeat twice before by the hands of Danielle Moonstar and her Force Works.  Unfortunately, luck would not be playing on Eric’s side.  The Avengers were a world class team and Factor 3 would have to be at the top of their game to compete with Earth’s Mightiest.

“Just let me fight Binary and we’re all good,” Angel replied.

“You’re kidding right?  No way could you ever handle Binary.”

That comment had came from Vivisector who, along with the rest of Factor 3, had entered into the communications room.  He didn’t mean for his comment to come across as harsh, but the truth was what the truth was.  Binary was a cosmically powerful weapon.  Angel on the other possessed flight capabilities and some acid regurgitation.  She was more than out of her league.

“Ahh shut up already!  We can handle whoever we wanna handle.  Long as we have Eric on our side,” Mondo said as he waved a hand to their leader.

What might have been a look of disappointment from Eric quickly turned into a smile, “Mondo is right.  Together we can achieve anything.  But we must make preparations.  Our foes will be here before long.”

“I have concocted finely detailed dossiers on all of the illustrious members of the current Avengers roster.  It would be best if you all studied them as soon as possible.  If any of you have difficulty reading,” Vivisector turned to look at Mondo, “then Ry’lor can easily telepathically implant the information into you.”

The slight drunk Gin Genie smiled goofily, “Then juice me up already Ry’lor.  If I’m going to pulverize these creeps I need to get a couple of more bottles of vodka in.”

Ry’lor looked concerned to Eric the Red, who simply nodded and said, “Once the fight starts Gin Genie will be under your full mental control, but I need her power.  I have a very definite use in mind for her abilities.”

The massive former alien warlord took Gin Genie’s hand and said gently, “Follow me then.”

“Is the captive ready?” Eric the Red asked.

 Shoc replied quickly, “Yes sir she’s ready.  Do you think she’ll cooperate?”

Laughter came forth from Eric the Red.  “My boy, she doesn’t have a choice.”

“And she doesn’t deserve one,” Vivisector added.

Angel glared at Vivisector viciously.  “And just who the hell decided you could determine that honey?!”

Shoc was forced to agree.  “Yea, Eric it just doesn’t feel right forcing her to do this.  Isn’t there a better way?”

Eric sighed as he could begin to see the doubt form into a murky black cloud.  He knew he was taking a risk with the capture of Sundragon and her subsequent use, but it was one he wasn’t turning back from.  Walking forward he put a hand on Shoc’s shoulder and said, “If there was you know I would have taken it.  You remember when I asked you to join this team?”

Fields nodded.  He remembered well.  Eric continued.  “I was told not to let you in.  That you were a risk and too wishy washy, but I took that risk anyway.  I trusted in you and you turned out beautifully.  All of you did.  Now trust me in.  That’s all I ask.”

Shoc really couldn’t find himself arguing with Eric.  If not for him, Fields would have exploded into a blast of negative energy already.  As it was, Eric had found a way to stop his imminent death and gave him a purpose in life beyond revenge.  He owed the man too much to start doubting him now.

“Alright Eric, I’ll do this your way, but as soon as we’re done I want to make it up to her somehow.”

The leader of Factor 3 nodded.  Fields had a gentle soul and a warrior’s spirit. The two sometimes clashed, but Eric was happy for the contrast.  He kept them human.  “I promise we’ll do something for her. She is no animal after all.”

Angel waited until it was just her and Shoc before she spoke again.  “Boy you should have stood your ground!  What Eric is doing to that woman is wrong!”

“And causing disasters to happen all over the world wasn’t?  C’mon Angel if we’re in this we gotta be in it all the way.  Bad things happen to good people all the time in this world.  We’re trying to stop that, but sometimes to do good you gotta do bad.”

The young woman pushed a finger into Shoc’s chest.  “Maybe so, but you can’t tell me this doesn’t make your stomach turn.  Eric respects you just as much as he does Ry’lor and Vivisector.  You should have tried to change his mind.  And to think I thought you had a backbone!”

“Ha!  And what were you doing to make it better?  Crossing your arms and pouting like you always do?  Hard choices have to be made Angel and I made one today.”

“Why couldn’t they have tried to kidnap me and wake up Wanda?” Pietro asked with all seriousness.  He hated seeing her sister in such a weakened state and what Phoenix had told him was frightening.  He needed his sister with him to save her from what could be a terrible fate.

“Maybe it has something to do with you being too fast to catch,” Everett joked. 

“You may think I’m being cruel, but I only want my sister back,” Pietro said as he painstakingly kept pace with Jennifer and the others.  It was internally agonizing not to just speed ahead of them.  He had struggled with his immense impatience with the world for years.  Becoming the leader of a group of X-Men made him grow a lot as a person, but being back with the Avengers was causing old frustrations to rise once more.  His sister’s injury agitated the situation more.

“I would love to have Wanda healthy again.  We all would, Pietro.  But don’t you think it a bit rude to wish ill will on Heather?” She-Hulk asked.

Pietro sighed.  “You’re right.  I honestly was hoping that screaming was Wanda.  Seeing Heather instead broke my heart.  Despite that, she is an Avengers and we’re going to need her.”

“Especially with that alien on Red’s team.  Imagine the Hulk with telepathy and you should get the picture,” Everett said.

“And you know all this how?” Andromeda asked ever suspicious of Ross since the Avengers Africa incident.

“I was finally able to get in contact with someone at the Work Tower.  They gave me the lowdown on Factor 3.”

She-Hulk rolled her eyes.  “Great...now those kinds think we’re bumming them for information.  As if their heads aren’t big enough already!”

“I like the one called Moonstar.  She seems to have a true warrior’s spirit,” Andromeda commented.

“Wiz Kid seems more like my kind of guy,” Ross said.

“You would say that,” Quicksilver groaned.  “That man is an ass.”

“You had Pyro on your team.  Not to mention Warren Worthington so-

“I’m fully qualified on what constitutes an asshole,” Pietro snapped.

She-Hulk laughed. “I think he has you there Ross.”

“Let’s just get this briefing over with already,” Everett said.

“You think we stand a chance against these guys?” Mondo asked as he stepped into the makeshift computer room that Vivisector had set up.  It was full of loose wires and blinking screens.  The wolfish looking mutant was sitting at one computer screen typing away.  He turned back to Mondo and gave a scowl. 

“Of course we stand a chance against them.  Why would you even ask that?” the former professor growled.

Mondo shrugged.  “We lost to Force Works.”

“We lost to Force Works and Factor X,” Vivisector corrected.  “Besides, Eric has made sure that we have some insurance in this fight.  And with the information I’ve compiled we shouldn’t have a problem taking them on.”

Before Mondo had a chance to respond a large boom resounded throughout the entire building.  Vivisector smiled at the Samoan youth and said, “It’s showtime!”

TO BE CONTINUED...