They were out in force, the members of the press. Set up inside the Avengers Mansion they waited with cameras and questions at the ready. At last, when the doublewide bay doors leading into the Public Conference Room opened, the flashbulbs popped and inquiries were hurled. They all came so fast and furiously that the recipient could only make out bits and pieces. Who was leaving the team and why? Were new members joining or previous Avengers simply returning? How did the team feel about recent lineup changes on the West Coast? What were their reactions to the recent events in Washington? Was she remaining with the team?

 

That last question She-Hulk managed to catch, and she felt safe in answering. “In a sense, yes. While I have stepped down from active field duty, I’ve agreed to serve as the Avengers’ liaison to the government.” This brought on another bevy of questions, but the gamma-powered alter-ego of Jennifer Walters shouted above the tumult. “No, this is not a position with our government. I am remaining with the Avengers in the capacity of lawyer, dealing with the government on their behalf. Instead of Uncle Sam communicating with the Avengers through a proxy, it is now the other way around. Any time a government official wants a word with the Avengers, they have to go through me.”

 

If She-Hulk that would have satisfied the journalists, she was wrong. Instead they kept at the questioning, and not simply about the line-up. Was it responsible for the Avengers to act more independently? Should a group of super-human individuals be operating without direct government supervision?

 

“If the men and women in Washington didn’t think so, they wouldn’t have agreed to this,” She-Hulk answered. Past relationships with government liaisons had often been less than ideal. So long as things go smoothly, nobody is objecting. And before you ask,” she continued loudly as a few more questions were being shouted, “I will be acting on behalf of the Avengers as a whole. This includes both branches, so most of my time will be spent in airport security.”

 

One journalist wondered who was going to lead the new lineup? Was Captain America stepping down as Chairperson?

 

“Now really, people, would this really be the Avengers without Captain America?”

 

---

 

“I’ve never been comfortable with that,” Captain America mused. Three stories below the mansion, he was listening to the press conference via an earpiece. “The Avengers were a legitimate, formidable team before I’d joined. And it remained so every time I left.”

 

“Perception is everything Steve,” Warbird told him. “The founding members all had solo careers before banding together. When you returned, the Avengers were just considered another team-up. But you held the team together during its first lineup change. You’re viewed as the glue holding us all together, like it or not.”

 

The two Avengers entered a chamber in the mansion’s lowest level. Inside the vast labyrinth was an underground lake connected to a tunnel that provided submarine access to the East River. Andromeda was waiting for them, her athletic blue form kneeling beside the lake. Also present in the chamber was an contingent of Atlantean soldiers and Llyron, an undersea villain who had recently attacked the surface world.

 

“Greetings,” Andromeda greeted Warbird and Captain America. “We are about ready to go.”

 

Though unable to talk through his restraints, Llyron was staring with hatred at the Avengers. One Atlantean noted this, and struck Llyron severely across the back of his head. “Eyes down, monster, or I’ll gouge them out.”

 

“Lay off, Captain,” Andromeda told Captain America when he opened his mouth to say something. “Under Atlantean law, this thing is guilty of thousands of murders. He is undeserving of mercy, and you have no leave to interfere.”

 

Though he didn’t exactly like it, Captain America nodded and kept his mouth shut. In spite of their best efforts of the Avengers to limit the loss of life, every single one of Llyron’s At’La’Tique had died in New Orleans. All had begun life as cloned fetuses and rapidly aged, but Llyron had made other alterations to the genetic code. As each of the At’La’Tique were subdued, their gills failed them and each suffocated in the water. All the Avengers had to do to keep the At’La’Tique alive was to allow them victory, and Captain America had made the hard choice to keep fighting.

 

“Interfere?” As she’d pummeled him, Warbird had shouted at Llyron to stop it. There had to have been a way to spare the At’La’Tique, but Llyron had refused and forced them all to die in battle. The sight of thousands of dead bodies floating in the water was something Warbird would never forget, and she had no sympathy for how Llyron was treated. “Hell, I plan to petition to participate in the execution.”

 

“Oh, no,” Andromeda informed them. “Distant though he may be, Llyron is part of the royal family. We’ll only torture him every day. Stop by sometime and you’ll get a turn at him.”

 

Llyron glared at Andromeda with hate, while Captain America looked away in discomfort. Whatever the man’s crimes, there was a line. “I wish you would reconsider coming back, Andromeda,” Captain America told her. “You’ve been a valuable addition to the team.”

 

“I am sorry, Captain, but King Namor had requested my return. This…thing still has supporters in the deep corners of the world. I am to lead the search for them. Perhaps when my task is done I will be reassigned to represent Atlantis here on the surface. However I understand that Stingray has agreed to act in my stead.”

 

Captain America nodded. “Yes, but he isn’t replacing you. At present, the Avengers don’t have a capable scientist on the roster, and Stingray fills the position admirably. His wife Diane will also be assisting us in a supporting capacity.”

 

“It’s fortunate that Stingray will have other things to do. I intend to make the oceans so safe you won’t ever be needed there.”

 

“Two-thirds of the world,” Captain America said with a smile. “That’s a lot of territory. Any time you need help.”

 

Andromeda shared the smile. “I am sure that Namor will appreciate it.”

 

“Commander,” one of the Atlanteans stated. “We must depart.”

 

“Yes, of course.” Andromeda stood up straight and extending a hand. Captain America grasped it warmly. “It was a pleasure serving with you.”

 

“Godspeed, Avenger.”

 

---

 

“No,” She-Hulk emphatically told the members of the press. “Quicksilver and Karnak have served together for a long time. We do not anticipate personal matters to affect their performance as Avengers.”

 

A brief flutter of air brushed She-Hulk, and before she’d placed it Quicksilver was already talking into the microphones. “Whatever occurred between my ex-wife and I is none of your business. As for Karnak, my opinion of him has always been low. Impressive though his skills may be, the man is powerless by his own foolhardy choice.”

 

“That’s enough.” She-Hulk grabbed Quicksilver hard and forced him back from the microphones. The press had just begun another flurry of questions. With a sigh, She-Hulk tapped the communicard under her jacket. “As much as I know you all enjoy Quicksilver’s colorful remarks, it’s now time for the main event. So ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, the Avengers!”

 

They seemed to almost appear out of nowhere. Six men and women had joined Quicksilver at the front of the room even as She-Hulk moved to the side. Except for a curt glance, Karnark’s eyes avoided Quicksilver. Between the two was Captain America, dead center in the group. Also at opposite sides were Stingray and Espirita, with Warbird and Binary at each end. Flashbulbs popped as cameramen raced to capture the iconic image of the Avengers Assembled.

 

Captain America alone stepped forward, and spoke into the mass of microphones. “Grave threats often plague our planet, threats that no single hero can handle alone. It was for this reason the Avengers formed, to combat those threats in the defense of all humanity. Our roster has changed many times, and have changed again today. This doesn’t mean that Avengers have abandoned the cause, but rather that new heroes have chosen to take up the honor.

 

“In the past, Warbird has served with distinction on both branches of Avengers, and has graciously agreed to join as my co-leader on the field. Espirita, perhaps known to many of you as Firebird, has long been a stalwart ally of the team, and it is with great pleasure that I grant her formal membership. Stingray is a well-respected member of the scientific community that provides specialized support within the team. As my teammate Quicksilver stated earlier, Karnak’s skill at hand-to-hand fighting is unmatched, as is his character.

 

“For almost as long as I’ve been with the Avengers, I have counted Quicksilver as a good friend and trusted ally. This is a man that has followed his heart and refused time and again to give in to hatred. We this seasoned veteran we have Binary, a young woman that has learned a great deal in her short time with the team. Her power is unmatched, and I have no doubt that in time you’ll all come to respect her as deeply as I do.”

 

Earlier, Warbird had swelled with pride at Captain America’s words. But with his assessment of Binary, particularly of her power, Warbird had noticeably bristled. Every other member of the team had silently reacted in their own way to Captain America’s words about them. And about their various teammates.

 

“The next time Earth faces a threat which no single hero can handle alone, rest easy. The call will be made.” Captain America raised his shield high. “Avengers Assemble!”

 

While the crowd could be heard going wild inside the mansion, two men observed quietly from behind the gate. One man, middle-aged with dark hair and dressed smartly in a very expensive suit, lit a cigarette and turned to the other. “Will this be a problem?”

 

The second man, his features hidden behind a hood pulled up over his head, chuckled. “Aren’t you watching? With new personnel, there’s a period of discomfort, uncertainty. A few of them already have problems with each other. If anything, this will make the operation easier.”

 

“Then we’ll move tonight. While my men are at the site you can-”

 

“Nuh uh.” The hooded man shook his head. There was a flash of white beneath the dark hood. “Read my contract again. I don’t go into the field. You’re men have been trained. That’s all I’ve been paid for.”

 

---

 

“And this is the mansion’s sub-basement, the true headquarters of the Avengers.” Edwin Jarvis, faithful butler to the Avengers led Stingray’s wife Diane Arliss-Newell. “All our computer and communication systems are housed here. Naturally, this is the most secure area in the whole mansion.”

 

Diane was treated to the magnificent site of reinforced steel walls, behind which was the Assembly Room where the Avengers would hold meetings. She followed Jarvis around the enclosed room, which was only accessible through the other elevator, and into the computer area on the other side of the sub-basement. Massive banks of memory filled half this area, and more had been near the elevator. The rest of the space contained the computers themselves.

 

“So this is where an Avenger on monitoring duty has to spend his time,” Diane stated. She had already seen the emergency medical facilities in the basement above.

 

“Yes, or myself when the team is away on missions,” Jarvis told her. “At times the long shifts can be quite exhausting, and more than once I’ve found an Avengers asleep in his chair. At least, that was how it used to be. With the communicards, one doesn’t have to be in this area all of the time.”

 

“Yes, I suppose I’ll be spending most of my time in the lower basement.” With her husband as a new member, Diane had also agreed to join the Avengers as a technician.

 

“Only slightly more time than in any other area. I try to make certain everybody is familiar with all aspects of the mansion.” Jarvis placed his eye over an electronic lock and a door behind the computers slid open. “Through here is the thermoelectric generator, the mansion’s main power supply, and the hydraulic lift.”

 

Behind them, the computers suddenly beeped to life and an alarm rang out. Jarvis turned around and towards them, startled but with a practiced deliberation. Camera images appeared on the monitors, and he observed these with worry on his face.

 

“There has been a security breach,” Jarvis declared. “Not here, fortunately,” he added for Diane’s benefit. “Most confiscated or out-dated equipment is stored at a facility elsewhere in the city. It would seem that a break-in is in progress.”

 

“Should we alert the team?”

 

“There’s no need. As I was saying earlier, the communicards are most remarkable.”

 

---

 

Quicksilver was first on the scene, having raced out of Avengers Mansion moments after his communicard had flashed. Only a short distance behind were flyers Warbird, Binary, Espirita and a gliding Stingray. The storage facility’s location was close enough that Captain America and Karnak would also be approaching on foot. However Quicksilver did not expect much of a threat, and expected to have the intruders subdued by the time his teammates arrived.

 

Unfortunately, while speeding between the two vans positioned outside the storage facility’s entrance, Quicksilver failed to notice the wire he tripped. Both vans exploded, the terrific heat and force striking Quicksilver from behind. He moved so fast the brunt of damage was avoided, but the Avenger was thrown off-balance and became easy prey for the intruders alerted by the explosion.

 

“He’s here!” One shouted. “As we practiced.”

 

The smoldering fires of the vans were meant to produce smoke more than anything, greatly limiting Quicksilver’s vision. While the intruders couldn’t exactly see him either, the volume of bullets fired into the smoke didn’t exactly need a precise target. Quicksilver dodged and weaved as rapidly as he could, but had little idea of where the bullets were until they struck him, resulting in a large number of painful grazes. It was with some cuts that Quicksilver ran out of the smoke, his lungs aching.

 

In the sky were visible the three flying female Avengers. Warbird, Binary and Espirita flew over the storage facility, Warbird circling around while Binary and Espirita barreled through the rising smoke. Because of her superior vantage point, only Warbird saw the rocket-propelled grenade fired into the smoke.

 

“Both of you move!” Warbird cried. Inside she cursed herself for not warning them to avoid the smoke. There was a small explosion and Warbird observed Espirita spiraling out through the air. Binary however emerged through the smoke unfazed, and smashed into the front entrance of the storage facility. Warbird could only watch as the entire front wall of the squat building collapsed down on her fellow Avenger.

 

By the time Captain America, Karnak and Stingray arrived, they found Quicksilver and Warbird feverishly digging through rubble. Espirita stood nearby, clutching an injured arm, her concentration focused on the burning vans. At her mental command the fires were slowly dying.

 

“What happened here?” Captain America demanded.

 

It was Espirita that first answered. “Warbird keeps insisting that they got away. But I confess I don’t see how they could have so quickly after firing on us.”

 

“That’s because, with all due respect, you’re an idiot!” Warbird yelled at her in frustration. “Ah ha!” She hurled away a great chunk of rubble, revealing an open manhole. “This was where they fired from. When Binary crashed into the building this was covered over.”

 

“I said I was sorry,” Binary muttered with little sincerity in her voice. In truth she was, but in her own frustration Binary couldn’t help but redirect it at Warbird. “Maybe if you’d been working with me like you’re supposed I could have been able to stop in time.”

 

“There’s no need to work on stopping,” Warbird snapped. “You just stop! How hard is that? It’s a question for you too, Quicksilver.”

 

“Excuse me for taking action,” he said while glowering at Warbird. “Perhaps I should have taken a cue from you and watched from the sidelines.”

 

“Why you skinny little-” A large piece of brick wall was raised by one of Warbird’s arms and she took a step forward. Fortunately Captain America had been moving the entire time and was between Warbird and Quicksilver, his shield raised.

 

“Enough, both of you,” the Avengers chairperson ordered. Captain America was talking through an air filter he’d placed over his mouth, and directed the next command at Stingray. “Check the air. What do you find?”

 

Stingray did so, and immediately said, “There must have been mood-altering chemicals in those vans. This smoke is laced heavy with it.”

 

“Espirita, keep those fires going. Burn as much of the chemicals out of the air as you can. Stingray and Karnak, get down there and conduct a search. Quicksilver, when I deem you able you can follow. Warbird, put that down.” She was still holding the chunk of wall. “Do an aerial recon of the area in case they escaped by another means. Even if not, the fresh air will do you good.”

 

“I can help with that,” Binary said eagerly. But Captain America shook his head. “Please. Look, I admit I screwed up here. There has to be something I can do.”

 

“I need you to help me find what was taken.” Captain America tapped his communicard. “Jarvis, I’m going to need a full inventory of what was stored here.”

 

---

 

In a location some distance from where the Avengers were, international arms dealer Phillipe Bazin greeted his men. “Well done. Your training was everything I had paid for.” This statement was also directed at the man walking close to Bazin, many of his features hidden in shadow. Bazin came to a halt at the large crate his men had taken from the Avengers storage facility. “Now, to see if the theft was as good as the escape.”

 

At Bazin’s direction, the men opened the crate, allowing their employer to gaze inside. While the crate contained what he wanted, it didn’t contain all that he wanted, and he was visibly upset.

 

“You fools!” Bazin grabbed one of his men’s guns and aimed it at the man’s head. “Where is it?”

 

“It wasn’t there sir,” pleaded the man whose own gun was staring him in the face. “I swear. We checked everywhere.”

 

“Believe him.” The hidden associate took a step forward as he placed a hand on Bazin’s arm. The light caught his face, revealing the white skull mask of Taskmaster. “I had a look at the inventory before. Something that important, the Avengers aren’t going to lock in a warehouse.”

 

“You knew!” Bazin now directed the gun at Taskmaster. “This complete waste of time was your doing.”

 

In a single motion, Taskmaster could have disarmed Bazin and been holding the gun. But making a client look bad in front of his subordinates was bad business, so he refrained. Instead Taskmaster said, “Not exactly a waste. You’ve seen how effectively your men performed, and acquired something valuable in the process. As for the other, well, that can still be yours. And in the taking your see just how far my other student has come along.”

 

Bazin was listening, and the gun dipped slightly. “He’s ready?”

 

“Enough for this. Just to hedge our bets, I’ll make a call. Get him some outside help, if you’d prefer.”

 

The gun was turned away from Taskmaster’s direction. Bazin placed it back in the hand of his employee and turned to face the crate. While admiring the contents, valuable in its own right, he said three words.

 

“Make the call.”

 

---

 

They were gathered in the Assembly Room, the seven Avengers. As chairperson, Captain America had led the meeting, and closed it with final words.

 

“We all know what this means, Avengers. Identify and recover, that’s our priority for now. Dismissed.”

 

As the other Avengers were departing from the Assembly Room, Quicksilver remained behind. Shortly before the meeting began, Captain America and whispered to Quicksilver that he wanted to see him afterwards.

 

Captain America circled the table to move towards his teammate. “Binary’s mistake could be excused by inexperience, but you know better. A simple parameter sweep and this could never have happened.”

 

“By this you mean our failure to secure a simple storage facility,” Quicksilver remarked. “We were made to look like amateurs.”

 

“Agreed, which is why team sessions in the Ready Room will begin as soon as possible.” Captain America stepped in closer to his teammate. “But right now this is about you, Quicksilver. You underestimated the threat, rushed in expecting to handle everything yourself. And the worst thing is, you probably could have, if you had bothered to check the parameter.”

 

“I hope this wasn’t the only reason you wanted me,” Quicksilver said in response.

 

“No, it wasn’t. What happened this morning isn’t the first piece of tension between you and Karnak,” Captain America continued. “I need to know this isn’t going to be a problem. Can the two of you work together? Fight alongside one another? Trust each other?”

 

“I’ve never had any problem with Karnak,” Quicksilver answered. “He is the one that chooses to intrude on private affairs that don’t concern him, and take one side without knowing all the circumstances. Maybe he’s the one you should be speaking to.”

 

Without waiting for a dismissal, Quicksilver turned and sped out of the Assembly Room. Alone, Captain America sighed in frustration. Things had gone well in New Orleans. Outside of a major crisis, however, complacency and internal conflicts were showing through. The team needed to learn how to work all the time, or even a battle with a minor criminal could turn deadly.

 

Or worse, a major villain. If that theft was going to lead to something more…

 

Claxons blared inside the Assembly Room, and Captain America felt his communi-card vibrate. Removing it from his belt, Captain America scanned the information that scrolled across while walking past the doors and toward the elevator. Outside he met Quicksilver at the elevator, tapping his foot impatiently.

 

“You should have stairs put in.”

 

“Waste of space,” Captain America told him. “If you were really in a hurry you would’ve used the ladder.” The doors opened, and the two entered. Captain America finished reading the card. “Single assailant outside, attacking the mansion itself. Automated turrets-”

 

“I’ve already read mine,” Quicksilver stated. “Warbird and Binary have engaged. We’ll probably miss the whole thing.”

 

---

 

“Any idea who this loser is?” Binary shouted over the sound of plasma bursts and automatic gunfire.

 

“No idea!” Warbird yelled back. She arced over a blast of deadly energy, while a plasma blast from her hands deflected the bullets. “From the green armor, I’d almost say Super-Adaptoid.”

 

The two aerial Avengers were trading blasts over Avengers Mansion with the armor that was actually known as Savage Steel. It was a hulking construct that despite its size proved quite agile in the air, as Savage Steel the blasts of both Binary and Warbird. Turrets on the roof of Avengers Mansion had long gone silent, destroyed by Savage Steel’s firepower.

 

Fed up with her attacks being evaded, Binary opened her mouth in a loud roar and unleashed a wide pulse beam in Savage Steel’s direction. The beam itself was much larger than her opponent, and in its path behind Savage Steel several buildings would certainly be struck.

 

“Binary, no!” Realizing the folly her teammate had made, Warbird launched herself in the path of Binary’s blast. Cosmic power washed over her, energy drawn from a white dwarf star much like Warbird own power had once derived. Now Warbird simply absorbed ambient energy, and she fought past the pain to draw all of Binary’s blast into her. “Eeeaaarrrghh!”

 

“You must be in agony.” Savage Steel had flown in close to Warbird, and raised a gauntlet toward her face. “Allow me to end it.”

 

Warbird opened her eyes and, through the eye holes of his helmet, Savage Steel saw energy bleed from them. “Thanks, but I’m good!”

 

A thick stream of energy erupted from Warbird’s eyes, the power of Binary absorbed and diluted by the other woman’s metabolism. Savage Steel was blasted directly in the chest, and while the lessened energy failed to achieve the result it would have otherwise, he was thrown back several hundred feet.

 

The display of power had greatly weakened Warbird, and she could barely keep herself in the air. Due to this, she was unable to intervene as Binary blasted past her and towards Savage Steel.

 

“Where do you think you’re going!” Binary cried that out at Savage Steel as she rocketed forward, her arms raised past her head and her fists clenched.

 

Shifting his weight and recalibrating his boot-jets, Savage Steel regained control of his flight. The instant before Binary would have collided, Savage Steel turned to the side. Not only did he narrowly avoid Binary’s attack, but Savage Steel also managed to grab hold of her ankle. Using Binary’s own momentum against her, Savage Steel spun her about and hurled her in the other direction.

 

“Oh damn he knows how to fly,” Warbird muttered. She streaked forward on an intercept course with Binary. “Go limp!” she yelled. “I’ve got you!”

 

Going limp was not the best option for a person who could herself fly. But as Binary did not know the advanced techniques for controlling one’s flight, limp she went. To her credit, Warbird did manage to catch her. However, still weakened from the energy she’d absorbed earlier, Warbird did little to halt Binary’s journey and was in fact caught up in it. Locked together, the two women plummeted towards the busy traffic of 5^th Avenue.

 

Speeding considerably faster than the Manhatten traffic was Quicksilver, out of Avengers Mansion and into the street. Around and around he went directly beneath Binary and Warbird, creating a funnel of air that trapped the two women, holding them in place. All the while muttering under his breath, “I hate being wrong,” too quickly for anyone to hear.

 

Savage Steel took no notice of the rescue, having already resumed his course for Avengers Mansion. Now Espirita and Stingray were in the air to face him, with Captain America running across the roof shield in hand. With a mighty heave the shield was thrown wide of Savage Steel, but glanced of the side of a nearby building to strike him in the side of the helmet.

 

“You really thought that would hurt!” Savage Steel cried as he raised an arm in Captain America’s direction. The cannon attached to his arm spat out hot metal in rapid succession. “This is going to hurt!”

 

“But not as much as this.” As Captain America was dodging around the gunfire, Stingray had managed to fly close to Savage Steel. Grabbing the much larger armored man from behind, Stingray released an electric surge through his armor and into that of Savage Steel.

 

The powerful attack, however, had no effect whatsoever on Savage Steel.

 

“No, not quite,” the opponent remarked. “Maybe you wanted something more like this!” Sparks of electricity rippled over the surface of Savage Steel’s armor and threw Stingray. The heroic Avenger struggled past the pain and held on to Savage Steel as long as he could. But soon the pain became too great and he fell away from Savage Steel, semi-conscious.

 

“Espirita, grab him!” Captain America directed.

 

As Espirita flew to assist Stingray, Savage Steel was also falling from the sky. The counterattack had required a great deal of power. There wasn’t enough left to keep his heavy form in the air. Savage Steel’s descent was near the wall around Avengers Mansion, but when he reached to grab the top he found the distance too long. His heavy form crashed onto the sidewalk, and Savage Steel rolled into the middle of traffic.

 

By this time, Karnak had appeared on the roof to join Captain America. “Out of the air and low on power,” the Inhuman remarked. “He’s now at a greater disadvantage.”

 

“Not if he goes for civilians,” Captain America stated. The shield back in his hand, Captain America ran at the edge of the roof and jumped. He easily cleared the roof and landed in a crouch close to Savage Steel.

 

Karnak, on the other hand, was walking slowly towards the roof’s edge. He pulled out his Avengers communi-card and activated it. An armored face appeared on the card.

 

“Uh, hello?”

 

“Darkhawk, this is Karnak of Avengers East. We are battling what appears to be an old foe of yours, and require information about him.”

 

Down on the street, the scene for further battle was unfolding. Binary and Warbird were on one side of the street, both a little dizzy from Quicksilver’s air funnel. Captain America stood on the other side, closest to Savage Steel but closer to Espirita. She was landing fast, the weight of a semi-conscious Stingray almost too much for her. Quicksilver was a blur moving from one end of the street to the other, directing vehicles away and even dragging people out of danger.

 

“Stand down,” Captain America told Savage Steel in a commanding voice. “Nobody has to be hurt.”

 

Savage Steel’s response was to reach out and dig his armored fingers into the side of a car. He lifted it into the air with one hand, trapped passengers and all. Their screams cut through the air. Behind Savage Steel, Binary and Warbird looked ready to move, but Captain America gave a slight shake of his head. Binary didn’t catch it, but Warbird did and threw up an arm.

 

“Let those people go,” Captain America ordered. “Right now this is just between you, us, and your employer. Set them down and give yourself up. Otherwise we’ll make you.”

 

“Hehe.” Savage Steel chuckled and lifted the car higher. Two women were in the car, a mother and daughter. Their hands were pressed against the glass and they were screaming for help. “Why don’t I make you play catch?”

 

Before Savage Steel could throw the car like he’d intended, Captain America surprised him with a nod. At once, Binary and Warbird flew at Savage Steel from behind. The motion of throwing the car had begun, and no sooner had Savage Steel’s fingers become dislodged from the metal than did Binary slam into him. Warbird continued past, underneath the car and threw her arms up to grip it at either side. With expert skill she carried the car while slowing it safely.

 

As Warbird was setting the vehicle down onto the sidewalk, Karnak walked out of the gate and approached her. “Pardon me,” he said to Warbird while placing his hand on the driver’s side door handle. The car door opened, and Karnak gently took a shaking mother by the arm. “Miss, would you mind if I looked inside your purse.”

 

Though Binary had knocked Savage Steel to the ground, he was far from beaten. A pulse of energy from his arm cannon knocked Binary away. Savage Steel raised his other arm, and hundreds of rounds of hot metal spat out in Captain America’s direction.

 

“Behind me!” Captain America yelled to Espirita. The shield was brought up, deflecting the hail of gunfire. But rather than cower behind Captain America, Espirta rose in the air and unleashed a burst of flame from her hands. Heat washed over Captain America, and he heard fewer bullets striking the shield. Many were melting under the intense flame.

 

Still firing his ammunition, Savage Steel rose to his feet. However, so was a very angry Binary. Seething, cosmic flames rippling along her body, she took a step towards Savage Steel. However, Karnak stepped in front of her, moving purposefully at the armored man. Behind him, Quicksilver and Warbird were carrying the final civilians to safety.

 

Momentarily ceasing his gunshots, Savage Steel considered the odd-looking man that approached him. “Who are you supposed to be?” he asked.

 

“Somebody who thinks your eye holes should be filtered,” Karnak told the criminal. He then raised the can of mace and sprayed.

 

“Yeeeaaaarrrghhh!” His eyes burned, and there wasn’t anything Savage Steel could do to relieve them. Thick armored fingers can’t fit through the eyeholes, and even if they could metal rubbing against eyes would do little to help. In pain and unthinking, Savage Steel strips off his armored gauntlets and lifts the helmet off his head.

 

Sadly, before Savage Steel could rub at his eyes to relieve the pain, Karnak struck with the heel of his palm. With his head exposed, Savage Steel fell to the ground, unconscious and with watering eyes. Behind Karnak, a stunned Binary looked on while Captain America, Espirita and a recovered Stingray approached.

 

“Binary, we need to remove his armor,” Captain America suggested. Once he was safely contained, Savage Steel could be questioned about his employer.

 

Closing her mouth, Binary nodded. “Yeah, yeah it was just….” She glanced over at Karnak. “Wow.”

 

“Nice job,” Stingray told Karnak.

 

Captain America agreed, but instead said, “You all performed well. But until we have this man properly restrained and dealt with his employer, there’s nothing to celebrate.” Kneeling down next to the unconscious man, Captain America couldn’t help but wonder, “Why attack us like this?”

 

---

 

In the wet tunnels that smelled of mold, Taskmaster didn’t have to wait long. He soon viewed movement deep in one tunnel. His former protégé, Spymaster, emerged with a large backpack.

 

“You got it?” Taskmaster inquired.

 

“Oh yeah. You were right about this place being connected to Avengers Mansion.” Spymaster looked around at the ruin of their surroundings. “This used to be the Hydrobase, right?”

 

Taskmaster nodded. “An arms dealer recently used this place for a base until some kids trashed it. I might open a new academy here. No point in wasting good real estate.”

 

“But you have no problem wasting good talent?” Spymaster asked. He’d slung off the backpack and held it out. “Getting me out for this piece of junk was serious overkill.”

 

Taskmaster shrugged as he accepted the backpack. “Blame the Avengers for guarding it so well. As for wanting it, well, some people will pay a lot of money for junk.”

 

“How much?”

 

“Not nearly enough to free you of me,” Taskmaster informed his less-than-willing employee. “But you’ll have the chance to whittle it down some.”

 

“Now?” Spymaster asked with a little surprise. “How long do you expect that Life Model Decoy to fool the Guardsmen?”

 

“Long enough. And even if they find out,” Taskmaster said with a grin beneath his mask. “There’s no risk to me, is there? Worst case is they hunt you, catch you, lock you up again. My name won’t even come up, and I’ll remain free to spring you at a later date. And ‘round and ‘round we’ll go. Move on.”

 

Spymaster briefly considered resisting, but knew better than to try himself against the Taskmaster again. Dejected, he walked on down the tunnel, the Taskmaster behind him. Unnoticed by both men, something inside the backpack flickered. Soon, it would awaken.

 

Soon, the world would burn.

 

---

 

NEXT ISSUE: The Avengers square off against the latest incarnation of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants! Meanwhile, Phillippe Bazin attempts to sell his latest acquisition to the worst buyer imaginable!

 

---

 

Author’s Notes

 

At the end of my previous story, I promised thirty days. If it turns out you’re reading this within that time period, yeah me. If not, the editors screwed up.

 

Speaking of editors, puppet-master Cory Wiegel sent me some thoughts on my first issue, along with some questions. Check it out below, along with my remarks.

Hey Steve,

 

Just wanted to let you know that I read Avengers #51 and really dug it. The pacing was very well done and it felt like you gave everyone a fair amount of attention. My favorite scene? Can't think of just one, but in particular I liked the cold scene with Stingray being drug away by the Atlantean extremists, the interaction between Cap and Binary, and the climax of the ish with all of your characters collected on the beach of New Orleans preparing for the impending Alantean attack. It was a fitting end to your first issue and an even more fitting beginning to your run. Nice job all around with these particular aspects of the issue.

Thank you Cory. I’m particularly proud of the dialogue I did between Captain America and Binary, so its great to see that recognized. As for the ending, I didn’t really think a fight was really necessary, as everybody just knew the Avengers would take it home. Kind of parallels my own hope that people will have that same kind of faith in my run.

While I like your rendition of almost all of the Avengers here, I'm not sure how I feel about Karnak and Quicksilver. Karnak seems like a bit too much of a straight man (not really a cipher, but still kind of lacking distinct personality traits), whereas Quicksilver's just a little too mean (as opposed to just usually haughty and obnoxious). As Cap might suggest, he acts a bit more unprofessional than seems like would be tolerated. Speaking of Cap, I did like his recruiting spree throughout the issue, but I think a little more insight or reference into his motivation for doing so could have helped - especially after Avengers #50, where the team was last seen assembled in large numbers!

Aargh, I hated that I didn’t have much for Karnak and Quicksilver to do in the previous issue. Also it was my first time writing either character, so it was basically just still getting a feel for their voices. With this issue I hope I did a lot better. Quicksilver arrogant but not so much mean, and Karnak as a calm monk confident in his skill. A big problem with a team book is I can’t quite delve into each character as much as I’d like in each issue, but over time I’ll hopefully get everyone fleshed out.

 

Captain America had his reasons for reorganizing the team following the big brawl in Avengers #50, some of which I got into here. It’s one thing for members to step up in a big emergency, but it takes real professionals to get the job done every day. Dropping the ball in the middle of a smaller crisis is what could lead to big emergencies.

Those are just knit-picks, though. The only thing I think this issue was REALLY missing? A letter column! Where's the obligatory new writer introduction and "what you can expect" bullet points? How about the teasers and cryptic lines about how the more things change the more they stay the same? You can't just leave us editors and readers hanging, man!

Here. Are you happy? And honestly, I would like to think I’ve been around long enough that readers have an idea of my ability and don’t really need teasers. 

Here's a few questions to help you practice the above... uh... practices:

 

1.) How many issues is your Atlantean storyline going to run for? Will we see more Llyron and the At'La'Tique in future issues or are they a one-shot deal?

You’ve seen more Llyron here. The At’La’Tique, eh, maybe more but obviously none of the ones from last issue. No real plans to revisit them, but boy I’ve enjoyed writing Andromeda. Hmmm, I still have an open reservist slot.

2.) Is Stingray going to become an active member of the Avengers or is he just with the team for the fight with the At'La'Tique? If he does stick around, will his wife Diane also stick around as a supporting character?

Believe both questions were answered with this issue. I never did understand how an organization like the Avengers could be run with only Jarvis for support.

3.) A new Avengers liaison, huh? Well, that never turns out good for the team... Okay, that's more of a comment, so let me ask you a real question. Are there any characters from Brent's run that we'll see in your run, such as Black Panther, Sunfire, or Scarlet Witch? If so, in what capacity?

Aside from really Binary, I’m distancing myself from Brent’s run, and allowing my stories to stand on their own. A few of those characters you mentioned I believe Brent might have plans for in another title.

 

What did you think of She-Hulk as new liaison? Personally, it’s the government I feel sorry for.

4.) Finally, how'd you like writing the Avengers for the first time? Or wait, was this even your first time writing a flagship Avengers title? What do you think were the ups and downs? Hopefully you enjoyed yourself!

I just finished up wrapping up previous writers’ loose ends on an Avengers series at another site, but beyond that this is my first real experience with the Avengers. There was a proposal I’d submitted at still another site, which I was very proud of, but sadly didn’t go anywhere.

 

The experience itself has been mind-blowing. These are the Avengers!

Again, great job, Steve! I'm eagerly awaiting next issue and the rest of your run.

 

- Cory

Hope you’ve enjoyed this story, Cory. Expect the next in thirty!

 

- Stephen Crosby

  October 20, 2007