The Untold Tales of the
Issue: 5 Author: Lonni Holland Graphics: Kevin Newburn & Chris Luna
| Near San Diego.... |
On the sand, in front of a secluded cabin, two figures could be seen on the ground. Clint Barton, the purple clad Avengers' bowman, knelt, clutching a still figure in his arms. Tears ran down his cheeks and dripped onto the face of his wife, Bobbi, who lay motionless, seemingly lifeless, gently cradled against his chest. So he had sat for the almost five minutes, all thoughts of their former attackers, Oddball and Bombshell, gone from his mind, all thoughts gone now, except his agonized concern for his mate.
He knew she had been hurt trying to protect him, batting one of Bombshell's bombs from the air while he had concentrated on Oddball. Now she was gone, and it was his fault. A slight movement caught his attention. "Bobbi?" She shifted a bit in his arms and a smile lit his face. "My God, baby, I thought you were dead."
Mockingbird's eyes opened and she moaned softly. "Ohhh, my head. No, I'm not dead, but there are merits to the idea." She pushed herself up and leaned against him as her vision slowly cleared. Glancing around she continued, "So where are our attackers anyway?"
Clint shrugged. "Damned if I know. When I saw you fall I sort of forgot about them. I guess they took off. No idea why they came after us either. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a major headache is all. Can you help me up?" As she regained her footing, Hawk's bow, dropped on the sand, caught her eye. With a slight smile she continued, "Oh, by the way, buddy boy, I thought this was supposed to be a total vacation from the super hero stuff. What the heck are you doing with your weapons along?"
"Huh?" Hawk seemed confused for a moment then his eyes narrowed with annoyance. "Hey, if I hadn't had them, then those two would have trashed us royally. Besides, you know I always bring them. I feel undressed without them along somewhere."
"Men!" Bobbi looked irked. "This was supposed to be some time for just the two of us wasn't it? I might have known you couldn't leave Hawkeye behind for a few days. Doesn't saving our relationship mean anything to you at all, Clint?"
"Well, excuuuse me, but I thought this was supposed to be time for me to get back into shape after my clash with Ulty and the Reaper." Sarcasm tinged his rising voice. "Of course our relationship means something to me but I wasn't aware that this was secretly just a marriage counseling session. So pardon me for getting knocked around fighting the bad guys. I'll try not to next time, so we can concentrate on our little bonding bit, okay?"
Bobbi's eyes flashed with fury. "Damn it, Clint. That's not what I meant at all. How do you always manage to take everything I say and twist it around?"
"Me?!? I'm not the one over reacting here, baby, in case you hadn't noticed."
"Over reacting? Ha!" Clint had been holding her lightly by the arm since she had stood up and now she pulled away from him and stormed towards the cabin. "You don't have an excuse; you know you shouldn't have brought them; you can't lower yourself to admit you are wrong. I should have known better than to have expected logic from you or to expect you to drop your big macho routine long enough to be a human being for a change. So just stay out here with your precious archery set and your over-inflated testosterone levels. I'm getting my stuff and heading back to Detroit where I belong, because it's a cinch I don't belong here with you!" With that she went inside, slamming the door behind her.
"Bobbi! Damn it, come back here, this isn't finished yet!"
From inside the cabin he could hear her call back, "Oh yes it is, sport. Totally finished!"
| Avengers West Coast compound..... |
Second floor guest suite:
Hiroshi Tanaka sat in an armchair near the window. He gazed out over the well manicured grounds and wondered what was happening to his usually peaceful life. He had left the capital of Luaka almost twenty four hours ago, on what was to be an uneventful trade negotiation trip. Now he was quartered with the Avengers and had been attacked by some unknown foe. He felt ill equipped to handle all of this. His family had left Japan in the thirties to get away from the Emperor's regime before the second world war. They had settled on Luaka, a small island nation in the Pacific, who's main trade product was an oil, from a rare native plant, that was used in pharmaceuticals. His family became one of the major cultivators of the plant and when the national president had urged him to accept this diplomatic post to talk to American manufacturers and government representatives he had reluctantly agreed. Now he wondered exactly what he had gotten himself into.
True, the Avengers had been most solicitous after the attack, They had apologized for the security breach and provided him with this lovely suite, but right now he missed his wife and children and his quiet rural lifestyle. Security guards, super-heroes and flying attackers were things he read about in newspapers and were not a part of his life, at least until now. Secretly, he had always wondered if the reports of costumed heroes hadn't really just been American propaganda. Now he knew he was wrong, but was starting to fear he may not survive to tell his family about it. He rested his head back in the comfortable wing chair and fervently wished he were at home.
The kitchen:
"Have some more tea, Wanda. It's a blend you always loved when we were younger."
Wanda smiled and accepted. She brushed her short auburn curls back from her face and sipped at the fragrant brew. "Now, Pietro. You're starting to sound like the over-solicitous brother again. After all, we did agree that we were both adults now."
Her brother nodded. "Of course, and I am finally content with that role, but I'll always worry about you. I was the family protector for far too long I'm afraid. Are you and Janet certain that you are recovered?" *
* The Scarlet Witch and the Wasp were both injured in last months issue.
"I'm fine, although I am getting concerned about my powers. They've been erratic ever since Immortus powered them up * and I still don't know if I can rely on them. But I was just stunned for a moment earlier, although I know that Jan was complaining of a headache and I think she has returned to Hank's bungalow to lie down. I'm sure it's nothing though."
* This story concluded in AWC 63.
Iron Man walked into the kitchen behind them. "I certainly hope so, Wanda. I just returned from Stark's labs and heard about the attack. Serious as it was I have some disconcerting news of my own. I've asked Dr. Pym to have the team gathered for a meeting in an hour. We've got some troubles folks."
The patio:
"Hey, Wonderman, what's shaking?" USAgent sat down at the patio table, Tigra at his side.
"Not a lot Agent. Just enjoying the weather before the meeting. By the way, I meant to say something before. That was some good fighting earlier. I don't know if we could have taken those blasted things if you hadn't been there and thinking sharp like that."
"Thanks, Williams, but I was just doing my job." In spite of his words, Agent looked pleased at the compliment, something he was unused to getting from the Avengers. He and Tigra had talked at length about trying to fit in with the team and he really wanted to give it a shot, but it wasn't going to be easy. Of course as long as the bowman was away he thought he could try. He was going to need a lot more practice before Barton didn't set his teeth on edge just by being in the same room.
Tigra turned to Simon. "So, has there been any news on your brother's location? * We've been a little busy the last few days."
* The Grim Reaper was released from jail in Untold AWC 1
"Not yet Tigra." Simon looked pensive. "With the attack by the Blank and then this diplomatic guy arriving, and another senseless skirmish, there hasn't been much time. I've gone out on patrol to see if I could find any trace but nothing. At least I managed to stop a convenience stop hold up, shore up a house that was sliding into the ocean and change a tire for a lady on the Santa Monica freeway, so it wasn't a total loss."
Agent looked puzzled. "Don't you think those things are a bit beneath an Avenger, Williams? I never pictured you guys doing stuff like that."
Simon shrugged. "Well, you could look at it as promoting public good will I guess, I never really thought about it before. We see someone in trouble and we do it, it's as simple as that. The big intergalactic fights are the ones that get the press, but that's not what being an Avenger is all about. We fight together to go up against foes too big for one of us, but each of us does his or her best for everyone on our own just because we can. That's sort of what it's all about."
Agent nodded and looked thoughtful. Maybe there really was more to this team than he had thought.
| New York City..... |
"I need a status report. Things are moving far too slowly. Even adjusting for the Blank's short term absence my plan should be coming to fruition today. I need all of the members there."
"Well, sir, our San Diego operatives report that their part has been completed. None of the others has been away much, except Wonderman who has been on extended patrols, but with his ionic composition it was difficult to accurately predict his reaction anyway. Those who have been closest should begin to respond to the exposure soon."
"Adequate I suppose, although I am paying you enough for accurate divination concerning even the super powered or mutants. Have your team work harder on it. I want to know exactly when we can strike. Now get out and leave me."
"Of course, sir. We'll double our efforts. I'm sure you will be pleased with the..."
"Go! Now!"
silence........
| In the skies over Oakland..... |
A white clad figure shook his head slightly and focused his eyes.
"Ah, welcome back Marc. You zoned out on me there for a bit."
"Sorry, Frenchie. Listen, you better set down soon. I have to get to Detroit. I'm not quite sure why, but I do."
The pilot looked at him, shrugged, and turned the helicopter back towards the landing pad. Odd requests no longer bothered him, not when they came from the Moon Knight.
| Avengers West Coast compound..... |
Most of the team were seated around the conference table. Iron Man, Pietro, Tigra, USAgent, Wanda and Wonder Man exchanged puzzled looks as they awaited their last two members. Hank and Jan were now almost twenty minutes late, and the others had already passed annoyance and were fast becoming concerned.
Iron Man finally pushed his chair back and rose. "All right, enough is enough. I'm going to find them now, and get this meeting under way. We have a foreign visitor who was attacked for no reason, the Grim Reaper is still out there somewhere, and I have disturbing news about the Blank and his possible backer. We need to deal with these problems, now."
"And we will, Iron Man." Hank Pym entered the room. He looked pale and shaken but he strode swiftly into the room. "Jan is a bit under the weather and I'm not feeling my best either. Must be the flu. At any rate, let's get this meeting under way and I'll bring her up to speed later. To recap, there has been no sign of the Reaper anywhere so, for now, I think we can just hope that he has relocated. We'll have to deal with him when he resurfaces, I suppose. I spoke briefly to Mr. Tanaka and he is just as confused about the attack as we are. I started to make some preliminary analysis of the remains of the attack craft but then some Government operatives showed up with a requisition and confiscated them so we're at a dead end there too. Iron Man, I hope you have some better news for us."
"Don't know if it's better, but it is news at least." Iron Man cleared his throat, producing an odd static like sound through his voice filters. "I, that is Tony Stark and I, checked the belt that the Blank was using and there is no doubt that some of the parts were created in Stark Labs somewhere. What was more disturbing was the new additions to the field generator. It took a high powered microscope but it was unmistakable. The modifications were made by Dr. Mark Quinn."
Agent frowned. "Sorry, I've been through all of the Avenger history tapes and that name doesn't ring a bell at all. Am I missing something?"
"Not really, Agent," Hank explained. "It's a name that isn't really well known outside the scientific community. Quinn is a brilliant developer but has no loyalties to anyone but himself. He sells his services to the highest bidder. The only thing larger than his love of money is his ego. Somewhere, on all of his work, he manages to inscribe his name, no matter how small. I assume that's what you found, Iron Man?"
"Sure is, and that lead us to wonder who paid for those services. Quinn never works cheap and he certainly is beyond the resources of the Blank. He also never works for a piece of the action either. Cash in advance is his motto. So we are no closer to finding out who was behind the Blank, but we do know it was someone with considerable financial clout so I'd say we need to be on guard for more."
"I agree completely. Perhaps I'd better warn the east coast team to have their guard up too. Quinn never works out of anywhere but his Maryland base." Hank looked haggard as he turned toward the communication console. Suddenly the door burst open and one of the compound staff burst in.
"Senor Pym, come quickly. It is your prisoner. He has collapsed."
"What?" Hank dashed in the direction of the holding cells, the other Avengers hot on his heels.
Just minutes later, the Blank had been transferred to the infirmary. A doctor had been called in and was examining the patient. The team stood outside and talked quietly amongst themselves. Shortly Hank Pym stepped out to join them. "Well, the doctor has no idea what the trouble is. The Blank has a fever and is irrational but none of his symptoms seem to fit anything we know of. The doctor is drawing blood samples for analysis now, but on the off chance that it's something contagious we aren't going to move him. As soon as the doctor leaves, this compound is going to be quarantined, for the moment at least."
Wonderman said, "Hank, you have to be joking! How are we supposed function as Avengers if we can't leave the grounds?"
Hank sighed and leaned against the building. "We can't, Simon, that's all there is too it. Until we know what we are up against here we'd just be a danger to the civilians. Now if you will all excuse me, my headache is worse and I'm going to go and lie down." He started to head to his bungalow and, just steps later, collapsed in a crumpled heap on the ground.
| On a road outside a private airfield near Detroit..... |
"Thanks for coming to get me Ashley. How is the team?"
"Not a problem Bobbi, and the team is the same as usual. Mr. I keeps going off into his rants every once in a while but Dinah always calms him down I wish I knew how she does that. Anyway, you didn't say much when you called. How did it go, and how did he take the news?"
Bobbi looked out the window at the passing scenery. "He is the most arrogant, bull headed, obstinate, thoughtless, macho jerk I have ever met."
"Well, the way I hear it, you knew that when you married him, but that doesn't answer my question."
"I didn't tell him. The opportunity never seemed to be there, and then he... he... ooohhhhh, men!"
"What do you mean, you didn't tell him? For heavens sake, Bobbi, how long do you think you can keep this a secret. Even if he is being a jerk, he has the right to know."
"I know, I know. Right now I'm just too angry to think straight. Give me a couple of days to cool off and I'll call him, I suppose."
Ashley breathed heavily. "I guess that'll have to do. Anyway, we're home now."
As the two women got out of the car Flatman rushed to greet them. "Mockingbird, welcome back. You have a visitor."
"I do? I wasn't expecting anyone." Her eyes lit up in anticipation. "Is it Clint?"
Flatman shook his head. "No, not him. You'd better see for yourself." He pushed open the door to the living room of Ashley's spacious house to reveal a white clad figure.
Marc Specter turned and spoke. "Mockingbird, greetings. I bring you a message from my God."
| A Government office in Los Angeles..... |
Lew Clemson was pleased. USAgent had called him and brought him up to date on the happenings at the Avengers West Coast headquarters. With the compound closed as it was, it meant that Tanaka would be unable to present his requests to the government. Clemson knew that the chances of the government or the UN granting sanctions to two new nations in the same area were slim. He had hoped to discredit Luaka by making it appear that they were perhaps being attacked by a rival illicit drug cartel but this was even better. Maybe he should ask Birely * for a bonus.
* See the Pacific Overlords saga in AWC 70-72 for details of what Douglas Birely, aka Dr. Demonicus, plans
Of course he had been obliged to hide his true purpose from his fellow Commission members but that had been easy. Lew Clemson had his own agenda and he wasn't about to let a little thing like regulations stand in his way.
| Under quarantine at the compound, several hours later..... |
Illness had spread quickly through the team. Iron Man had seemed unwell but had insisted that he would quarantine himself at Stark headquarters, as he vigorously guarded his secret identity. Wanda and Tigra were unaffected and Jan was still suffering from a headache but wasn't totally incapacitated. The three women were gathered in the kitchen discussing the situation over coffee. The Scarlet Witch was advising the others about how she had isolated the staff in one of the larger bungalows and cautioned Hiroshi Tanaka to remain in his suite.
"Pietro doesn't seem as ill as the others. Tigra, it seems that your cat form has rendered you immune to the effects. It looks as though women and mutants are less susceptible to whatever this is, but I'm willing to bet that getting the Blank onto the compound for a while was a ruse. I don't think he was ever intended to defeat us, just to infect us instead."
Jan rubbed at her temples lightly. "Wanda, I think you may be right. I hope Clint wasn't affected, but he wasn't really here long after the Blank got here anyway. Do you really think that just the three of us can handle everything here, care for the boys and be an Avengers team too?"
Wanda laughed. "No, Jan, not the Avengers. I'd say this is a case for our old team, the Lady Liberators. * Although this time we won't have the Enchantress as our leader."
* see Avengers 83 for details
"The who?"
Jan had to smile in spite of her headache. "Ancient history, Tigra. Come to the records section and I'll look it up for you. Wanda, you mentioned the Enchantress as leader. I think you had better take over for the time being."
"Me? Oh no, Jan, I can't. You've been chairman before, you do it. You and Hank have been acting as de facto chairs already"
Jan shook her head. "Not a chance. I was at least partially affected by whatever this virus is, so I am not at my best. Greer, I nominated Wanda as chair for the duration of the emergency, so what do you think." She watched as Tigra nodded. "Okay Wanda, that's it - by majority vote you're the boss. Now, what are your orders."
The Scarlet Witch reflected for a moment. This was a role she had never considered, not even on such a temporary basis. She had always taken a passive role, content to follow the directions of others, first her brother, them her chairman and finally her husband. But those days were gone, and it was time to go on, time to take her destiny in her own hands. Her powers had been erratic of late, perhaps this was the best way for her to make a contribution.
With determination in her voice, she announced, "All right, Jan, then let's get busy. First, we need to inventory what supplies we have on hand, If we are quarantined for a while we'll have to have food and medical supplies delivered. Tigra, you take care of that. Get me a list of what you think we need and I'll see if I have anything to add. Jan, I'm willing to bet that Clint has his Avengers card with him. Get in touch with him, see if you can find Firebird too, she's close by. Then call the east coast and get us a couple of Avengers out here. We need an outside team that can function, something we can't do behind the compound gates. I'm going to see about getting things in motion to set up a temporary headquarters outside for them. Just because most of the team can't leave doesn't mean that the West Coast Avengers are out of business." She paused a moment and looked at the others who were staring at her, stunned by her sudden take charge attitude. "Are you still here? Let's move ladies, we have plenty to do."
| Egypt.... |
Soft wind swirled the sands around their feet. As the two women walked along they were overwhelmed by the frightening beauty of the desert, the hundreds of shades of beige and gold woven into intricate patterns throughout the seemingly endless dunes. They reached the crest of one of the sandy mounds and saw their goal. The temple stood, an ageless monument against the ravages of time. The red brown sandstone, polished smooth by the winds of the desert, seemed to exude a cool and peaceful aura. They walked forward to the entrance, unsure of what they would find, or even why they had come.
"Ashley, this is ridiculous. Lets just head back to the jeep and get out of here."
Her companion shook her head, her short reddish curls bouncing, "Bobbi, we've come this far, and you did promise Moon Knight. Lets just get it over with."
"Yeah. I guess. After all, my life is already a disaster as it is, what can I lose? This looks like the entrance, let's see if anyone is home."
As they approached, a large stone door swung silently back to reveal a dimly lit corridor. They entered cautiously but their prudence was soon lost in awe as the passage opened into a courtyard, complete with thirty foot columns, a reflecting pool and magnificently tiled floors with an odd swirl of moons and Egyptian writings. For a moment they hesitated, overcome by the beauty and the overwhelming sense of timelessness in the temple.
From one side a group of old men entered. They were clothed in long white robes and seemed serene and, in some ways, as ancient but as ageless as their surroundings. One of them approached Bobbi and took her gently by the arm. She noticed his distant gaze and realized that he, and the others, were blind.
He bowed and spoke softly. "Welcome, life mate of the Beloved Of Konshu. Our Master awaits you within. Your friend must remain here. Others will bring her refreshments to wash away the dust of your journey."
Bobbi was about to protest but Ashley assured her, "Just go with them. I'll be fine here. For some reason I trust them. This place has a peaceful aura to it, I can't really picture anything bad happening to either of us here. Besides if anything does happen I can certainly take care of myself."
Bobbi smiled quickly. She knew that Ashley could quickly transform herself to her hero personae of Big Bertha of the Great Lakes Avengers and she wondered what these placid priests would make of that. She allowed herself to be lead deeper within the temple itself. They finally reached a somber room with a large white statue. She was stuck by the similarity to the cool, glossy figure and the robes of the Moon Knight. This must be an image of his mythical god Konshu. She was startled to hear or perhaps, feel a voice in her mind.
"At last, you are here, as I knew you would be. Welcome Barbara Barton, mate of my Beloved. I have called you here to claim my reward for the gift of your husband's life. I have waited these thousands of years, but now you are here and you bear the fruit of Hawkeye's loins and carry his children within you."
And so we come to the end of yet another issue (two in as many weeks, can you believe it?) and Bobbi's secret is finally out of the bag. The women take over in our next issue"A Time to be Born, A Time to Die...."
As always send your comments tolonni@paratime.ca.