September 15th:
The Scarlet Witch cleared her throat, as acting leader of the Avengers; a team that was, at the moment, breaking down. They had weathered worse but it was never a fun experience. She looked around the table, at her friends and team-mates. Having heard the beautiful gypsy’s faux cough, they ceased any current chatter and focused upon her.
Only yesterday had their resident thunder god Thor left in a flurry. Captain America made an announcement as well; he was leaving the Avengers. Wonder Man had decided he needed time to himself, to reorganize his life and vacation after his most recent resurrection. Finally, Justice and Firestar had announced their departure, to study abroad, vacation and rekindle their romance which had been somewhat hampered during their trial run as Avengers. Wanda had called this meeting to discuss the Avenger’s future. Some manner of restructuring was in order, everyone, sans Thor, had come to help see the team through and decide on the new roster: afterwards Cap, Wonder Man, Justice and Firestar were to depart. The crimson clad gypsy began her speech.
"My comrades and fellow Avengers: it is good to see you here today. I am glad this old guard has taken such a vested interest in seeing the team through, and making sure the Avengers remain eternal. Presently half of our members have declared their departure from the team, all leaving for various reasons. Sadly, the absent Thor has teleported off in a fit of anger and our friend Captain America feels he needs some time off. On a much happier note though, Simon has left to do some wonderful charity work with his Second Chances Foundation. Though we’ll miss you Simon, we realize the true measure of a hero is not how powerful he is, not how many tons he can bench press, but his eagerness to help people. In your tenure as an Avenger, you have never stopped helping people, my dear Simon."
Wanda paused and smiled at him, the others following suit with cheers, toasts and salutes to the mighty Avenger. As the din quiets down, the exotic sorceress continues:
"Only yesterday we defeated the Exemplars, before that we defeated Morgan Le Fay, the Grim Reaper, Moses Magnum, Kree invaders and the Wrecking Crew, although they’re nothing to brag about,"
The table’s occupant’s chuckle at the Witch’s quip, thus she continues "and along the way we’ve championed and won against many more. Quite the list, my friends," she paused to look around the table, and she made eye contact with each member and secretly says her thanks to gods above, for who or what else could have bestowed upon her such kind and caring friends. She took a deep breath, assured herself, once more took in the kind eyes intent upon her, and continued "I have decided, in lieu of such a list of victories, and the current lull in super-human crime, that the Avengers as a whole could do well with a sabbatical." Stopping to take a breath she now continued.
"Yesterday, at the various announcements of members leaving, I found myself envious. Young Firestar and Justice have decided to take some time off and take back their civilian roles, and I was jealous. It has been too long since I have seen my native parts of Europe, and I pine for the homeland. I leave tomorrow, with my brother Pietro, for a visit to several little hamlets we had once loved to visit as children."
"Wanda, I understand the need for some downtime now and then, but disbanding the Avengers is hardly wise," Iron Man interjected, a hint of worry filtering through his armour's voice system.
"Iron Man, believe me, at first I too was worried about the idea. But I think it best everyone take a month off, vacation for awhile and go back to their roots. The Avengers are far from disbanding; we’re just taking some personal time. We’ll be back soon, strong and fit, ready to take on any threat that could come our way. It will be good for us, and in turn, good for the world. I already have provisions set out, each member will carry their Avengers ID Card with them, and we can reach them on their cards and assemble in the event of any emergency. This is the best time for a sabbatical. The world has never been safer. We’ve been back from Counter-Earth for a couple months, with a string of successes under our belts; the current super-villain community is shy to act. The Fantastic Four returned with us in full force. The Thunderbolts, for all our suspicions and misgivings, have been doing an adequate job in keeping the peace, and there are always such allies as the X-Men, Alpha Flight, The Winter Guard, Big Hero 6 and more."
Having laid down her firm argument, the others slowly thought it over.
"At any rate, Angel and I are leaving in the morning. So if this comes to a vote, I’m all for it. Take away the armour, the super soldier serums, enchanted hammers, X-genes and all that, we’re just human. Sometimes even the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes need a break, ya know?" Justice chimed in.
The others began to talk, the general consensus amongst the group agreed it was a good idea, and idle chatter soon turned to a flurry of "what are you going to do?" "any travelling?" "visiting relatives?" and more. Finally, a voice rose above the dull roar. It was Duane Freeman, their Governmental Liaison.
"I think it’s a great idea. The Scarlet Witch is right, the world’s safer than it’s been in a long time, largely thanks to you people, and well, with you all on vacation, that means I’d get one too," Duane grinned at the Avengers, his heroes, people he looked up to, and people whom he found himself privileged to work with. He was slowly coming to an understanding that these heroes are just regular people too. Just regular people who need time off once in awhile.
"…I’m a little wary of the situation, but I suppose it’s a good idea. Be sure to keep your communicards on you at all times, and I’ll pick up the costs. All the costs. Go all out people, lord knows the next time you’ll get a chance like this," Iron Man added in.
"I didn’t like the idea at first, but I was leaving anyways. And if Tony’s picking up the tab, that means I won’t have to do any freelance S.H.I.E.L.D. work. So I’m all for it. A vote then, people?" joking and putting a solid motion on the floor, Captain America rose from his seat. The rest soon followed suit, a unanimous decision was effected and after many goodbyes and general hubbub the Avengers filed out of the room, busy making plans and getting ready to pack.
Later that night:
Sharing one last night together, the Avengers had finally settled down in front of the TV, in civilian garb, taking in a movie.
"I’m going to the kitchen for another drink and some snacks. Anyone else want something," Wanda said.
"Yeah, I’ll come with you Wanda," Tony jumped at this opportunity, with more than sugar coated goodies on his mind.
"No need, Master and Madame, I shall fetch whatever you wish," issued forth Jarvis.
"Please, Jarvis, take it easy," Tony told his butler and friend "this vacation the Avengers are taking, you’re going on one too. I told the Avengers to spare no expense, and that goes double for you, Edwin, understand?"
"Yes sir, and…thank you, sir," Jarvis replied his heart warmed at his friend’s order.
In the kitchen, while dishing out snacks and preparing drinks, Tony started in "Wanda, I was worried at first, but I think this is a good idea you had. I contacted all the Avengers, reserves, inactive, everyone, and told them. They’re all carrying their communicards…and vacationing on my dime as well. So despite the strain on my bank account, I’m kind of glad to get a break," he finished.
"As am I, which I suppose is why I had the idea. Thank you for contacting the rest of the Avengers, it puts me a bit at ease. Even though I had the idea, I was still wary of putting the Avengers on hold for awhile. As for the strain on your wallet, I suppose that’s just what you get for being the team’s resident billionaire."
"I guess so," Tony laughed.
"Come; let us back to the film," She shared her friend’s laughter and the two left the kitchen.
September 17th:
Uatu lived on the moon, an odd place to reside, but not as odd given his station as a member of the stoic race of Watchers. Uatu had, for millions of years, watched and recorded happenings across the galaxy, now he primarily watched Earth, and he was quite fond of the little planet. Humans could very well prove to be inconsequential to the Universe, or they could turn into a major force in millions of years to come.
The prime directive of the Watchers is simple: do not interfere. Uatu sometimes bent this rule, but never physically embroiled himself in conflict. Simply making an appearance was often enough to portend disastrous events. For, the Watchers were simply too powerful to do anything but observe and scrutinize. Last time they interfered, it left a planet devastated and a species near extinction. Uatu had been present, and had actually argued for sharing technology with other races, which lead to the Prosilican disaster.
Even amongst such a great and noble race, there are mutineers, men and women who stray from the given path. Shame can never be fully put away. This fact leads us to the present….
"Greetings, brother," the starry hollow voice rasped out from behind Uatu. Even a Watcher may be caught off guard.
"I have no brother. He is dead and you should know that. Leave here now," Uatu replied, turning to face his kin.
"Oh, dear Uatu, why do you deny me? Why deny the ichor in your immortal veins? Are you so ashamed of me? You break the rules yourself, brother. I’ve seen you do it. I’ve watched you. Uatu, you and the rest, you’re weak," The nameless Watcher went on "We have such power, but never use it. Eons pass and you dare not use it. None of you, none but I have, and when I did, I was imprisoned."
He grew angered now; sparks and cosmic pyrotechnics arched from his fingers, in his palms he created matter, and promptly destroyed it. His fist now clenched, and his entire body surrounded by an aura of indefinable cosmic energy: "You took my mind and my name. All we Watchers possess are our names. When we finally die, they take down in our great libraries all that we have recorded, and at the end, they put the name of the one who observed it all. Beyond the name, we are nothing, and even the name means little. No one remembers a Watcher, because we never do anything, Uatu."
"You are wrong…brother," Uatu spoke, acknowledging that the demented being was in fact his sibling and his source of shame.
"No, I think not. It is you who are wrong, Uatu. Look what we can do," he pointed out into the vastness of space "there, Uatu, three star systems away, I created a paradise. Yesterday, the inhabitants of that world were nothing more than cavemen; that is our propensity for good, my brother. Do you wish to see our capability for evil?" A sinister grin took over the Watcher’s face as he reeled back and brained his sibling. Uatu fell limp.
"That’s what you get for turning away from your assignment, brother. Even Watcher’s don’t have eyes in the back of their heads. I always leaned towards the sinister, while you remained, in your infinite wisdom, naïve. Never turn your back on an enemy, Uatu." The rogue Watcher mused to himself. With his vast powers, he cast a field around his brother. A prison which cast it’s inmate into a deep coma.
September 18th:
Jim Rhodes was accustomed to waking up to the irritating screech of an alarm clock. Last night, as fate would have it, he mistakenly set his alarm clock, and this morning, he has the pleasure of waking up to a radio news station. The topic: Avengers on vacation. Tony Stark, the financer of the team, has supposedly paid for each member to take a vacation, and has even reached out to reserves and inactive members as well. Each member has their communicards on them, and can be reached in case of disaster. The well enunciated female voice continued on about the subject. Rhodes didn’t catch the rest of it however, as he reached down, found an armoured gauntlet, a useless relic from his old career, and smashed his alarm clock with it.
He proceeded to roll out of bed, drop the gauntlet on the floor, and make his way to the kitchen, whereupon he took out the carton of milk, and drank straight from it. Though he lived in plush arrangements, he had fallen into disarray and his apartment was a mess. Jim Rhodes had always lived with a cause in mind. Now finding himself with nothing to fight for, he simply lived day to day with nothing to do.
"I can’t believe that bastard sometimes. Maybe I’m being unfair, we did end on less than amicable terms but he’s a bastard nonetheless. Your once best friend, who gave you more power than you could have ever imagined, is a complete and total bastard, Rhodey," He finished off the milk, and threw away the carton.
He tried to forgive Tony, but every time his heart aimed at forgiveness, his mind recalled a tragic era, dubbed by the media The Crossing. His friend went nuts, hurt Janet: the Wasp, and killed others, allied with Kang and more.
"You could be one of ‘em again, Jim. Just go to him, just say the words. All you’ve got to say is ‘give me the armour’. You could be War Machine again. After the Eidolon, after what you gave up for him, he owes you so big; he could never fully repay you. You live on Stark’s penny anyways Jim. He pays your rent, wires a monthly stipend to your bank account, the armour would be nothing to him. But I can’t. Not on his terms. Damn, I miss the Eidolon. And hell, I gave up the Eidolon to help him out. Bastard. Stupid bastard," Rhodes thought to himself.
"Screw it. Screw Tony. Screw Iron Man. Screw the Eidolon. Screw the Iron tech. Screw the Avengers. Screw the West Coast Avengers. Screw Force Works. Hell, while I’m at it, screw the Defenders. Screw the X-Men. Screw the Champions. Screw S.H.I.E.L.D.. They haven’t been around in over 60 years, but screw the Invaders and the Liberty Legion. Ya know what; just screw every goddamn super-type that’s ever walked the goddamn earth at any given point in time," Rhodes had become so angered his thoughts now took voice.
"God, I’m pissed," he thought. "Well, there’s only one thing to do" he put on some pants, combed his hair, found a jacket and left his apartment. He ran down the numerous flights of stairs to work out his aggression and then went to Starbucks. Coffee made everything better.
Several hours later, at the U.N. Headquarters in New York:
"Comrades, I am Laynia Petrovna, otherwise known as Darkstar. Currently, I am a superhuman operative working with the super-team Winter Guard in Russia. Formerly I adventured with the Champions, a United States based team in Los Angeles," as she announced her former membership, she looked out into the crowd, and was delighted to see an old friend. Warren Kenneth Worthington III, the highflying Angel of the X-Men, was waving at her.
Warren had changed quite a bit over the years. His skin turned blue, his wings turned into organic metal, and most recently his wings returned to their original, angelic feathery nature. Though since he was out in public, he had his wings constricted and bound beneath his luxurious Armani suit and an image inducer creating a fake Caucasian visage for him.
United Nations meetings are generally reserved for delegates, guest speakers, and any translators needed. Warren had contacted her the day before and told Darkstar he would be there. He had probably used his company, Worthington Industries to pull some strings and get him into the meeting. That and his membership in the superhero team the X-Men may have helped. Perhaps he would be speaking later…
"And hullo, I’m Union Jack. The third one to be precise and I’m kinda not that open about my name, hence the mask, y’know. At any rate, I’m a freelance operative in Britain. The lovely Darkstar and I are here, at the behest of our governments to give a speech on super-humans outside of the United States."
As Union Jack spoke, Darkstar took the opportunity to scan the rest of the crowd; she saw, Warbird and Vision of the Avengers. She had seen a position reserved for a guest speaker on the Speaker’s List, and had wondered who it could have been. These two must have been it. Though she did not know them, she knew of them as she had read many files on their adventures. Darkstar had heard on the news this morning that the Avengers had temporarily disbanded for a mass vacation. Obviously these two had elected to stick around and see to some of the more political Avengers matters that couldn’t be put on hold.
"Too often, teams like the Avengers or Fantastic Four get large amounts of credit, while lesser known teams, Winter Guard, Big Hero 6, Alpha Flight, the now defunct Excalibur and others, receive no acclaim. We tackle world threats as well, we ward off evil. We protect our homelands, and the world. Yet still many overlook super-humans outside of the United States.," The lovely Darkstar spoke, her Russian accent filling the room thanks to the microphone system.
"And this is just a microcosm, folks. Things ev’rywhere in all types o’ fields are bein’ overlooked in international communities," Jack commented after his colleague.
A strange duo, by all accounts, however, they were purposefully selected by their governments. Laynia, the Russian mutant beauty, no ambassador in his right mind would vote down a proposal made by her. The women would be a bit harder to sway, but Laynia was well spoken, she could make a point and back it up too.
As for Union Jack, he was somewhat rough, but not in a crude sense. He was, unbeknownst to the general populace, a dockworker’s son. He represented the common man, and with him, many could identify. His humble origins were reflected in his demeanour, and the ambassadors, even though many of them had lead privileged lives, still gravitated towards him. He was likable, a self made, respectable man. He was the middleclass boy next door, with a nice James Bond like charm and an artist’s heart.
"The world needs cohesion, now more than ever. With terrestrial villainy at an all time low, now is the time to act, comrades," Darkstar continued.
"The European Union had the idea to create an open dialogue with other countries with large amounts of superhuman activity. The United States, Canada, Japan, Russia, Britain, Wakanda, Latveria, and others. We can create a better superhuman response system. Who knows what could have happened with that Onslaught affair had Alpha Flight, Winter Guard and others been notified," Union Jack pressed the thoughts into the delegates’ minds.
"We’ve come here with this idea, and to represent the superhuman communities of the world. We’d like you delegates to take these ideas, and turn it into a proposal, into a resolution, and hopefully, my comrades, into results that can help everyone," Darkstar said, despite the connotations her codename evoked, she could be warm and kind, and helped to impress the delegates.
A ten minute un-moderated caucus was called, in which different voting blocks began to discuss the feasibility of such an idea, and how best to proceed with it. That’s when the chaos started.
September 16th:
Most of the Avengers had met at LaGuardia Airport. They had the choice of taking a QuinJet, but had decided to play the part of the civilian, and enjoy a First Class trip on Tony’s credit.
Angela and Vance left to use Janet Van Dyne’s villa in Cap D’antibes. Wanda and her brother Pietro boarded a flight to Romania; from there she had pledged to "wander wherever the wind may take me." However Pietro was less than excited for the eight hour flight, "please, sister, may I run us there? It would take 15 minutes at most." To which Wanda laughed and chastised her impatient twin brother.
Captain America left for France, with a long list of European cities to visit, where he would meet up with old colleagues and pay his respects to fallen soldiers. Many others were there; everyone said their goodbyes, shook hands, hugged and shared their last few minutes together. As the planes left, Wonder Man ionized and headed out towards California under his own power.
Same day, elsewhere:
Felicia Hardy sighed as she relaxed in the bubble bath at her deluxe suite in the most expensive hotel in New York City that she could find. She hadn’t been to the city in awhile; mostly she had been pursuing a sort of paranormal investigations career down south, in areas of Florida and New Orleans. It had been fun, but she’d missed her home.
"I wonder if Peter’s around…though that wife of his, MJ, would ruin our fun probably…eh, maybe I’ll just head down to the single’s bar," Felicia mused to herself, and then sighed in pleasure; it had been too long since she’d had it this good. She now occupied a deluxe suite that could house a couple families; she was enjoying a warm bath, and a temperate climate! Chasing bad guys in that leather costume of hers down in the humid, sticky south was less fun than it sounded. And it didn’t sound fun to begin with.
Later that night, still the 16th:
A swirling blue portal opened in the middle of the sky and out shot a large figure, six and a half feet tall, with long hair and a flowing cape. He arced across the sky, leaving lightening in his wake with cracking thunder announcing his arrival.
Twirling a mystical Norse battle hammer over his head, he slowly descended to earth, to a specific destination: a rowdy bar in New York City. Even before entering, the figure heard a boisterous voice from inside.
"More ale, barkeep! Let the libations flow and come my friends! Gather ‘round, my coin pouch can handle whatever drinks you wish, and we can trade stories of battle!"
The dark figure outside smiled, twirled his hammer and behind him started a torrent of rain, lightening and thunder. He burst through the doors and proclaimed: "Hercules, I have need of you!"
Author’s Note: Hello, everyone. Thank you for checking out the Avengers. I realize this issue was long on dialogue and short on action, but that will be rectified soon. Stick with it, and we should have plenty of fun.
Continuity Note: This more or less takes off after Avengers v3 #25, it also meshes bits of #27 with it, the announcement of Justice, Firestar, and Wonder Man leaving. However completely forget about the Triune Understanding plot story. Though I liked Triathlon, and his connection to 3-D Man, I found most of the story to be trite, and don’t wish to deal with it.*