October 3rd:
Uatu’s mind was slowly regaining consciousness, though physically trapped as he was in the energy cocoon, were he to utilize the forms of Photon, Wonder Man and Living Lightening, he could hopefully free himself and the others. Previously in his confinement, Uatu had been kept sedated, the fact that he was able to awake was a sign of his brother’s waning powers. However, were Uatu to simply break free, the energy backlash would alert his brother, and still weak as he was, Uatu and the others would be hapless victims for the mad Watcher.
Psychically connecting himself to the sleeping Avengers, he perused their minds and abilities, settling on the one called Photon; an appellation denoting her prowess with energy. She could absorb, redistribute and manipulate various energies. Perhaps, if Uatu could lock onto the specific frequencies of the cosmic cocoons they were imprisoned in and slyly nudge the energies with his own powers, Photon might be able to absorb, or phase through them.
October 4th:
Utilizing the databases provided at Avengers Mansion, the Vision had discovered what the Watcher had planned. He was installing engines into the earth, mimicking the interstellar drives that were once utilized by Ego the Living Planet. The black hole bombs the Watcher had planted yesterday, they were a diversionary tactic, and judging by the logic of the situation, the Vision doubted they really produced a miniature “black hole.” It was most likely a high yield explosion of various energies. Since the event, they had tested Darkstar’s powers, putting them through a gamut of tests.
Now, the world-engines had been whining and burning away for almost four days, still in a warm up stage, eventually for the thrust to accomplish anything the dome around the city would have to be taken down. The Vision hoped such an event would allow them to receive the necessary backup with which to defeat the Watcher, although he knew such an event was unlikely.
Elsewhere in the mansion Carol Danvers had become concerned for her new teammate James Rhodes. She had been through several tumultuous events in her life, meeting Mar-Vell, her exposure to the Psyche Magnetron, her encounter with Rogue, gaining the Binary powers, losing them, and a bout with alcoholism. In all actuality, Carol knew little of the man James Rhodes, he was formerly a friend of Tony Stark’s, and a one-time Avenger as Iron Man, and later under the War Machine moniker.
“James,” Carol approached, he was standing and looking out a window in the library of the mansion, a dusty tome lay opened on the table beside him.
“I have more power now than I’ve ever had in my life, yet I feel helpless. It feels like I could take down a hundred War Machines, but I have this knot in my gut. The chopper knot.” He stopped for a moment, his eyes closed and he let out a small sound, a grunt mixed with a small, staccato laugh. Carol stood motionless near behind him, waiting for him to continue. “Flying choppers—helicopters—in ‘Nam, I had this feeling constantly. I felt it when I woke up, when I ate, when I slept, but it felt the worst when I was airborne; the feeling that no matter what I did, no matter how well I flew or how well I was trained, I was still helpless. Any minute, some artillery could come in and blow me up and the next day my mom would get a folded flag and pine box to console her. That’s how I feel now. Any moment, that Watcher could just blink funny and I’d be gone.”
“Wait, you said you were in ‘Nam? Vietnam, during the sixties? No way. You’d have to be in your fifties. You look a couple years over thirty.”
“It was the Eidolon. It cured me of my time-sickness, the chronal disease I picked up after my jaunt to World War II, I didn’t realize it at the time but I’ve had some tests done since and it had started to cure me of other things. Over the years I’d cracked a couple ribs, had some bad gout in my elbow, other minor things. Eidolon fixed it. I didn’t notice it at the time, but over the few months I had the suit, it had started to “cure” me of middle-age. See, the suit responded to conscious and subconscious needs and whims, I could form it into new shapes for battle, and it would also patrol my body, keeping me fit. Physically—and I’ve long since researched this since my time with the Eidolon—no one knows why we age: cellular or chromosomal breakdown and genetic programming are some guesses, but again, those are just guesses. Weakened by age, the Eidolon decided to fix that, and who would contradict it; subconsciously, we all want to live forever, age is the one disease we have no cure for, but that strange alien armor, it did its best to put me into remission. And now with this prism, it’s very much the same. I can feel it connected to me, its almost like we talk to one another, and I can sort of feel it, staving off aging. I don’t know if it’s good or bad….”
“I don’t know James, Avengers files are spotty in regards to the power prism, it has to be one of the most mysterious artifacts we’ve dealt with. But it’s appearance has never boded well for us. You’re a good fighter and teammate, you’ve been invaluable, and as long as you keep it under control, I need you out in the field. If you can ‘commune’ with it, than that goes to show that there’s still some sentience in it and though it’s against my better judgment, like I said, I need you on the ‘team’ right now. When this is over, we’ll look more into it. Just be careful, James,” Concern filled Carol’s voice as she beseeched her team-mate. Rhodes was a good fighter and Avenger. He’d had a spotty career beforehand, but then again, so had she. Ex-military too, and a pilot at that; they were so much alike, she thought.
Rhodes nodded and smiled. No one called him James. He was Jim. He was big gruff Jim Rhodes, and he couldn’t tell if the use of his full name was out of formality or amiability.
“It’s been—and not to sound cliché—too quiet lately,” Rhodes started, not to change the topic, but to try and make a tactical assessment with the de facto team leader.
“That it has, Avengers!” With a wild laugh, the Watcher appeared, but just as suddenly as he appeared, his face contorted into a snarl, and he screamed. Not in pain, but in frustration and rage. “Uatu,” he spat out like a curse, and in a sudden flash, he vanished.
“Holy—what was that?” Angel asked, he had been walking into the library as the Watcher appeared. “He could have thrashed us, and he left?”
“Deus ex machina,” Rhodes let the words slip through his lips. The Watcher could have completely annihilated them, and he left, by some divine intervention, by the plans and machinations of a God.
“I need a drink,” Carol said. And in a flash, they too were gone.
October 4th: Blue Area of the Moon:
Uatu had finally managed to access Photon’s powers, and use her as a conduit to absorb the energy cocoon surrounding the three Avengers and himself, and Uatu had had Photon channel all of the absorbed energy back into himself. When his demented brother came, Uatu would be ready.
Suddenly, his brother appeared, seething with anger towards Uatu. Beside him, were the earth-side Avengers: Rhodes, Warbird, Angel, Union Jack, Black Cat, Darkstar, Vision, Hercules, the Human Torch and Red Norvell, cognizant but unable to move; restricted by the Watcher’s will and power.
Suddenly, Photon burst through her cocoon, under the mental control of the Watcher Uatu, she sped at Uatu’s demented brother, phasing into the intangible delta rays. Monica entered the Watcher’s body, and Uatu—in mental command of Photon’s form—pushed her powers to the limit, she absorbed the Watcher’s energy, and converted them to delta rays, using his own energies as a battery to pump out the lethal radiation into him.
In his death throes, the Watcher still smiled, and now tapped into the other Avengers, using their lives and powers to fuel himself. Uatu stopped, mentally controlling Photon to leave his brother alone. They were stalemated.
“Leave the Terrans be, brother,” Uatu commanded his brother.
“No,” the rogue Watcher replied, launching himself at Uatu, Uatu commanded Photon, changing her form into different types of energy and radiation, she channeled her power into Uatu, strengthening him.
“Your fight is with me. Leave them alone, and I shall give you what you desire,” Uatu replied, dodging his brother by levitating deftly to the side.
“I accept,” the demented sibling replied, and in the blink of an eye, they were gone.
Uatu had power on his side, but there is much to be said for anger and insanity, it drives a man past his means, past all rationality and often into a superior realm. Blisters erupted across the rogue Watcher’s skin, as Uatu telekinetically invaded the pores of his brother’s invulnerable skin, going deep within his body, and attacking it from within. His brother teleported meteors into the battles vicinity, the two Watchers gradually being pulled into the sun, they would both die, most likely, and neither cared.
His brother had brought out the worst in Uatu, he had brought out the emotions and feelings that long laid dormant in Uatu, and in all of his race. Uatu was ashamed, he felt so…mortal. He felt human—had the people he’d so long observed had an effect on him? They had changed him, given him the capacity to feel, and the capacity for brutality now. Now with a kinetic bolt, he blinded his brother, the mad Watcher screamed, his lips slowly turning into a grin, he was a frenzied masochist.
Those Avengers who were space worthy came to Uatu’s aid, Photon assumed a delta ray form again, and flew into the body of the mad Watcher, while Rhodes tried his best to crush the Watcher inside a bubble of prism energies. Warbird, Vision, Norvell, Living Lightening and Wonder Man flew erratically around the rogue Watcher, hoping to distract him.
Uatu pulled back, meditating while the Avengers ran the offensive, doing little more than angering Uatu’s sibling. The sun’s gravity was slowly pulling them in, and at last, Uatu had steeled himself and readied a final telepathic bolt, to shut down his brother’s mind. The mindless husk of the Watcher’s body drifted now, like a hunk of debris into the sun. With a flash, the Avengers were back at Uatu’s home on the moon.
“I am sorry that the earth had to become embroiled in my race’s personal matters. Your cities are now repaired. I thank you,” With those few cryptic lines, the Avengers were sent back to their home, the Mansion.
October 4th, later that night:
“I’m glad to hear the situation was taken care of Carol, we all commend you for your work,” Captain America spoke with his friend Warbird over the video communications system. He was in France, using his Avengers card to uplink to the mansions computers.
“It wasn’t just me, Captain. An odd team managed to form itself under all the stress,” Warbird replied with a smile. The team was odd and varied, a Greek God, a Norse pretender, the British dock worker, Russian beauty, winged mutant and the cat burglar.
“That’s always how it is with the Avengers,” The Captain mused, he thought of all he crises and upheavals in Avengers history, and every time the team came through stronger than before, and more often than not, with a new member or two.
“About this team, Cap, I’d like to keep them together. They did some great work, and have a natural dynamic,” Warbird told the star-spangled legend.
“I think that’s a great idea, most of us Avengers never really got to go on the ‘vacations’ we’d planned. The trouble started, and we suited up to do what we could. Most of us still want to take the time off. Offer all of the new-comers membership, if they want to stay, the more the merrier. Some of them have to be looked over though, this Black Cat character, Rhodes’ use of the Power Prism, and you reported that Union Jack used some explosive ammunitions—which have been long outlawed. I know Joey though, there’s a method to the madness there, so we’ll see, but as for now, I’ve got to go. You’re in charge now, Carol. Take good care of the place,” Rogers smiled, at his long time friend, he had the utmost faith in her, she’d overcome much recently, some might think placing the burden of leadership on her shoulders would overwhelm her, Steve thought it would be just what she needed.
“Will do, Steve, have fun. Warbird, out,” Carol replied. The screen flickered, and the image of Steve Rogers was gone.
She would tell the “new recruits” in the morning, for now it was late, and she was tired.
October 5th, breakfast:
The motley, ad hoc team of Avengers was seated around the table in the Mansion’s dining room, Carol looked and counted old friends and new ones. Since returning from the moon, Wonder Man, Photon and Living Lightening had stayed with them, and as of now, the full roster counted: Warbird, Vision, Angel, Black Cat, Union Jack, Red Norvell, Jim Hammond, Darkstar, Hercules, Jim Rhodes, Living Lightening, Wonder Man and Photon.
“Captain America, with the urging of the other founders last night, gave me permission to induct all of you into the Avengers roster as the next incarnation of the team, we’re a big team now, I don’t know if all of you want to stay, and I know some of you have prior commitments, but we did a lot of good, people. I don’t want to see that stop,” Carol told her team-mates this, Jarvis was bustling about, putting food on the table, but he had stopped for her speech and smiled, he always loved to see the family grow. “So say aye if you want in.”
“Aye,” Angel, Black Cat, Jim Hammond, Darkstar and Jim Rhodes called out.
“Red Norvell, why do you abstain?” Carol asked the Norseman.
“I would be flattered but, I came to earth lookin’ for Hercules so me an him could go off and find Thor, I’ve gotta do that first,” Norvell replied, playing with his beard.
“How about we save a spot for you?” She asked.
“I’d like that,” Norvell said smiling. He had enjoyed his time as an Avenger thus far.
“Union Jack, what about you?” She went on to the next member who’d deigned to stay out.
“It’s been fun, but who’s gonna protect London with me gone? Some of you saw those rounds I used against the Watcher when this started, that stuff isn’t legal for a good reason. But against the Vampires and critters crawling through the sewers, I need it. My methods and calling right now don’t fit with the Avengers, sorry luv. But if you’re ever in my neighbourhood, feel free to stop by, any of you,” Union Jack espoused, his reasons were good and valid, though the team would be sad to see him go. Carol tossed him an Avengers card anyways, and put him under inactive status.
“Hold onto this anyways, at the worst you can use it for 10% off Starbucks,” Carol said with a smile.
“I’m a tea drinker, but I’ll hold onto it for you,” he smiled back.
“What about the rest of you? Simon? Monica? Miguel?” she turned to the inactive members who’d come to help out.
“I’m going back West to sort out some business, sorry, but I can’t stay, Carol,” Wonder Man told her, he had been on his way to California when the Watcher business arose, and he meant to go back.
“I’ve got my studies to attend to, senora, I just transferred to UCLA, I can’t fit the Avengers into my life right now,” Living Lightening also bowed out.
“And I’m going to Russia. Darkstar and I were talking yesterday, she wanted to stay on the team, but couldn’t neglect her Winter Guard duties, so I offered to fill in for her. Think of it as a foreign exchange super-hero program. I think it’ll help draw these two teams together, because of old enmities we’ve often overlooked one another. Now we can become powerful allies,” Photon stated proudly and Carol nodded in approval.
“I like that idea, good luck, Monica, and too all of you. Don’t forget there’s always a place for you here, and if you need any help, you’ve got our number,” Carol said to the assembly as they sat down to breakfast.
October 7th:
After another day of recooperation, Wonder Man, Living Lightening, Red Norvell, Hercules, Union Jack and Photon had departed. The new team of Warbird, Vision, Jim Hammond the Human Torch, Black Cat, Angel, Jim Rhodes and Darkstar had been inducted and after a large press conference, they were accepted into the public eye as the new team of Avengers. Back at the mansion, the new status quo slowly settled in.
She found him in the library, the same as their first meeting. Still concerned for Rhodes—and his attachment to the power prism most specifically, Warbird slowly approached Jim Rhodes, the large man was nestled into a comfortable old chair, going through some old book or other.
“Rhodes,” she let her voice drift and disperse into the air, soon Rhodes looked up, with kind eyes towards his team mate. “With all the Watcher stuff behind us, Vizh thinks it would be a good idea to get some tests done on the power prism.”
“…what time is it? Are you hungry?” Rhodes asked, completely ignoring what she’d said.
“It’s almost 6 now…and yeah I guess I am a little hungry,” she replied, unsure as to his intent.
“How about I take you out to dinner and tomorrow, or whenever, Vision can do those tests,” a transformative wave rose upwards from his feet, leaving him dressed in a tuxedo. “I was thinking somewhere nice, you deserve it.”
He was being forward, yet he gave his voice an imploring tone, making it seem as though it was all up to her discretion, but he knew she would say yes.
“I think I’ve got a dress or two appropriate for the occasion, Mr. Rhodes,” Carol replied with flirtatious smile. After all these years, a first date still made her feel like a teenager in some small way.
The Moon
Since the mental attack he’d unleashed on his brother, Uatu had not felt completely well. It was an odd happenstance, and usually an ill portend for Watchers to have headaches or health problems of any kind. For now he would ignore it, chalking it up to exertion, or grief, yet deep inside his mind, cogs of malevolence began to turn….
Next month, an old friend is a new foe in: Fire and Ice!