YEAR
THREE
ISSUE 427
Great X-pectations
Scott Harris
SCRIPT:
Lonni Holland
| JANUARY YEAR THREE ISSUE 427 |
Great X-pectations |
PLOT: Scott Harris SCRIPT: Lonni Holland |
Avengers Mansion: the kitchen...
Another fight, another busy clean-up for Jarvis, the Avengers' butler. The furniture was straightened, the broken items removed and replaced, carpets vacuumed, surfaces dusted. It had taken almost three days, but things were back to normal. * He had just completed the last of the preparations for the buffet luncheon he was planning to serve to the team when he was interrupted by a knock at the front door. Quickly wiping his hands, pulling the apron from his waist, and donning his jacket, he hurried to answer it.
* see our last issue to find out why Jarvis had to clean up so much
"Master Williams. How wonderful to see you."
"Hiya, Jarvis." Wonder Man pumped Jarvis's hand but his eyes remained distant, his voice unresponsive *. "Listen, Century and I are in town for a couple of days and were sort of wondering if you guys could put us up."
* see the Scarlet Witch mini series for more details
"Why of course, Master Williams. The mansion always has room for an extra Avenger or two. Have you any bags? Come with me, your old room is available. I am certain that we can make Master Century comfortable as well. I know the others will be delighted to see you, and you are just in time for luncheon."
Together they headed down the hallway, the older, slightly balding, Mansion mainstay, Jarvis, and the tall, muscular Wonder Man, with the sad and haunted eyes.
Avengers Mansion: the Control Room...
Surrounded by banks of the latest in communications equipment and computers, Captain America sat in the central monitoring chair and let his eyes scan the terminals and readouts. Part of his brain registered every fact, weighed each piece of data, forever alert to the need for his team, another part drifted back to the events of the morning.
For the third time in as many days he had knocked at the door of a penthouse apartment on Central Park West. The other times his knocks had gone unanswered, although he knew the occupant was inside. Today the door slipped open when he rapped on it. He had stepped in cautiously, calling out greetings, wondering, and almost fearing, what he would find.
The room was littered with debris, broken glass and empty liquor bottles. Slumped on the floor, in front of the full length window, was a man, an unshaven, unwashed man, doubled over, his shoulders heaving. Steve approached him carefully, knelt and put his hand on the back of his friend. "Clint?"
Clint Barton, Hawkeye, raised his head and looked bleakly at Cap. Teardrops lined his face and dripped from the stubble on his chin. He stifled his sobs, gasping in huge gulps of air. "Wha..? Rogers, what are you doing here. I didn't let you in." He turned his head away, wiping vainly at the tears. "Get out and leave me alone."
"Clint, please, the door wasn't even closed. I've been here everyday, but you wouldn't answer." He tried to help Hawk get up.
Clint brushed him away and struggled to his feet alone. He staggered as he headed for the kitchen and fumbled for a glass and another bottle of whiskey from the large paper bag on the counter. "Damned delivery guy musta not shut the thing." He poured the golden brown liquid to the top of the glass. "So tell me, Rogers, did it ever dawn on you that I didn't answer because I didn't want to see you." He downed the whiskey in one long gulp and poured more. His words slurred as he continued, "I don't want to see you, or any of your boy scout friends again. I don't want to see anyone, except one person, and I can't see her, not ever..." He tried to take yet another drink but choked as his sobs overcame him.
"Damn it, Clint. Jack called and told me what happened. * You know how sorry I am. Please, let me help."
* see Hawkeye Issues 1 to 5
"Help? How can you help me, Mr. Sentinel of Liberty? Gonna wave your magic shield and make my wife live again? I don't think so. Gonna tell me how we all lose people and I'll get over it? Well screw you, 'cause I'm not getting over it. This was my last chance, my last hope, and it's gone, just like she's gone. She was my life, she was the only good thing I ever had, and no friggin' walking flag boy is gonna make it all better. Now get the hell out of here, before I throw you out."
Cap stood and watched as his friend lurched towards him, barely staying upright in his stupor, banging into furniture as he moved forward.. "Hawk, you're an Avenger, but more importantly, you're my friend. Don't you see that you're tearing yourself apart?" He snapped his shield up and deflected the glass Clint threw at him. "Stop that, Clint, I don't want to fight you, especially not when you're like this. I just hate seeing you in this kind of pain."
"Oh you do, do you? Then get me back my wife, somehow, some way, get me back my beautiful Bobbi." He threw himself on the couch in despair. "Right now, if you really want to help me, just get out, and leave me alone. I'm going to be alone forever, so I want to be alone now, damn it."
Cap tried one last time. Extending his hand he cajoled, "Clint, please..."
Clint Barton, his face turned away, began to curse softly, As his voice gradually rose, and his swearing became more vulgar, Steve turned slowly and headed for the door. As he left he said, "Just remember, Clint, when you are ready to talk, I'm here for you." He sadly closed the door, stood in the hall and listened to the muffled sobs from within.
Those sobs still echoed in his ears as he sat and watched the monitors, in the heart of Avengers Mansion. In his career he had saved the world, even the universe, so why couldn't he save his friend from self destruction? Somehow, there had to be a way to help.
Avengers Mansion: the lounge....
"So that's the only part of your memory that is still spotty, Carol?" Hank Pym leaned forward in his chair. Ms. Marvel and Namor sat across from him, on a velvet settee, Dr. Amazing off to one side, his elbow leaning on the mantle of the fireplace. They had conferred often since Carol had finally become reconnected to her memories * and was trying now to gather the remnants of her life.
* it happened in our last issue
"That's it YJ. I already had remembered almost everything, but it was always like watching a movie, or looking through someone else's scrap book. Everything seemed to be there, but I couldn't relate to it. Now I know that those things all happened to me. The only thing that isn't quite clear is the time when I lost my powers in the first place. I can remember it, but it's still like seeing it through a cloud or something."
Namor opened his mouth to speak, but turned at a noise in the doorway. "Wonder Man?"
Simon, walking down the hall behind Jarvis, stopped in the doorway. "Hi guys, how are you?"
Hank Pym jumped to his feet, exclaiming, "Simon, it's so good to see you. Come in and talk for a while. You remember the others, and this is Dr. Amazing."
Simon frowned, for a moment unsure of his memories, but, as his eyes met the Doctor's, it suddenly all became clear. He recalled many adventures with the good Doctor battling at their side * only to seemingly disappear shortly after. He stretched out his hand to the older man and replied, "Good to see you. I'd like to stay but I'm going to drop my stuff off and have a quick chat with Cap first. Maybe over lunch?"
* last issue again
They agreed and Simon continued down the hall. Conversation went on with Carol, as they tried to get nearer to bridging the last gaps in her memory. Namor leaned closer to her, his arm resting behind her on the settee. He was almost touching her shoulders when Jarvis stepped in.
"Master Namor? A gentleman on the phone for you, a Mr. Goldfarb. He insists on speaking to you."
"Goldfarb? That's my lawyer, I wonder what he wants. He knows he is not to disturb me here. I suppose I'd better take it in the other room. I'll be right back, Carol." He hastened out of the room, reluctantly leaving Hank and Dr. Amazing to talk further with Ms. Marvel.
Furious at the interruption, Namor stomped down the hall to a small den. He grabbed the phone and growled a cursory greeting into it. He listened impatiently for a few minutes. his eyes flicking back towards the hallway, almost as if he were trying to see back into the lounge. Finally he snapped, "That's just about enough, Goldfarb. I pay your firm an exorbitant fee to handle these affairs for me. Oracle, Inc. should function properly *, if it doesn't, then I obviously need to find a new law firm Now do the work that I pay you for or I will find one. I am Namor, master of the royal house of Atlantis and have no further time to waste on these mundane surface world affairs." With that, he slammed down the phone and stormed out of the room.
* for further details watch for the upcoming Powerman & Iron Fist #128
Rushing to reach the lounge, Namor passed the control room, only to stop a moment as he caught a small portion of the ongoing conversation.
Captain America was speaking to Wonder Man. "Simon, I know you're here on personal business but I'd really appreciate it if you could make yourself available if we need you. Call it a hunch if you will, or maybe it's just from years of past experience but I have the oddest feeling that we are going to need some reserve members."
Simon replied, "I don't know about that Cap. I'm really not sure right now if I want to be an Avenger. I've got a lot of personal baggage to get rid of first. I suppose I could man the monitors or something, at least"
Namor stepped into the room. "Captain, do you really think that this is necessary? After all..."
At that moment he was interrupted as Ms. Marvel and Dr. Amazing entered the room behind him. Carol brought them up to date on what had been discussed earlier and then made her request. "Cap, I'd like to go and talk to Professor Xavier. He tried to help me recover my memories before. Now that I'm so close I'd like to see if he can bridge those last few gaps. Maybe he can link my mind with Rogue's or something. I'd just like to get this over with, so I can go on with my life. If I get the last of the memories back or not isn't important. I just need to know, one way or another."
Cap nodded. Namor was just about to offer to go with her when Dr. Amazing spoke up. "Captain, I think I should accompany her. I may be able to be of some assistance in forming the link."
Again Cap nodded, although with obvious reluctance. "I suppose that's a good idea. Carol, I understand that you need to deal with personal matters, just keep me informed of how long you'll be away. Simon and I were just discussing this very thing. I'm concerned that we may be caught short handed."
Ms. Marvel looked at him and frowned. "Well, it could wait..."
"No, Carol. The sooner you get things settled, the better it will be for you. You've been through a lot the past few years, you deserve a chance for some closure on the whole affair."
"Okay, thanks. We shouldn't be too long. Perhaps the rest of the afternoon." She kissed Steve's cheek quickly, turned and walked out, Dr. Amazing right behind her. Behind her, Captain America flushed and Namor frowned.
As they headed down the hall Carol reflected that perhaps this wasn't what she really did want to do after all. She had come so far, but would seeing Rogue again help or hurt? That time had been distressing for her, but in some ways it had been a release; the memories of her time with Marcus erased, then back, but detached and no longer painful. She glanced over at the Doctor as he struggled to keep up with her rapid pace. He looked so happy, so eager, so finally tranquil compared to the sad little man who had told his story to them just a few days ago. * If he could find contentment, then perhaps so could she.
* see issue #425
Back in the control room....
Captain America was talking to the others. By this time Vision and Yellowjacket had joined them. Suddenly a new broadcast on one of the monitors caught his eye. In the heart of Manhattan the New Warriors were engaged in a furious battle against Terrax. * Cap was just about to assemble the team to assist when a priority call came in. It was T'Challa calling from Wakanda ** requesting aid against the Destroyer. Steve was momentarily torn between the two crises but he quickly dispatched Namor, Yellowjacket and Vision to prepare a Quinjet.
* see New Warriors #76
** see Black Panther #3-4
As the others bolted off to the hanger Cap turned to Simon and asked, "Didn't you say that Century and Beast were having lunch downtown?" Simon nodded and Cap activated the Avengers communication system and told Beast to get over to where the New Warriors were. Century indicated that he would assist as best he could. Cap turned back to Wonder Man. "Simon, I don't like this much. If another call comes in I don't know who you can send, but do your best will you?"
Simon nodded. "Oh, if something comes up I'm sure I can find some volunteers somewhere. Actually isn't Hawkeye back in town?"
Steve shook his head quickly. "That wouldn't be a very good idea. Clint's trying to sort out some... personal things right now. It would be best if we just respected his privacy and let him deal with it. If you can't find anyone from our usual reserves list then try the Champions or the Fantastic Four or Spider-man. I doubt anything will happen but it never hurts to be ready. I'd better go. Hold the fort, Avenger." With that he was off.
At the Westchester home of the X-Men....
Tension was high as Ms. Marvel and Dr. Amazing sat on one side of the room, Professor Xavier and Rogue on the other. They had been talking for a while now but Rogue was nervous and getting more defensive. Although nothing had been said, she felt that Carol still blamed all of this on her. True, she was the one who had taken Carol's powers and her memories, but she had been a kid, duped by her step-mother. She had long regretted her days on the 'bad side' but somehow it seemed to keep coming back to haunt her. Ms. Marvel had again brought up the possibility of a mind link and that terrified Rogue. She leapt to her feet.
"Ah didn't mean to cause all these problems, but Ah'm not gonna have you messin' with mah mind." She bolted from the room. Carol chased after her, protesting.
Dr. Amazing started to head into the main hall after them only to have the way blocked by Iceman and Jubilee who had been listening from outside the room. Bobby Drake stood, arms crossed, in the middle of the doorway. Dr. A. could hear the raised voices of the two women in the distance but Iceman just stood there shaking his head. "Let them work it out Doc, you can just stay here and, pardon the pun, chill." It was going to be one of those afternoons.
Back at the mansion.....
Simon was relaxing in the monitor room, eating from a lunch tray that Jarvis had brought him, and contemplating calling Clint, in spite of Captain America's admonition, when the emergency phone rang. It was SHIELD asking for help. A force field was up in Great Britain and massive destruction was going on behind it. A group of UK heroes were battling the Fomor and officials had been unable to make any progress getting through the barrier. * Simon agreed to bring as much help as he could. He fired off several calls to reservists but had to leave messages for all of them, including the Champions and the Fantastic Four. He even called Hawkeye but got only a brief 'It's your nickel, leave your message' recording from Clint's machine. Hoping that someone would join him soon, he dashed off to the hanger bay, gulping down the last of his sandwich as he ran.
* see Crusaders #1-4
In the monitor room the silence was broken only by the soft whirring of the recording devices that kept track of the news broadcasts, and the muffled click of the computer hard drives as information was archived. A phone rang. CLICK... whirrr.... 'This is Avengers Mansion. No one can take your call right now, but leave a message and we'll get back to you'..... whirrr... BEEP
"You have to h.... skreetch... us. We're in b... skreetch... trouble here. This is..... skreetch... of the Zodiac. We're at.... skreetch... skruunch... CLUNK... Please hang up and dial your call again, this is a recording. Please hang up and dial your call again......." *
* check upcoming SVTU issues 23-28 for details
Back in Westchester......
Dr. Amazing dove behind a couch, narrowly avoiding a blast from Jubilee. In the distance he could still hear the sounds of two women arguing, and furniture breaking. Professor Xavier had as yet to interfere as the Doctor had avoided ice slides and explosions. Iceman made one last attempt to encase his feet in ice, but Dr. Amazing had been around too long to get caught that easily. He tossed a footstool that was quickly frozen, and then caught Bobby off guard with a quick kick to the abdomen. He leapt over the fallen mutant and dashed into the main hallway before Jubilee could get to him.
Ms. Marvel and Rogue were grappling near the front door, Carol screaming that she only needed a chance to recover her memories and Rogue crying and frightened, protesting that she was sorry, even as she struck out to escape Carol's grasp. Dr. Amazing aimed his Psi gun at them, unsure if he had enough strength to make a difference but desperate to try something. Both women's seventh sense kicked in at the same time. They turned, as one, to the Doctor, just as the beam hit them, linking the thoughts of all three.
'My God. it's never done this before.' 'Don't you see, all I want is my life, not to hurt you.' 'I never wanted to do this, to be this.' 'I don't know if I can do this.' 'I remember now, I remember it all.' 'Take it, take the memories, take the power, for God's sake take it all and let me touch, and feel, and live...'
All three of them collapsed. Professor Xavier, Jubilee and Iceman had, by this time, rushed into the room. The Professor reached out touched the minds of all of them. "It's over, Bobby, Jubilee. Just let them rest."
"But what did they do to Rogue? She's hurt."
"Not hurt, at peace. It was nothing she didn't truly want. She's felt guilt for years, thinking that she had destroyed a life. Now she has returned the essence of Ms. Marvel's memories and the last of her powers to Carol. She did it because, subconsciously, it was what she really wanted. Robert, take Rogue to her room and let her recover."
Carol and Dr. Amazing climbed to their feet. Carol looked, stricken, at the unconscious Rogue. "Professor I'm so sorry. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. You and the others were so kind to me before. My God, what will Ororo think?"
The Professor shook his head. ":Don't blame yourself Carol. This is why I didn't interfere. You know I could have stopped both of you easily if I had tried. Rogue was frightened and confused, but deep inside this is what she wanted. Actually she would have probably preferred if you had taken her powers too. Her mind has rejected yours, for now, and perhaps now she can heal herself of the guilt she has carried all these years. You had best leave now. We'll care for her."
As they walked back out to their car Dr. Amazing, his hand gently at the upset Ms. Marvel's elbow, reflected that at least the other Avengers must have had a quiet day.
Several days later at Avengers Mansion.....
"And that's all there was on the message tape, Natasha." Captain America turned off the recording machine and rubbed at his forehead. "By the way, thank you for coming to review this with me. I know that you're busy with the Champions right now."
She glanced downwards, flicked some of her long deep auburn hair from her face then gazed coolly into his eyes. "You're more than welcome Steve, but that's not why you called me here. Now what did you really want?"
Steve sighed. "I never could keep anything from you, could I? All right Natasha, here it is in a nutshell. The Avengers failed miserable. We didn't have enough people to send to all of the emergencies and as a result we missed the call I just played for you, and on top of that, one of the heroes died in Britain."
"Steve, you can't blame yourself for the death of Captain Britain. * The Avengers can only be in so many places at one time. Isn't that what you told me when I felt guilty because I wasn't with the team when they took on Onslaught?"
* see Crusaders #4
He smiled. "Okay, throw my own words back at me. I guess I deserved that. Anyway, you hit the nail on the head. We can't be everywhere at once, at least not from one base of operations like we are now."
"Are you trying to say...???"
"Exactly, Natasha. I think we made a mistake shutting down the west coast branch and I think we need to get it going again." He looked at her closely, saw that little frown, but also saw her nodding. "Naturally the first person I thought of to head up the team was Hawkeye, but there's a small problem there."
"A problem? I know Clint was taking a short leave but he is returning to active duty isn't he?"
Cap quickly filled her in on what USAgent had told him about their exploits with Dr. Strange in Mephisto's realm. He almost told her about seeing Hawkeye himself just a few days back, but decided that had best remain between the two of them. He carried on. "Anyway, I've tried to see him, but he's taking this pretty hard."
Natasha nodded. "I'm sure he is. Clint loved Bobbi very much, far more deeply than anything the two of us ever had. This must be almost destroying him. So, what do you want of me. Steve? Shall I go and try to seduce him?"
"Good heavens, no!" He noticed the slight smile on her lips and continued, "Seriously though, I think he'd talk to you, where he won't talk to me. Just try to get him to come here and see me. I'm betting that if I offer him something like this it'll help take his mind off it at least. He's the right man for the job and it could well be the best medicine for him right now too."
Natasha thought for a moment and then finally nodded again. "All right Steve, I'll do my best. You and the other Avengers go to the funeral * and I'll see if I can shake our future chairman of the Avengers West Coast out of his funk." **
* in Crusaders #5
** see how Natasha handles the problem in Hawkeye #6
Captain America rose and took her hand in his. "Thank you, Natasha. Maybe that way we'll never have to let down anyone else who calls for the Avengers to assemble."