"You promised me that we would go after Hawkeye! Either keep your promise, or I'm gone." War Toy points her metallic finger at the Crimson Cowl's face.

"I told you that we would go after him and we will. I've come up with a plan to isolate him from the other West Coast Avengers. When the time comes, we will spring the trap."

"Lady! That time is now!" War Toy storms out of the room.

*For those who don't know, Mockingbird was Hawkeye's wife and Ultron used her brain patterns when he made War Toy.

"Alright you two, move away from my daughter!" Scott Lang, AKA Ant-Man, tries to stand between the two assassins and his daughter, Cassie.

"Ant-Man, we meant her no..." Machete' starts.

"Shut up and get away from my daughter before I make you!"

"We just took her to a movie..." Zaran also gets cutoff by Ant-Man.

"You two are freakin' assassins and you expect me to believe that you would look out for my daughter?" Ant-Man looks incredulously at Machete' and Zaran.

"Dad!"

"Not now honey. You two stay away..." This time Scott Lang is interrupted by his daughter.

*See last issue - Banker Baloo

"All we wanted to do was talk to Batroc and then we'll be on our way. Promise." Zaran extends his hand for Scott to shake. Ant-Man doesn't take his hand.

"Alright. Come with me and then I want you gone." Ant-Man, Cassie, Machete' and Zaran start walking towards the house the Champions have started living in.

"War Toy, I've decided to implement my plan now."

"I'm glad that you've come to your senses and are starting to see things my way." War Toy moves towards the Crimson Cowl. "Shall I make the call?"

"Yes. Go ahead. Round up the others when you are done. Then we shall spring my trap." The Crimson Cowl leaves the room. She's not happy that she had to move up her plans, but she needs War Toy.

If a machine could smile, War Toy would be smiling from ear to ear. War Toy dials the phone. The phone is picked up on the other end. "Hello."

"Hi Hawkeye. This is Gayle Rogers. I was wondering if you could meet me for dinner? I have something you might want to see."

"I know you have something I want to see." Hawkeye chuckles at his own wit.

"Don't get your hopes up bow boy. This is important. Meet me at the Invaders Café at 7 pm."

"I'll be there." Hawkeye hangs up.

War Toy stops disguising her voice "I'll be seeing you soon, honey. But you really shouldn't be flirting with other women." She then leaves the room.

A figure comes out of the shadows. It is the same mysterious woman from last issue. "Herr Baron, all is going according to plan. The faux Masters of Evil will soon be meeting the West Coast Avengers."

"Good. Suicide Selia, you must now move on to the next part of our plan. Zemo out."

Suicide Selia slides back into the shadows.

A blonde man walks into the local police station. He walks past the front desk and heads into the police chief's office.

"This is your job interview and you show up late?" The Chief asks.

"Sorry. I don't really have an excuse, I was just late." Barry Allen extends his hand for a handshake. "I'll try to be more prompt in the future."

"Not a problem Allen. Now according to this sheet of paper in front of me you want to work in our crime lab. Normally I'd throw you out of here since you don't have any prior jobs listed, but Captain America and Tony Stark vouch for you."

"I appreciate you giving me a chance."

"You know I wasn't born yesterday Allen. If Cap and Tony Stark are your references then it is a pretty safe bet you're one of those costumed heroes."

"I don't know what you..."

"Don't give me that line of bull. I've been a cop for 25 years and I think I can figure things out by now. I don't mind having one of you fancy pants do-gooders on my squad, but I am concerned with letting bad guys go free. If the courts determine that one of my cops is violating people's rights, offenders will go free."

"I'm not sure I'm following you, sir."

"Then let me say it a different way. You guys are good at getting the bad guys, but you don't have to follow the same rules that the police do. A police officer can't go around bashing in the heads of bad guys. So if you're going to work for me, you have to keep that secret identity a secret and you can never let anyone know I know you are a superhero. Understood?"

"I won't be able to lie in a court of law. But I definitely would like to keep my abilities a secret." Barry Allen never considered how his secret ID as a criminologist could've let criminals go free.

"I wouldn't want an officer who would. At least not one that would admit it." The chief laughs at his own joke. "You can start in the lab on Monday. Good luck."

Barry leaves the chiefs office and thinks to himself "Chief Everett is one shrewd customer."

"Ah, sweet Natasha, I hath been looking for thee. Our friend Dane hath invited us to England for..."

"Not now Hercules. I can't go to England. I've too much to do here." Natasha walks past Hercules and into her room.

Hercules turns to Firebird and shrugs. "That just means that there shall be more food and drink for me."

Firebird rolls her eyes.

Hawkeye flies away from the compound on his skycycle. "I can't believe I'm running late. I've got to remember that the Wackos can take care of things without me looking over their shoulders over every little thing."

As Hawkeye speeds away, a figure comes out of the trees. "He took our bait. Eet eez all zet!" Cyclone turns and flies off after Hawkeye.

Ant-Man, Machete', Zaran, and Cassie walk into the house. Scott Lang is trying to keep Machete' and Zaran away from his daughter. Cerberus runs up and starts licking the faces of Machete', Zaran and Cassie. "Hey ya doggie." Cassie laughs as she pets the three headed beast from Hades.

"Batroc! Batroc! There are some friends here to see you!" Scott walks from room to room looking for the reformed Frenchman.

"Who wants to zee Batroc?" Batroc asks. He stops with a stunned look on his face, which quickly turns to joy. "Machete' and Zaran! How are you two doing?"

"They seem to be doing fine and they'll stay that way as long as you keep them away from my daughter!" Scott grabs Cassie and pulls her out of the room.

"Oh dad!"

"Zo why are you two here?" Batroc asks.

"We want you to lead a new Batroc's Brigade." Zaran says.

Batroc is speechless. (Betcha never thought that could happen.)

Scott Lang has dropped Cassie off in her room and told her to stay there. He's now standing outside the Black Widow's door. "Come on man. The worst that can happen is that she'll say no. So what? You're a grown man. Act like one." Scott knocks on the door.

"Come in."

He opens the door to see Natasha sitting at her desk looking over some papers. "What are those?"

Natasha looks at him and says, "They're outlines of our most recent fights. I'm trying to figure out ways that we could fight better. But I'm worried that Firebird is holding back."

"Why?"

*See the Champions #27.

"Ah. Well I'll try to talk to her." Scott stands there sweating. He can't believe he's this nervous.

"I hope you have better luck than I did. Now was there a reason why you came in here?"

"Yeah, I was wondering if you'd like to... "

Scott is cut off by Natasha's SHIELD phone ringing. "Scott, I've got to take this. Can this wait?"

"Sure. It wasn't anything important." Scott leaves the room. "I was wrong. There could be something worse than a no. I didn't even get an answer."

"Techno gather up the others. We leave within the hour." Zemo turns away from the viewscreen and smiles. "Cowl, you will pay for sullying the name of the Masters of Evil! My father's creation is my legacy! You shall pay for this affront!" He pounds his fist on the console before him.

"Eidolon, we've got to get moving."

"Techno, I want to make sure that the device is ready before we leave." Eidolon, formerly the Gatherers' Vision, stands in Techno's way.

"Yeah it's ready. I got it attached to my arm. Let's go." Techno and Eidolon leave to round up the other Masters of Evil.

"Hercules! When are we leaving to see Dane?" Natasha puts her arm around the Greek Demi-God.

"I thought that thou..."

"Oh don't be silly. I just wanted some time alone to look over the team's performance."

"Natasha, I... Thou... I only bought one ticket."

"Why would you buy tickets when we have transportation from SHIELD?"

"SHIELD? Since when do we work for SHIELD?" Hercules is getting more and more bewildered by the minute.

"I still work with them, remember? I can ask them for favors."

"I'm worried what favors SHIELD would ask for in return! They are most devious." The Greek demi-god scowls at the thought of owing SHIELD any favors.

"Shall we leave?" Natasha heads towards the backyard where a SHIELD shuttle awaits. That call from SHIELD has shaken Natasha up. In England she should be able to get more information about the situation in Russia.

(See Black Knight #7 for Dane's Party and then go to Crusaders Shadows #16-18 for the Russian Gambit. Note: The Russian Gambit is in Year 5 so Natasha doesn't go straight from the party to Russia.)

"What do you mean there's no reservation for Gayle Rogers or Clint Barton?" Hawkeye can't believe this snooty stuffed shirt is telling him that he doesn't have a reservation. "Wait a second." He thinks to himself. "Maybe she was being cute and put it under Hawkeye."

"Hey slim! Do you have a reservation for Hawkeye?" Clint Barton gives the Maitre' d a smug grin.

"Sir, if you don't leave now, I'll have you escorted out."

Hawkeye walks out of the café towards the bench just outside. "I can't believe this! I was worried about being late and she's not even here! Maybe she's getting me back for standing her up!"

A voice from above gets Hawkeye's attention. "Hawkeye, prepare to meet your end!" The Crimson Cowl, Cyclone, Tigershark, Wartoy, Flying Tiger and Mankiller have surrounded Hawkeye.

Hawkeye looks to see that he's surrounded and says "Oh..."

Part 2 of the Masters of Evil War takes place in Hawkeye #19. After checking out the mayhem in that issue fly right over to West Coast Avengers #117 for part 3.