The mansion of Steven Grant rested leisurely in the cold winter of Long Island; it's pristine beauty only amplified by the ivory snow that blanketed it. Even with the bitterness of the weather outside, passers-by could admire the Grant estate's lovely vegetation and hardy decorations that reflected the happiness of the season. It didn't reflect the feelings on the inside.
"So," Steven Grant asked, "why are you doing this?"
The name on the UPS deliveryman's uniform read 'Stan'. He looked to be an older man with gray hair, a thin gray moustache and large, thick glasses. But, unfortunately for Grant, Stan didn't arrive on his doorstep to deliver another of Grant's precious antique vases. Wrapped around Stan's waist was a belt of fifty sticks of dynamite.
"Stan," Grant had his hands raised, "let's talk about this, shall we?"
But Stan didn't say anything. He just had his hand on the detonation device and kept staring at Grant with a blank stare. There was a small stream of saliva leaking out of the corner of his mouth.
Grant knew that something is wrong. Stan wasn't in control of himself, that much Grant knew. He had seen enough mind control in his day to recognize that. Grant was thankful that he was the only one in the mansion at the moment.
"Stan," Grant said slowly, calmly, "listen to me, you need to think. Remember where you are. Remember who you are. Listen to the sound of my voice. Stan, do you know where--"
Stan pushed the detonator.
"The Earth is quite a sight today," Wanda said quietly.
"Yes it is." The Silver Surfer smiled. "Especially considering Graviton moved the Moon half it's distance closer to it."
Wanda turned to the Surfer with her head cocked slightly.
"I apologize," the Surfer looked away from her and back to the Earth. "That was an attempt at humorous reflection."
"I know," Wanda sighed. "But it doesn't make the situation any more pleasant."
"Do you wish to postpone our endeavor?" the Surfer looked back at her.
"No," Wanda said simply, rubbing her forehead.
"Then we should begin."
Wanda looked at the Surfer and saw the calm confidence and knowledge that his simple presence exhumed. His posture, his pupil-less eyes and the cold slab of metal that were always with him combined for something that Wanda wasn't ready for.
"Surfer, I don't know if I can do this," Wanda said, bringing her hands to her forehead. "I mean, my mind is just so scattered right now. I can still feel the bursts of power that the Omega Machine unleashed in me. I can still see Vision...dead...in that crater."
"Your teammate is being rebuilt by Inhuman scientists," the Surfer said quickly after Wanda brings her hands from her head and turns to him, "and the Omega Machine simply showed you what was already inside of you. You've recovered remarkably well. I don't see any reason to postpone."
Wanda shook her head lightly and returned her look to the Earth, sparkling in front of them. She chuckled and crossed her arms.
"Do you find something amusing?" Surfer asked, cocking his head in the same way Wanda did to him earlier.
Wanda looked back to him with the slight grin still on her face.
"No," she sighed, putting her hands down by her side. "You're absolutely right."
"Then we should begin."
"Carol?" Gyrich peeked his head around the door of the chairman's office and saw Carol Danvers, out of her Warbird uniform, sitting at the large oak desk, papers scattered around her. She didn't look happy. He couldn't blame her.
"What do you want, Henry?" Carol sighed.
"I'm just here to drop off some more...umm...papers," Gyrich stuttered, knowing Carol wasn't going to be happy with that revelation.
But Carol just let out a heave and nod.
"Place them in that stack over there, will you?" Carol motioned to a stack on her left. Gyrich obliged.
"There's something else, too," Gyrich said quickly.
Now Carol looked up with a stare that made Gyrich take two steps back.
"What?" she asked, sounding like a hammer hitting concrete.
"Well," Gyrich stumbled on his words before finding confidence, "since the Avengers were almost overwhelmed by the events of last week, the UN is a bit anxious to see the ten member roster filled."
Carol frowned but she looked back at her papers after only a moment's distraction.
"Fine," she said. "I'll get Jan on it."
"Well..." Gyrich trailed off.
"What?!" Carol yelled, looking up from her work. "Just spit it out, Henry! I'm getting tired of jumping through hoops here! I've got to write letters of explanation to seventeen countries, I have to deliver a statement to the press, and I've got to make phone calls so I can stay on top of current events. I don't have time for you to be nervous! Now what is it?"
"The UN has chosen a candidate for one of the three open roster spots," Gyrich squeaked out.
Carol cocked an eye at him and breathes in slowly.
"Do not say the name I think you're going to say," she said, looking at the desk.
"Mister Immortal," Gyrich said and tried to complete his thoughts quickly before Carol could spew a response. "The UN was very impressed with his assistance with the Mole Man incident. Ka-Zar of the Savage Land lent his particularly influential praise."
"No!" Warbird stood up from her desk. "Absolutely not! I won't let this happen!."
"Carol," Gyrich tried to keep her calm, "Standard Avengers procedure is that every new candidate for membership is put to a vote by all who have a say in the functions of the team. That would be you, me, Hank and the current seven member roster, since Vision is now inactive."
"Then I vote against him!" Carol shrugged. "Gather the team and we'll have our vote."
"You've already lost, Carol. We've already asked the other voters." Gyrich explained, "You've been outvoted six to three. He's on the team."
Carol's jaw dropped and she simply stared at Gyrich for moment. Gyrich started to back away when Carol's eye started twitching almost violently.
"Goddammit!" Carol picked up the chair she was sitting in and threw it across the room. It crashed into the wall and splintered into hundreds of pieces. "How the hell am I supposed to do my job when my own team keeps secrets from me?"
"Carol," Gyrich raised his hands, "calm down. I got in touch with the others by phone. It was a relatively quick procedure. I tried to reach you but I couldn't get through for some reason."
Gyrich saw Carol's shoulders slump.
"I unplugged it," she sighed.
"I'm sorry you had to find out like this," Gyrich said. "I don't mean to jeopardize--"
"Can it, Henry." Carol waved him off. "I know. I've got to get out of here."
Gyrich was quick to jump out of her way when Carol stormed from the room.
"Okay, folks," Dirk Garthwaite said, his thick New York accent making it almost hard for the workers of the Saint Vincent Catholic Hospital Blood Bank to understand exactly what it was he wanted. "I don' wanna hurt nobody. But if ya get in my way, I ain't gonna stop my crowbar from splittin' ya heads open, get me?"
The workers only stared at him. Dirk was wearing a green jumpsuit with purple boots, gloves and mask. In his hand was a large crowbar. They gave each other puzzled looks and then started to snicker lightly. Dirk frowned cartoonishly.
"Hey!" he yelled as loud as his lungs could let him. "You people think I'm jokin'?!"
The workers of the blood bank watched as the crowbar in Dirk's hands began to quiver. Dirk lifted the crowbar high over his head and brought it crashing down to the floor. There was a thunderous crash and the workers watched as the floor quaked out of its natural state and the vibrations caused the entrance of the building to collapse in a wave of dust and rubble.
"Now," Dirk smiled, "My name's da Wrecker. And I'm here to make a withdrawal out o' this bank."
"Mother?"
The voice sounded so comforting, yet it made Crystal's skin crawl. She was afraid to look at the child lying in the bed next to her. She did anyway.
"Luna?"
"You know it is me, Mother," Luna said softly to her.
The child still looked, felt and smelled like the child that she loved just a day ago. But so much about her own daughter had changed.
"You don't know what to think of my new abilities," Luna said simply.
"That's putting it mildly." Crystal turned away from her daughter and folded her arms.
"I know this must be a shocking experience for you," Luna sounded collected. "And believe me when I say I am very sorry for upsetting the balance of life within the family...but it had to be done."
"Upsetting the balance of life?" Crystal echoed. "Is that what you think is wrong?"
"Isn't it?" Luna's light blue eyes sparkled.
Crystal looked back to Luna and shrugged her shoulders.
"Yeah," she sighed, "yeah, I guess it is. I mean, everything is different now."
"How so?" Luna asked.
"Can't you just read my mind and figure all that out?" Crystal said bitterly.
"I may be telepathic, among other things, Mother," Luna retained her calmness, "but there are still instances where I would prefer to hear a human voice."
Crystal turned away from her daughter again, but she did sit down on the bed across from her.
"I'm sorry, Luna," she said, putting her face in her hands. "It's just that Pietro and I...we're together again. It's the first time in a long time that we're actually trying to make things work. We were going to be a family again."
"And that included raising me," Luna said.
"That's right." Crystal laughed. "But I guess that's not going to work out now, is it?"
"I believed that was the reason," Luna said quickly, "I cannot tell you enough how sorry I am for all of this. I didn't choose to manifest these...abilities of mine. I know that this cheats you and my father out of the life that you were both prepared to live."
Crystal didn't say anything.
"But I am still your daughter," Luna said sternly, "and, of course, I still want you both to be happy. Nothing would give me more pleasure than seeing my parents together again. Have either of you given thought to rejoining the Avengers?"
"What?" Crystal turned around and looked at her daughter with obvious puzzlement.
"It makes perfect sense," Luna smiled. "You both met while on the Avengers. You both fell in love while on the Avengers. No matter what argument the two of you may have, you can't leave the other's side because you're a part of a team. If you want to start over again, Mother, the Avengers are the perfect starting point."
"That's out of the question." Crystal stood up and replied strongly to her daughter. "Pietro and I are past that point in our lives."
"No, you're not." Luna looked angrily at her mother. "If anything, in the last few days, your lives have taken dramatic steps backward. I was the reason you two decided to give your love another chance. Now, I am out of the equation and do not need your help. No, it is not fair. I will be the first to admit that. But you need to be the one to admit that it is time to start over."
Crystal started to shake and she suppressed the urge to lash out with every ounce of anger that was running through her body. Luna was still her daughter and Crystal still loved her very much. She just didn't know what to do. So instead, she turned and walked, as calmly as she could keep herself, out of the room.
Hank slowly turned the doorknob and entered the room quietly. He didn't know whether she's sleeping or not and if she was, Hank definitely did not want to wake her.
"Jan?" he said softly, almost fully in the room.
"Hank!" Jan yelled and Hank knew for sure that she wasn't sleeping.
She leapt from the side of the bed where she had been sitting and was in Hank's arms before he could even register another thought. He certainly wasn't complaining. Jan wasn't in his arms two seconds when she gives him a look that she hadn't given him in a very long time. It was the same as it ever was. Hank couldn't ever resist her. He kissed her and it was like the passion never left.
Jan pulled away, letting Hank catch his breath.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, pulling Hank's chest closer to her and hugging it. "I...I just missed you."
"I missed you, too," Hank said. "I was worried sick. There hadn't been any communication and--"
"I know," Jan said, squeezing tighter. "Oh, god. I watched Simon and Carol--I thought they were dead--and the Mole Man got away and it was just so--Hank, it just made me..."
"It's alright, Jan." Hank brushed her hair back with his hand. "You know I'm here for you."
"Yeah." Jan pushed Hank back a bit so she can see his face. "Are you happy with this?"
Hank tilted his head a little at her, while the caring expression on his face slowly faded into one of subtle confusion.
"What do you mean, Jan?"
This time, Jan stood up and walked from Hank to the bedroom window. She didn't say anything for a little while and Hank didn't bother her. He didn't know what was wrong but he knew better than to force an issue after a mission. Hank knew better than anyone just how fragile someone could be after a mission. He just needed Jan to know that she could count on him for anything. Hank stood and started to walk to her again, but Jan spoke before he could get to her.
"This isn't what I thought, Hank," she said quickly, almost spitting the words on to the floor.
"What do you mean?" Hank asked, deciding not to get closer to her just yet.
"When I was younger," Jan said, still staring out the large bedroom window and on to the quiet, green garden below, "this was a dream come true. Not only did I have these amazing powers, I had you right next to me. It was perfect. But now..."
She trailed off into another thought and Hank didn't pursue her.
"Jan," he said, not able to look at her, "We're heroes. I may not be an Avenger right now but...it's all I know."
Jan finally took herself and her eyes from the garden below and returned her gaze to Hank. Her make-up had already started to streak down her cheeks in black rivers. The look hit Hank like knife to the heart.
"You know me, Hank," she said, letting the tears flow freely.
And Hank didn't say anything. He stood there, tormented by her stare and the thought that maybe he was close to losing everything. So he did the only thing he can do.
"I love you, Jan," he said and Jan turned back to the garden as Hank walked out of the room, letting the door quietly shut on his way out.
"Excellent."
The smoking husk of what was once the Grant Estate lay wet and black in the Long Island snow. The fire department had just put the finishing touches on erasing the inferno and only a few random police officers and media reporters remained.
They didn't see the lone, thin figure that stood in the middle of the ashes, observing his work. The smile that formed on his lips was as curled and large as the two warped horns that stuck out of his helmet. Loki was pleased.
"That takes care of that." the god of mischief said to himself simply, watching the mortals walk and ponder around him. "Now, the real fun can begin."
Wonder Man pulled the tab of his Vanilla Pepsi and took a sip. After nearly choking on the foul substance, he lifted his red glasses and incinerated the devilish can with a quick, thin beam of energy.
"Whoa," a coaxing voice said softly from behind him. "A bit on edge, Simon?"
Tigra, or rather Greer Nelson (Simon wasn't used to seeing her human form), hopped over the back of the couch and landed next to him.
"Eh, I dunno," Simon shrugged, turning on the television. "I guess it's just weird to be back after all this time. I haven't even seen Wanda yet. I still don't know how she's doing."
"Ah, of course," Tigra smiled. "A woman on your mind. I should've known."
"It's not like that," Simon said quickly, giving Tigra a serious yet ridiculous look. "I'm just concerned for her, that's all. Besides, I don't really know if..."
"What?" Tigra rubbed his shoulder as Simon rubs his eyes.
"Ah, nothing." Simon stopped rubbing his eyes and took her hand off him.
"Oh, stop it!" Tigra stood up. "Tell me. You should be able to tell me, of all people."
Simon stared at her, not quite knowing what to say but then visibly relaxed, knowing Tigra could pull the truth out of anyone, so why not?
"I don't really know if I'm wanted around here, Tigra." He looked away from her and at his feet.
"What?" Tigra didn't know what could prompt him to say that, but then, it clicked, "Ah, alright. I get it. Carol."
"She looked like she wanted to kill me," Simon said. "I mean, yeah, okay, it was my fault that I wasn't there on time--"
"Couldn't peel yourself away from your bedfellow of the week?" Tigra poked him in the ribs. Simon grimaced at both the poke and the comment.
"Anna is a very nice woman to go along with her tennis ability," Simon said quickly and clearly like a lawyer to a jury, "but that's not my point. The Avengers can't work if everyone is not on the same page; you know that as well as I do. If I'm only going to cause trouble then I don't want to be a part of it."
"You're not any trouble, Simon." Tigra's voice was soothing. "Everyone was on edge and Carol...Simon! Look!"
Simon turned to the television and immediately turns the volume from mute. The image showed the Saint Vincent Catholic Hospital Blood Bank and it's crushed entrance. Simon and Tigra moved in closer to the screen.
"There have been reports from inside that the entire building is now under the control of the super-powered criminal, the Wrecker," the correspondent said amidst the chaos that was swirling around the Bank. "It is unclear what his motives are or what--"
Simon clicked off the television and looks at Tigra. She smiled at him.
"Just like old times, eh, Simon?" Tigra laughed.
Wanda and the Surfer floated high above Attilan, letting the Surfer's cosmic board take them higher and higher. Finally, the Surfer stopped their ascent. Wanda looked down and was dazzled by the bright lights and images that flooded her sight at such a distance. It was almost enough to take her thoughts away from...
"Are you prepared?" the Surfer asked.
"As much as I ever will be," Wanda said, her eyes closed.
The Surfer walked across the board closer to Wanda and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Begin to focus your energy, both mutant and magical. You will need them both," the Surfer said slowly. "I want you to feel the energy that I am giving you and continue to focus that as well. Do not be shocked by what you feel. For all that you will encounter, I want you to focus on the moon. Feel her move."
And she could. She was taken aback at first and wanted to throw Surfer's hands from her. But, after awhile, she began to feel incredible. Wanda had her eyes closed but she could see everything. She could hear everything. She could feel everything. It was like she was riding the winds of her powers and flowing through everything in Attilan--no, the entire Moon--living and non-living.
She felt her powers increase. She could feel and sense every physical force, every ounce of energy around the planet and she knew exactly what she had to do to make things right.
And Wanda knew what was happening to her.
She was becoming...aware...
To Be Continued...
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