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| Issue #1 June 2007 |
“Into the Void” Part 1: Baby Steps Written By Eric Roman |
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The Past
"Robert honey, when are you coming to bed? I swear you've been going over that work for hours now, please just give yourself a break." Linda Reynolds pleadingly asked her husband, as he sits ponders over papers in his office, located in their Southern California home.
Looking up from his seat, the neat cropped, blond hair man stared into his wife's eyes. Offering her a welcoming smile, he gently adjusted the glasses which lay on his face. Robert Reynolds loved his wife, but he often found himself caught up in his work. Though not normally one to bring his work home, recently Robert had come across some findings which seemed to entice his interests. Unsure exactly of what he was attempting to decipher, the University of Southern California Professor was devoting much of his time to his research. His wife, whom was possibly his biggest supporter in all of his endeavors, had begun to notice the estrangement between them becoming more evident by the day.
"I'm sorry dear, it's just I believe I've come across something that could rival even the discoveries of Reed Richards." he says with a confident voice.
Rolling her eyes, Linda Reynolds couldn't help but smile. Almost since the moment she had first met Robert, she had known that Reed Richards was his biggest influence. Everything from the man's adventures to as a member of the Fantastic Four, to his inventions which have helped revolutionize the world. She was well aware of her husband's dream to become the next Mr. Fantastic, even if it was only in achievements. At least that's all her husband would own up. Mrs. Reynolds knew that her husband was also infatuated with the abilities, and basic life of not only Reed Richards, but any known hero that could also win a Nobel Peace Prize. Robert Reynolds embraced the Age of Marvels with such a curiosity, that it overshadowed his own accomplishments.
A highly respected scholar in his own circles, he was not by any means a man without potential.
"Yes, I'm sure, but it's been two weeks now and you still haven't told me a thing about what it is that you've discovered." Linda replies.
"Linda I've told you, I'm still in the presumption phase. I'd rather not jinx myself before I have any
solid findings." Robert tells her.
"Yes, and that is all good and swell," she says as she moved in closer towards her husband's workspace, "But I've so missed the comfort of husband. Now please, come to bed."
Gently stroking her husband on the chest, Robert realized no further progress would be made that night. No, his responsibility as a husband came first, something he was slowly starting to lose realization of.
"Fine, you win. Just give me a moment to clean things up a bit."
The Present
"Mr. Reynolds, it's time to take your medicine." The nurse informs the rather frail looking man. One sight at the patient in question, and one would have been hard pressed to believe that this rather aged face belonged to a man barely in his early thirty's. Yes, this was the look of a person whom had been through quite a rough life, in such a short time span.
"I won't take them..." the man mutters softly so that his words could only be understood clearly by himself.
"Pardon me?" The woman asks, much more demanding this time.
"I said I won't take them!" he says as he smacks the tablets out of the elderly woman's hands. Making such a scene in the middle of the patient lobby inside of Angel's Gates Asylum, Robert Reynolds was truly making a statement. At least, in his mind that was. The moment he had struck the nurse, the assigned orderly's whom had been monitoring Reynolds all rushed the patient, restraining him as he attempted to resist their advances. This was an act that was becoming all too routine for the staff here.
"Unhand me and your lives may yet be spared by the Void. I warn you the Void is coming! It's Coming, OH it is coming..." he begins to repeat as the orderlies continue to restrain him.
While he is being apprehended, the nurse whom Reynolds had chosen to defy was readying
a syringe with enough sleep inducing toxins to place even the Juggernaut into unconsciousness. Under normal circumstances such a dosage would never be recommended, but as the staff of Angel's Gates had come to understand, Robert Reynolds was far from normal.
Injecting the subdued man as he continued to ramble about the 'Coming Void,' in a matter of moments Reynolds would fall into silence as his mind slipped out of consciousness.
"Come on; let's get this loon back to his room. I swear this gig is gettin' old." The orderly named Griff says to his partner as they carry Reynolds back to his padded cell. For the moment, they were spared of hearing anymore rants from the patient Robert Reynolds.
Los Angeles, California
Outside, Stark Towers
Every one of her instincts tells her to turn around. To continue on with the life she currently lived, without ever having to deal with the pending rejection she had convinced herself was coming within the next few moments. Standing in front of what was soon to be known to the world at large as the Avengers Tower, Melissa Gold, a.k.a the former Thunderbolt known as Songbird couldn't do anything to calm the butterflies which seemed to be flittering within her stomach. She had received the invitation to show up, but did she really deserve it?
That was the question which had been plaguing her mind for the last couple of days. The red and white haired woman could certainly come up with some reasons why she shouldn't report, but found it rather difficult to figure out why she should. As a villain she was nothing more than a low level accomplice. As a Thunderbolt, she was a pawn, whom helped deceive the world during a time in which it needed heroes. Overtime she had begun to embrace the role of being a hero, even if it was only an illusion. Who was she to ever expect the world to forgive her for her past crimes, especially after the deception was revealed?
Her quest redemption seemed to have been on a steady path, as she was granted a pardon for her past misdeeds as 'The Screaming Mimi'. Despite this step in the right direction, Melissa still had doubts. However if it was one thing that she had learned from her former Thunderbolts leader, Baron Zemo, and then later the current Avenger Hawkeye, it was to be persistent. No one was beyond redemption, but it was something to be earned, not given. Which begged the question, did Melissa Gold truly want to be redeemed?
"Oh why the hell not." she says to herself as she slowly makes her way to the immediate entrance of the Stark Industries building. Carefully examining the rather strange door as it appeared to have no handle, she found herself at a standstill.
"Great, leave it to the Avengers to have a base with no way in." she mutters. The moment her voice begins to catch air, a digitalized recording spoke over the young heroine. Followed by a sensor wave which washed over the body of the woman, Melissa couldn't help but be awed by the actions.
<Guest Identified. Gold; Melissa, Welcome!> The computerized voice greets as the door slides open, allowing access for the woman. Hesitantly stepping inside, Melissa's prepared herself for what was sure to be a rather interesting day.
Elsewhere in the fifty story building, specifically along the 36th floor stood current Avenger, Vance Astrovik, or Justice to his comrades, with his hand against the window which viewed out onto the streets below. Vance had found himself in a rather strange position to say the least. The last time he had stood as an active Avenger, it was at the funeral for Hank Pym. His parting with the team at that point had been done at his own discretion. Having felt guilt ridden for being unable to aid the fallen hero in one of the Avengers darkest hours.
Captain America had insisted that Justice return to their ranks when he was ready. Well if time truly healed all wounds, then this was the perfect chance to demonstrate. Vance used the time off to better find himself, and also spent it in the company of someone he loved.
Entering into the lavish common area was Angelica Jones, the Avenger Firestar. Together they had served in the New Warriors, and quickly became lovers. This love transcended their tenures with both the Warriors and Avengers, and still seemed to be going strong. In the time spent living 'normal' lives, the two had grown far closer than they had ever been. One would have thought they would have both been reluctant to answer the call of duty to help the Avengers reassemble, but did so without any hesitation. No immediate hesitation at least.
Moving towards Vance as she affectionately places her arms around his waist. His body welcomes the embrace.
"Everything ok lover?" she asked, taking Vance out of his thoughts.
"Couldn't be better, all things considered that is. I mean these past few months have been great, but I feel like we betrayed the Avengers a little." he said, still looking out on the world.
"Now Vance, you remember what Captain America said. Once an Avenger, always an Avenger. The man practically insisted you take all the time you needed to get yourself together." Angel said, in an effort to boost the man's confidence.
"Yeah but to leave at such a time, I still feel bad. I've wanted to be an Avenger for as long as I could remember, and the first chance I get to prove I could stick it out with the best of them, I bail."
"You hardly bailed. Besides, the Avengers did just fine without us. They maintained, and now we have the chance to help strengthen the foundation with this new team." Angel says as she lets go of her fiancé, as he turns to face her. "Besides, these last couple of months haven't exactly gone to waste. Finally got to work out some long overdue wedding arrangements."
Smiling, Vance accepted that she was right. This West Coast branch was the perfect chance for him to start over with a clean slate. Prove that he does deserve to play in the 'major leagues' with the rest of them. His leave of absence was one of need, but he was ready to resume his role as a Super Hero, and not so much a civilian.
"Your right Angel, well guess we should hurry up and get ready. Falcon wanted us to be there when the rest of the team is finally formed later today." Vance said as he began to make leave from the area.
"Oh, just give me a minute Vance, I'll be down there." Firestar continued to keep a bright smile on her face as Vance left, though it immediately disappeared once he exited into the hallway.
Vance, I would have thought time away from this life would have help put things in perspective. After all this time of saving the world, you still just can't seem to embrace the simple things in life. She thought to herself, as she stood alone. It was easy for her to put up a front when it came to pleasing others, but when it came to herself, Angelica Jones was still trying to learn to do the same. Months ago when Captain America commended her for her service as an Avenger, Firestar had been overjoyed beyond belief. However, it was never her desire to be a full time hero, and she had hoped with Firestar and Justice absent, Vance Astrovik and Angelica Jones could move forward.
From the look of things, she was still dreaming.
For Monica Rambeau, the Avengers had always held a special place in her life. From her days as Captain Marvel, to her more recent tenure as a reserve using her current alias, Photon. The dark skinned woman had once led Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and in her mind did a damn good job. However having been out of the active roster for so long, she found herself to be in an adjustment period. Fortunately for her, she had the Falcon, Sam Wilson to assist her in the process.
"So we basically have state of the art everything, any reason why Tony decided to be so generous with this branch?" Sam asked as he walked alongside Monica, down the corridors of the facility.
"He claims only the best for the Avengers, but I have the strangest feeling that this place would have been put to use, regardless of whether or not a West Coast branch was reinstated. You won't see me complain though." the chairwoman said, as she looked over files of all available heroes which had been suggested for a recruitment drive.
"We're still at least a week away before going public. Once we figure out how we'll work as a team, we can start getting a support staff to help with the day to day operations here. Unfortunately Jarvis can't be on two coasts at once, but Tony says he has us covered."
"Oh yeah, our financial backer will find a way to keep his money invested in something." Sam said as he held open the door for his fellow teammate, as they stepped into the main lobby of the Tower. For such a standard entrance of the building, it was certainly a sight to behold. With marble floors set throughout the room, which outlined an indistinguishable 'A' in the center.
Dressed in both their respective costumes, Falcon in his red and white attire, and Photon in a modernized version of her Captain Marvel uniform, without the facemask covering. The two took immediate notice to the two 'guests', whom had apparently been conversing amongst each other.
"Danny Rand, and Piotr Rasputin, a pleasure it is to have you two here." Monica said as she motioned toward the two. "I trust you had no problems entering."
"Funny story there got to the entrance and heard a voice. For a moment thought it was God, or maybe that big head guy that tends to show up in the sky sometimes. You know the one that's always watching people." Danny Rand the Iron Fist says as he lifts himself out of his seat to shake the hands of both Avengers. Dressed in a pair of blue jeans, and a gray hoody, the skilled martial artist was by no means in the appearance of a hero. That was more out of necessity really though, there was no need for him to have on his Iron Fist garments, especially when it was implied to keep a low profile for now.
"It is a pleasure to be here, I must say when I was quite honored to receive such an invitation to come here." Piotr Rasputin, the former X-Man Colossus said with a smile.
"Yes, well you can thank your friend Warren Worthington especially," Monica said towards the Russian mutant. "He recommended the switch from the Champions. Said you more than deserved it." Monica said, though her eyes sort of stick to the body of Piotr for a moment. There questions...that she needed to ask him. Ones that would have to be addressed sooner than later.
While the four had begun to acquaint themselves, a fifth person entered into the area. Melissa Gold shyly looked between the group as they all turned their sights on her.
"Songbird, glad you could make it. Well, guess that makes all of our guests accounted for then." Monica said, as she places her attention on the former Thunderbolt.
"What, aren't there going to be more of us here?" Danny asked.
"Oh we have some confirmed reservists on hold, should we need to call upon them. Allow me to deal with such worries though." Monica responded as she found herself standing face to face with Songbird.
"Umm, think we should wait for the others to come downstairs Monica, before we get into proceedings?" Falcon asked with a hint of anxiousness.
"Actually, I was wondering if I could speak to you guys in private first. There's something I want to say." Melissa spoke rather nervously. Monica's eyes met Sam's as they excused themselves from Danny and Piotr for the moment.
Away from the ears of the other two potential new Avengers, stood Photo, Falcon, and Songbird.
"So what's on your mind?" Photon asked curiously.
"Well Miss Rambeau-"
"Call me Monica. No need to be formal here." Photon interjected.
"Oh, well...Photon what I meant to say is that I appreciate you guy's inviting me here and everything, but I just don't think that I can be an Avenger. Don't get me wrong I respect the team, it's just I don't think I would be a good fit here. As you both are probably aware, I don't deserve this. Seriously." as she spoke her eyes moved from Photon to Falcon, looking to see if either would crack a smile, any sign of a possible taunt directed at the former villain.
Keeping silent, Monica simply stared at Songbird before she chose to comment.
"Question, do you have your gear on you?" Photon asked the girl.
Startled for a moment at the question, Songbird clutched the duffle bag she was holding as she answered the question.
"Uhh, yeah. Always."
"That's good. Now would you mind going on a little flight with me? Just a routine patrol, but I would certainly appreciate the company." Photon said, though her request didn't sound as if she was leaving Melissa much room to decide for herself.
"Sure, I guess I could do that." she agreed.
"Great, Sam why don't you take care of the rest for me. Shouldn't be too long." Monica said with a smile as she handed Falcon her files, before she signals for Songbird to follow her.
With Photon out on patrol with Songbird, this left Falcon to tend to the other arrivals. Justice and Firestar had both made their presences known finally, and had begun to acquaint themselves with Daniel Rand while Falcon talked to Colossus in private.
Standing in what was to be the War Room for the new Avengers team, Falcon had taken the initiative to begin the interview process with special interest in this recruit. Colossus had a pretty decent resume, with his long term relationship with the X-Men noted along with his stint in its European counterpart, Excalibur. No stranger to controversy, the Avengers file on the mutant did also note Piotr's one time allegiance with the master of magnetism himself, Magneto.
Though his nobility far outweighed his times of questionable motives, it was his recent affiliation with the other West Coast based team, The Champions which brought him here. Though the present incarnation of that team didn't fare to long by any means, it was still a group with allies that the Avengers could depend on in times of need. Piotr Rasputin was among the list of names of heroes that had shown remarkable merit. Unfortunately, that had nothing to do with what the Falcon had to speak to him about.
"Well, Peter, I'm gonna be straight up with you. You recently worked under The Black Widow as well as your friend Archangel in the Champions, right?" Falcon asks as Colossus nods in agreement,
"That is correct, though I have to ask why you need me to confirm what you already knew." Piotr asked.
Frowning, Falcon wasn't quite sure how to word this in the best way possible. Since he was unsure himself, he figured the best way to get his statement out was the direct way.
"Well, don't take this the wrong way, but according to our files, a sacrifice you made helped cure the world of the Legacy Virus. So basically what I'm trying to say, we have reports of your death. Yet, here you are in plain flesh and blood. So, tell me...how are you not dead?"
High above the grounds of Los Angeles was the two distinct figures of the costumed heroes, Photon and Songbird. With Songbird using her hard sound wing constructs to grant her flight, Photon's body illuminated in a golden light as she blazed through the sky. The two had flown for at least a good ten minutes, without one uttering a word to the other.
Finally feeling an urge to break the rather awkward silence between the two, Photon took the step to start a conversation.
"I was where you were once." she said to her flying companion.
"Come again?" Songbird asked, with a puzzled expression.
"I was once just like you. Well, maybe not just like you, but I went through the same phase. The one of being afraid, unsure what my purpose actually was."
"Who said I was afraid?" Melissa asks back, her humbleness being replaced with her more comfortable nature.
Smiling at the question, Monica continued.
"Afraid of feeling like I wouldn't be able to contribute to a team. Worried that I didn't have what it took to be a good Avenger. As if the whole world would be judging my next move, waiting for me to fail, just so my biggest fears could be proven true. That I am inferior, and that I didn't deserve the opportunity I was given." Photon says as she accelerates her speed slightly, Songbird trying to maintain in the process.
"You know I was there when they attacked. The Masters of Evil. Not your incarnation though, but it was still one led by Zemo. I was there when they struck at the Avengers home, desecrated some of Captain America's most cherished possessions, and straight disrespected us as human beings. I mean really, for them to have the nerve to strike like they did." Photon said rather bitterly before continuing.
"It brought a lot of things to the light. That there are truly good people, but there are also truly bad people. I don't just mean bad like did a crime here an there type, I mean bad as in they don't deserve a chance to ever make amends for their misdeeds. Zemo type bad."
Melissa began to get embarrassed, unsure of what to say. As a member of the Thunderbolts, she allowed herself to follow the lead of Baron Zemo. She knew what type of man he was, and though she herself had changed, she remembered what type of person she was as well.
"After that attack, I told myself that any person who could follow such a man, didn't deserve the right to ever be treated as a human being. The Masters of Evil to me were the most disgraceful beings to ever stink up this planet. Never would I ever have given one a chance to fight alongside myself. No, they could never be one of us." Monica says with harshness as the two soar past the Staples Center.
"You’re wrong." Songbird finally spoke up.
"Not all of us are like Zemo. Some of us...some of us just didn't have anywhere else to go, he gave us cause when he had nothing." she challenged, though she found it hard herself to agree.
"He gave you nothing! He allowed you to continue to be the criminal that you are, while trying to manipulate the world while doing so. You Thunderbolts, you preyed on the hearts of men. Of everyone that missed having a world with heroes, and hoped that these sudden 'saviors', were to bring forth a new rise of defenders. But you got ousted, by the same guy you all swore would keep your asses covered." Monica countered back.
"The sad part is, some of you still tried to continue on with your little charade. Hell, you even had Hawkeye caught up in it for a bit. Clint wanted to believe that perhaps you people really could reform, but that was all a lie to right? Just like Zemo you became master liars, and even convinced yourselves that you could do the noble thing, but no, that was just an act to acquire those lucky pardons right?"
"I'm NOT like Zemo, or Moonstone, or any of them." Songbird said as she stopped herself in mid-flight, anger clearly showed in her face.
"Yeah, I've done a lot of messed up things in my past, and I've owned up to it. And yeah, I know that the Thunderbolts purpose at first left doubts in everybody's mind, but I AM NOT, the same person I was when I met Zemo." As Songbird spoke, Photon had stopped her stride as the two floated across from each other.
"Then prove it. Show me you’re not the wretch I think you could be, and prove that you’re the hero I know you should be." Photon says, as Melissa hovers in silence.
"What you do with your life is your business, but remember, we all have ourselves to answer to when it's all said and done." considering herself done, Photon resumes her flight, headed back towards the Avengers Tower. Unsure exactly what just transpired, Songbird follows a close distance behind.
Back in the future headquarters of the West Coast Avengers, The Falcon and Colossus were sharing a private conversation between each other.
"My friend, I'm sorry, but I just do not know." Colossus answered, though obviously depressed.
"How do you not know? I mean sorry if I sound like I don't believe you, but you died. You know that you died, yet you can't explain how you made it back to the world of the living?" Falcon asked with a look of disbelief.
"All I remember is injecting myself with the cure, and suddenly feeling...cold. What came next was completely lost to even myself, as I awoke in a hospital in my mother Russia, with no clue as to how I arrived there. I was afraid of what that could mean, so I returned here searching for the X-Men, but they were caught up in other affairs, and it became apparent to me that this was something I had to do on my own. However my search for answers has only brought more questions. I sought out Warren because he had resources which could help in my search for the truth, but I continued to hit dead ends, so I resolved this to be a blessing from above, and joined up with his cause in the Champions." Colossus spoke as a man with nothing to hide, and Falcon couldn't find any fault in the man's story.
"Well...I don't know what to say. From what I can tell you seem like you got you’re head on straight, but you are indeed a major question mark here." Falcon says, crossing his arms as he falls shakes his head, pondering the situation.
"If I may add, not knowing my purpose for living has left me feeling, almost empty. I do intend to pursue my quest in discovering the truth, but until I can learn where to begin again, I accept that it is something I must wait of fate to reveal to me." Piotr says solemnly.
"Yeah, well sometimes we just gotta take fate in our own hands and force it." Falcon says as he places a hand on the shoulder of Colossus.
"We'll help you figure out this mystery man, as best as we can at least."
Content with Sam Wilson's acceptance, Colossus simply nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, tovarisch."
"Come on man, let's go join the other. I'm sure you ain't the only one with carrying a load of baggage." Falcon said as he led the way out of the War Room, back into the lobby. Falcon would take Colossus word on his story for now, and inform Photon when she returned. Amnesiac or not, Sam Wilson was going to be keeping his eye out on Colossus.
Angel's Gates Asylum
Locked away in a padded cell in Angel's Gate was the body of Robert Reynolds, now crouched in a fetal position. Holding himself so tightly, he murmured constantly to himself about 'The Great Sentry', and how the 'Coming Void', would free its champion. It was a tale which had become all too redundant in this facility, and one which was easily ignored.
"Why can't I do this? Why have my powers been taken from me...?" Robert says as he rocks back and forth, tears slowly beginning to stream down his face. He wanted to be free, once again honing the 'supposed' power of a million exploding suns.
"Why?"
Robert?
Almost finding himself in disbelief, Robert's actions stopped as the voice within his head began to speak. He recognized it all too well, though it had left him so long ago.
"Void, why did you-"
ENOUGH! The Void has been biding its time, until just this very moment. If we were going to make our presence felt, we had to ensure that the Sentry was no longer a threat to our very existence. We had to ensure that it had been made submissive to our liking. That does not matter now though, for the Void is back, and together we shall show these people the power we possess.
As the voice spoke in Robert's head, the shadows surrounding him seemed to expand, and appeared to have begun taking a life of their own. The room was filling with glowing darkness.
"Wha...what are you going to do." Robert said aloud.
Kill them. Kill them all. Every last one of them will die at the hands of the Void.
To Be Continued....
Next Issue- The action heats up as The Void comes to life, and the West Coast Avengers begin to assemble. See it all in Issue #2, coming soon.
Author's Note~
Well here it is the first issue of the newly launched West Coast Avengers title here at Altered Visions. I must admit that this issue was hard for me to write because I couldn't quite find a way to bring this tale to life. There are so many things I want to do with this title, and though this may seem like one drawn out issue, it was in fact the end result of my ideas for this. I hope the lack of action didn't take your interest away from the story, because as indicated at the end of the story, action is a brewing here. Would really like to know what people think of this series so far.
Now as I said, it took me quite a while to get a grasp on how I was going to write this issue. Call it writer's block if you will, but I just couldn't get anything to come together at first. Hopefully the end result was enough to garner interest, and I'll try my best to keep it there. Now as for the story itself, the flashbacks of The Sentry's life will be a reoccurring thing throughout the arc. Just a little insight on the Altered Visions version of the uber character. Now this team has in no way been formally set in stone, but I do have some rather interesting things planned for this title.
Hopefully you liked this issue enough to at least give the second a try, and for those that do you won't be disappointed.
-Eric Roman 5/25/07
