Mary Jane was no slouch when it came to combat. She had taken several different self-defense classes over the years, each time learning a different style. Though she was no black-belt, she was tough-as-nails and quick-on-her-feet. Peter often remarked during pillow talk that she was by far the best fighter in the family, lack of superpowers notwithstanding.
She beat Asmodeus back initially, but the demon managed to regroup. Though Mary Jane had weakened him with the power of his true name, his native demon blood still afforded him great strength and stamina.
Asmodeus began to pick up the pace of the fight, but—right on cue—the Vision phased through the floor and began attacking the demon from below. The actress and the android quickly began to coordinate their assault. Shortly, the demon was receiving a sound thrashing on the stage of the Globe.
After Mary Jane had wounded his leg with a particularly vicious kick, the Vision followed up by increasing the density of his fist and landing an unnaturally solid punch to the demon's gut, where the android's hand carried the force of approximately 4 tons of railroad steel. Asmodeus spat up blood. The Vision then began to charge up the solar gem embedded in his forehead, which glowed for several moments until a beam of pure energy lanced directly into Asmodeus's face.
Mary Jane watched for several long seconds before she realized she was seeing the creature's face slowly melt. Disgusted, she averted her gaze.
"Thank-you, Mr. Vision," Mary Jane said when it was over.
"You're welcome, Mrs. Parker. I regret our brutality against Asmodeus, but I am aware that time is of the essence to complete your mission. We must find Doctor Pym and prepare the capture equipment so that you may isolate your target."
"What—what will happen to the other women? The ones that he enslaved?"
"Time is of the essence, Mrs. Parker," Vision repeated. "We cannot afford to tarry a second too long in Mephisto's realm."
"With all due respect, Mr. Vision, this is my mission. Is there any way we can help the girls that live here?"
"They are released from the demon's power," the android said. "But many of them may have already lost the mental wherewithal to make decisions for themselves. We can only hope that they stay isolated on the grounds as long as possible before other demons arrive to lay claim to them."
"There has to be a way we can restore their free will," Mary Jane insisted.
The Vision sighed. "Medical hypnosis would likely restore most of their faculties. I could perform the technique given sufficient time. But that may be time we don't have."
"Please," Mary Jane said. "For me?"
The robot floated dutifully back toward the house. "I will do as you ask, Mrs. Parker. I only hope that your compassion for these lost souls will not damn us all."
When the hypnotherapy had been completed, the android led Mary Jane to the top of the mansion. "I can fly by altering the density of my own body to superlight levels. However, I cannot affect your own molecular structure in such a manner. If I am to take you with me, it will be more like….hang-gliding."
"Hang-gliding from a superlight robot," Mary Jane said. "Not the weirdest thing I've done today."
"Then prepare yourself."
The sensation was indeed like hang-gliding, and despite the fear and stress of the situation, Mary Jane still enjoyed it immensely.
Riding the winds of Mephisto's hell, Vision brought them to a fairly smooth landing on a rocky outcropping over a canyon. Below them, at the bottom of the canyon, lay the prone form of Hank Pym, still at the same massive size. A small force of much-smaller demons had apparently toppled him, and were now securing him with hundreds of relatively tiny ropes and stones.
Mary Jane began humming Alanis Morrissette's Ironic, but the Vision seemed not to notice. "I fear that fighting this horde off directly—while possible—would prove inefficient. Instead, I think you should take advantage of your reputation."
"My reputation?" Mary Jane said.
"Threaten them. Tell them how you defeated the three demons."
"You and Hank did most of the work," Mary Jane protested. "And I didn't really defeat Belial."
"The details are irrelevant," Vision said blandly. "The spectacle is the issue at hand. Imagine if the three most formidable warriors of your own society were singlehandedly destroyed in one day."
Mary Jane stared at him for a moment. "So what you're saying is….the play's the thing?"
"Indeed so. I will amplify your voice," the Vision said. "Speak your threats….now."
"Natives of the hell dimension," Mary Jane heard her own voice echoing across the canyon as dozens of demon heads looked up at her. "I am Janet Van Dyne, the warrior who subdued Lord Belial. I brought the creature who destroyed the Green Goblin. And I have just now come from exterminating Asmodeus. Leave my companion and this place in peace….or suffer my wrath. Now and forevermore!"
For a moment, the demons all stared at her. Then, they all turned and marched briskly out of the canyon.
Vision held her shoulders and they glided down to the bottom of the canyon. There, the robot began fiddling with Pym's equipment and checking his vital signs.
"The Doctor has received a mild concussion," Vision explained. "Combined with disorientation from remaining giant-sized too long. Based on the diagnostics I downloaded, I should be able to repair the soul-capturing equipment by the time he regains consciousness."
"What should I do?" Mary Jane asked.
"Talk to him," Vision answered. "The sooner he wakes up, the sooner we can complete our objectives."
Mary Jane sat down next to Pym's giant head and began to rub it, feeling awkward, but extremely grateful. Whatever his true motivations, the scientist had put himself at risk for her cause, and she couldn't help but feel responsible for his current condition.
"Hank," she said. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this. Please wake up. I promise when we get home, I'll help you find Janet. We'll bring her home, Hank. The Parkers won't let you down, just like you didn't let us down."
Pym drifted back to consciousness, clinging to the sound of Mary Jane's voice.
"Mary Jane," he said groggily, and slowly he shrank back down to normal size. "Vision," he said, blinking upon seeing the android. "So glad you could join us."
"Jocasta was kind enough to guide me through your data tether," the robot said. "I have nearly completed the repairs of your capture equipment, Doctor. I presume that your instruments still have a fix on the location of Mister Osborn's soul organism."
Pym fiddled with his instruments. "You presume correctly, my friend." He turned back to Mary Jane. "My dear, would you like to do the honors?"
"Doctor Pym," said the actress, model, and slayer of demons. "I would be delighted."