The protagonist teens are all newly-created by me, but all of them are based on pre-existing forgotten villains. Anyone anal-retentive enough to go and check will find that this is so. Notes will be provided as I am able to give them. Now Read On.

There was a game in play. For a second, Kang thought he might win. Then the Grandmaster picked up a rook and brought it down the board, taking the Queen. "Checkmate," he said.

Kang sighed. "These games become a forgone conclusion, old foe," he said.

The Grandmaster looked up from setting the board. Then why do you continue to play?"

Kang shrugged. For the same reason for so many of my actions: for the thrill of events and the possibility of victory. Perhaps it is merely the lack of incentive which dulls me. Perhaps we can play a game with some high stakes."

The Grandmaster thought for a moment, and grinned. "I have the idea of a game. And we can play it for the highest stakes of all: the future."

Kang looked up, querying. "How so?"

"Do you remember the time you pitted the Avengers against a team of villains created by myself? In a recent conversation, I had heard that there is now a team of adolescent Earthlings called the Young Avengers, who may well become Earth's Mightiest Heroes, given time to mature. If you can bring them to the table – "

Kang nodded uneasily. "I understand. But I tell you, they are not mere children. They are a formidable enough force already. How will you form a group to stand against them?"

The Grandmaster smiled. "I acquired this recently from the Collector in a game of chance," he said, taking a gem from a pocket of his clothes. The gem left his hand and began to float around the table. "It is the technological singularity of a race called the Jadzians; an impressive computing/teleportation matrix. I have given it all my information on the team. If a match for these youngsters is possible, then this will find it."

There was a pause, and the machine said, "Earth match incomplete."

The Grandmaster thought for a moment, and then said, "Expand search exponentially until the match is complete."

There was another pause, and then the machine said, "Match complete. Commence program Y/N?"

The Grandmaster stood up. "I will meet you at the Arena of Zenn-La in 24 Earth hours. Can you gather the Young Avengers by then?"

Kang nodded. "I only hope that you can produce an adequate match for the Young Avengers."

The Grandmaster smiled. "Do not worry about that, at least. If what I have heard is accurate, then those four boys are in for the fight of their lives."