Prologue

He strode through the streets of Nerima, the anger radiating from him making all who bore witness to his passage give him a wide berth. He was so intent on his destination he ignored his base instincts and allowed the many beauties he passed by to remain where they were. Once vengeance was properly meted out, he'd be liberating them from their unappreciative owners; that was for certain. It was his purpose in this world.

As he drew nearer his destination, he thought back to those he trusted who had proven themselves base betrayers. How dare they deceive him with such treachery! True, it meant they had paid attention to him and learned, but they were not supposed to use those lessons against their teacher. They had trespassed where even angels had feared to tread, and thus would pay the price.

Memories returned as familiar sights came into view. Years might have passed, but not that much had changed. He knew the quickest way to get to his destination, and took it.

Each moment felt an eternity, but finally he was outside the domicile. He cracked his knuckles and prepared his internal energies for what was to come. The only question became how to approach his students. Should he ambush them when they emerged from the house? No, that might take a while and he needed revenge now. Perhaps he would sneak into the house and locate them, then jump out, making sure he saw the surprise on their faces? It would certainly be worthwhile, but that would take time as well. There was something to be said about the front door approach.

He rang the doorbell. Before the first chime ended the door was thrown open and a figure stared at him eye to eye.

His, "Hey, what's going on-?" ended in a flash of light.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Kasumi went to open the door, but found Happosai standing there, door open, staring at the walkway. Seeing no one else, she asked, "Who was it?"

"There was no one there," Happosai said, trembling slightly. "It can only mean one thing."

"Pranksters?" Kasumi offered.

"Ghosts! I'm scared! Hold me!"

The diminutive man shot toward her chest, only to be met with a backhand that not only arrested his flight, but spun him in mid-air. That was followed by an energy blast to the back of head that sent him to a wall, where he remained motionless.

"I like my undergarments right where they are." It was a good thing she had super powers. Otherwise dealing with him would be impossible. She'd probably have to go commando all the time instead of just when she was in her Wasp outfits.

Avenging

Act IV

The Hate Monger and the Peacemaker

Chapter 7

Any and all C+C appreciated. You can contact me at:

sommert

All the previous chapters and my other works are stored at:

At :

Standard disclaimer: I don't own any of the Marvel characters or other characters from the numerous animes which are within.

Here's a great reference guide for many character and objects in the Marvel Universe.

www. /Appendix/index. htm

split that up in the hopes is actually shows up now.

Finally getting around to that mysterious figure from Act I chapter 2. Yes, there had to be a payoff at some point, and had there not been years between chapters, it might have seemed a little more interesting

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Damn it, Jones! I need some capital to regain my powerbase and launch a counteroffensive! I know people, very violent people, who are loyal to me and all I've done for them. I need some assets to grease the wheels and get things moving. You know me. I always come through."

Hugh Jones, the primary stockholder and president of Roxxon Energy Corporation, barely kept from sighing. It was the same tiresome conversation yet again. He was beginning to regret these meetings to touch base with his de facto ward.

Sunset Bain had been declared dead when a charred corpse that resembled her had been found in an 'industrial accident' at Baintronics that had killed everyone at the plant. Jones had assumed, like everyone else, that yet another suspicious death had occurred in the business world. But then Bain herself, quite hearty and hale, showed up quietly on his doorstep. She explained the situation and what happened to her. Even Jones had to admit the body double thing, right down to bribing her dentist and doctor to alter their records, was a nice touch. At the moment, no one but Jones was aware of the industrialist/illegal weapons supplier's continued survival.

Bain had sought refuge with him due to his power and rumors that he played fast and loose with the law when it suited him. She also threw in some story about hearing the assassin claim Jones was next on the hit list. He doubted something so convenient had fallen in her lap, but since he had planned on keeping her around anyway, it mattered little.

So he tucked her away in a mansion that was technically owned by one of his son's old boarding school friends. When that friend had developed gambling issues, Jones had covered the losses by essentially getting the house for his own use in whatever he wanted. There was no paper trail to indicate Jones had anything to do with it, and on the offhand chance anyone spotted him using it surreptitiously, they would assume he had a mistress tucked away and was meeting her clandestinely.

In order to keep Bain under wraps, and to protect her, he had hired some super-powered muscle: an armored flier named Oriole, and a powerhouse with an axe named, appropriately enough, Badd Axe. Neither were particularly powerful. Given what little Bain could tell of her attacker, he could kill both easily, but they'd keep the riffraff out. And Bain in should she be foolish enough to try and leave.

Now every time he dropped in on Bain, she went on vociferously about getting back at whoever sent the assassin. Almost fanatically so. The obsessive hatred she was spewing was unlike her. In her guise as Madame Menace, she'd been nearly killed at least twice, but had been professional about it. This was much different. It was almost like she lost someone important rather than something. But that seemed unlikely. People who became arms dealers for fun weren't the most devoted of lovers, and she had a reputation of using and discarding men like tissue paper.

The girl needed to take a step back. Jones was already putting pieces in motion that should resolve the situation. Unfortunately, he couldn't tell her what they were, or he would. So he tried the reassurance path again. "Be patient. Reappear now, and you'll only make yourself a target once again."

For a moment it appeared Bain would start shouting. She was one of those that turned bright red, then exploded, but just as suddenly the crimson fled her cheeks. Instead she gave him a sultry stare and purred, "I'll make it worth your while."

That took Jones back for a moment. Really, she was going with this? It was time to explain some things to the woman. "Sunset, I'm not some idealistic young buck, like Tony Stark, who's ruled by what's between his legs. Let me enlighten you.

"My father was a rich man, who was an even wiser man, which is saying a great deal since he was very wealthy. He'd seen every trick and manipulation in the world, probably invented a few of them himself. He wished his son to be equally as wise, so he began teaching him some of life's brutal realities at an early age, when he was at his most impressionable.

"So for my sixteenth birthday, he hired a courtesan. You would probably call her whore, but a very, very well-trained one who was extremely expensive. She spent the better part of a day showing that young man everything she knew, which was more than he ever guessed existed.

"And at the end of that day, my father made a point of paying her in cash right in front of me. Even threw in a bonus for her. My father was showing a malleable, impressionable young man that sex was no different than business, and a businessman mustn't confuse the two. Stark didn't know that when he was younger, which is how you were able to seduce him, then steal his plans for your own company. I understand the difference. Besides, my real passion has always business. I make my decisions with the head on my shoulders, not the one between my legs. Even my marriage was based on that philosophy."

Bain scowled. "I'm no romantic, but that sounds awful, even to me."

Jones shrugged. "Not really. When you know what you are, and accept it, you spare yourself needless angst. And I sought those sensibilities in my spouse. I needed someone who had a good head for business, and didn't get any nonsensical romantic notions about what our relationship would be based on. I also didn't care for some silly dilatant who spent money because that was their primary goal in life. It should be for some purpose. Luckily my father had introduced me to someone exactly like that."

Bain stared at him in surprise. "You married the hooker?"

"Why not?" Jones said. "Oh, it was no, 'Pretty Woman' nonsense. She was a professional, and could separate sex from love, like me. She understood she would be making far more for far less work. She understood the value of money and would only spend enough to live a luxurious lifestyle as befitted her new status, rather than squandering it as quickly as she could. She didn't have to hide her past from me. And we'd even have some children. She wanted children very much. And as I said, she was quite… talented." Jones allowed himself a smile. "I confess my father was a bit scandalized, and some knew her previous occupation, but I was already wealthy, and intended to make more wealth on my own, not by marrying into more and having to deal with a wife who would insist on how the money should be spent because of her stake in it. I was the president of our union, and she was more than satisfied with the arrangement. Three decades and two children later, it's worked out very well for us. We've even developed a genuine affection for one another over time.

"Which is why trying to seduce me is ineffectual. Use your resources more wisely. Besides, you've already granted me a boon. Thanks to you, I finally know who's behind these attacks."

"What?" Bain nearly shouted.

"In acquiring your company, we finally navigated the shell game of who has been behind everything by following the money. I had my suspicions before, but now they've been cemented. While she's a powerful player in the game, she does not have the pull of Roxxon. We've let it be known that we have our eye on her, and should she be so foolish as to move against us, our full resources will be brought to bear upon her. She will not win a head to head confrontation with us."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

LeLouch Lamperouge, better known as Mesmero, threw his phone against the wall. It didn't even have the decency to break, simply bouncing off and remaining perfectly intact. Of course it would. The bitch had given it to him so she could contact him anytime, anywhere. It never lost a signal, never needed recharging, and could bounce off a wall and not have a crack on its screen.

He hated her with a passion he hadn't thought possible. Yet another assignment, and he had only finished the last one yesterday. This was intolerable. There was never a break. Now on his plate he had to track down some reporter who was asking the wrong questions and have him suicide himself. Then it was a big one that was going to take forever. Make contact with Hugh Jones, and have him tell his cohorts that an official arrangement had been made with Mesmero's 'owner' and neither would move against the other. Three weeks later he'd send every bit of information he had to the woman, then immediately drive his car off a cliff.

Mesmero was tired of being run ragged. Ever since that bitch grabbed him by the short hairs it had been non-stop suicides. Corporate spies, business rivals, nosy private investigators, movie producers planning reboots of remakes of sequels. The list was endless.

That wasn't to say everyone ended up dead. Politician not allowing zoning permits? A few racist, homophobic tweets later he was gone. One not accepting a bid on a contract? The next day a video pops up on the internet with her in a compromising position with several men, none of them her husband. Eventually, you ended up with an amenable one who didn't need constant control, since there was an unlimited supply of replacements. Politicians were worse than roaches.

It had been nonstop death, disgrace, and manipulation since Day One. And none of it was for his benefit!

And that was the moment of the epiphany. He was *never* going to benefit from his powers ever again. No more living like a king as everyone gave him what he wanted. He hadn't needed things like money. You didn't need cash when all you needed to do was ask, and he did indeed receive. All he needed was a penthouse in a five star hotel, a gourmet chef at his beck and call, and beautiful women to sleep with. That was happiness. Everything else was just a hassle. No one had ever told him what to do; he told them what to do. Ultimate obedience for others: Ultimate freedom for him.

Until now.

There was no greater hell for a puppet master than to be someone's puppet. He would cut himself free no matter what.

But what to do? That damned shapeshifting bodyguard of hers was immune to his hypnotic effect and could break Mesmero's neck without effort. And she was just as immune thank to Mesmero being forced to bind and release her immediately after he had first been pressed into service. Once freed that person was insusceptible to further influence. It was as damning as that twelve person limit he had. What he needed was a powerful cat's-paw.

Or maybe several.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Kasumi Tendou was horribly bored. Watching grass grow bored. It was a state she had been perpetually in without realizing it. It was providence which had shrank her body and opened her eyesight to what she truly wanted. Action. Keeping home for her family, as much as she loved them, was now a burden. It was all boring tasks that held no appeal, not when she could be flying through the air, blasting villains to and fro.

Why couldn't there be some emergency call over an impending super-villain attack? And a real one. Not some lame bumblers like the so-called 'Tattoo Man,' who had no abilities it all. He was just tattooed all over his body. And she knew it was all over since he didn't wear any clothing. Or there was, 'The Headbutter,' who, while he had a neat costume, had no ability other than headbutting people. His skull wasn't even made of unbreakable metal, only very breakable bone, as he found out when he headbutted Bucky's shield. That was the problem with super villains. Most were just idiots in spandex, and beneath her.

What happened to the good old days, when they fought real menaces like the Lethal Legion? The Man Beast? That girl who claimed she was from an alternate universe and said she was a member of the Senshi Lantern Corps? The girl was a total lunatic, of course, claiming their universe would be 'tuned' for her mistress, some sort of Omniversal Majestrix, but she had been powerful and possessed a ring that could create green objects out of nothing.

What Kasumi needed was for the Hornet to make her long awaited comeback. It was long overdue. What sort of arch-nemesis escaped only to never reappear? It was just plain rude.

Her life was reversing back to its existence of gray. She needed some excitement. Maybe she would hang up all of her underwear on a clothesline in the backyard and wait for Happosai to appear, then shoot him when he went to steal them.

Mercifully such desperate measures were unneeded when her Avengers communication card went off. Yes! This was it. Action. She could feel in her bones it was going to be a big one.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Wasp arrived at Kunou Manor and was admitted by the little ninja butler whose name she really needed to remember. She went right to the main room of the headquarters where Iron Rose awaited with Thor and the Hulk nearby. The heavy hitters had been called out. It was indeed a big one.

Iron Rose said, "So now that you are all here, it is time to get down to business."

Wasp raised her hand. "Where are the others?"

"The others are being given a pass… that is, are not needed on this important mission. Since you three missed out on our last outing, it was decided you would serve on this one."

"Did not Hawkeye absent himself as well?" Thor asked.

"Hawkeye apparently has a business to run and cannot come now, though that silly Robin Hood will be assigned an appropriate duty for backing out on us," Iron Rose complained. "In any event, as Avengers it is your sacred duty to do heroic things."

"Just tell me who we're facing. I'll blast them plenty." Wasp flew a nimble figure eight in the air she was so excited.

Iron Rose cleared her throat and pointed at a monitor. The face of an elderly Japanese man filled the screen. "This is Toshi Inoki. He's an incredibly wealthy philanthropist. He has agreed to donate three hundred million yen to the charity of our choice, in our name, if some of us would show up. So it was decided those that missed out on the action last time should be there this time. Have fun talking to the aging geriatric. He's as much fun to listen to as white noise on a television and passes gas all the time without realizing it."

Wasp went through the phases common to an intense revelation: shock, denial, and then more denial. "This isn't a superhero thing at all."

"Good press has become a necessity thanks to the powers that be who seek to use public perception to bring us low. Both the Arjuna and Saotome women are vilifying us in public at every opportunity. And since Councilwoman Arjuna runs in the same circles as the owners of one of the television stations, she gets all the media her friends can air to make us look bad." Iron Rose's voice grew louder. "Our last case is the perfect example. Since Yoshida didn't escape, she's blaming us for the deaths of those swordspeople, even though we had nothing to do with it. Luckily there were enough cameras in the area that showed it was their own weapons that destroyed them, though the footage wasn't judged 'newsworthy' enough to be aired on television. At least the police felt them relevant enough to view them and clear us of any wrongdoing. But we've been getting the 'guilt by association' heat from it.

"This much money being donated in our name is going to be viewed favorably, especially when my employer buys some advertisement space everywhere." Iron Rose smiled under her mask. "But that means we have to show up, and by we I mean you."

"This is beneath the Goddess of Thunder," Thor snarled.

"Hulk knows answer," he said enthusiastically. "What is, 'Ground is beneath Pretty Hammer Girl'? Now Hulk gets reward for asking right question."

Thor sighed. This was what happened when they let their musclebound ally watch television all day. Why he liked American game shows, she had no idea, but at least he didn't smash anything, even when he got the answer wrong. "Let us get this over with."

Xxxxxxxxxxx

The trip went quietly, brief with no one saying a word. They arrived quickly, setting the quinjet down on the grounds outside the Inoki manor. As the trio of heroes exited the ramp, they saw the elderly gentleman was already waiting for them outside, sitting in a wheelchair, with a young man next to him.

Thor bowed low. "Greetings, honored elder. It is with great admiration we have come in answer to your supplication."

It was the man next to him that spoke in irritation. "I asked for the Avengers. Are you all that showed up?"

Thor looked at him in confusion. "I was under the impression Mr. Inoki requested our presence."

The man paid no heed to the question. Instead he looked the three Avengers each in the eye, as his own glowed red.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sitting in an ornate chair that could only be described as a high tech, modern day throne, situated in a massive room that occupied far more space than should have been necessary, the mistress of all she surveyed regaled in her very being. Video screens lined much of the surface of the walls. This was her headquarters, her war room where she collected information and relayed orders to build her fantastic empire to greater heights. The only other occupant was the handsome, European-looking man standing close by, silent but ever present.

Of the hundreds of video screens, it was the bank to the left that scrolled the various information she was focusing on. While Dr. Doom's megalomania marked him as a long term threat, he was ultimately understandable. This Chii The First was an enigma, and in the woman's eyes, a dangerous one. These Persocons, who were all in the mold of cute teenage girls, were being marketed throughout Europe now. She had obtained several and reversed engineered them, but tampering with the OS had resulted in it essentially eating itself, and what little data left behind was useless.

But examination of the parts revealed what she had expected: it was being marketed well under the manufacturing cost. No mere idiot could overthrow Dr. Doom. That meant a sinister scheme was afoot, and she wanted to know what it was in order to take advantage of it. Much like the spies in Arjuna's camp were kicking around that idea that had been forwarded by that American, Senator Timely. It was a plan that could provide enough lucrative contracts to make her the foremost weapons maker in Japan, now and forever. It was also why she had needed to move in on Baintronics so quickly, even a bit sloppily. It had been worth the risk. Its assets in robot manufacturing were worth more than their weight in gold.

It was a pity Hugh Jones had stuck his nose in where it didn't belong. She had moved far beyond the self-important fat man's threats. She was the one who… well she didn't bother threatening, she simply acted. As so many of her now dead obstacles had found out. Besides, her father had despised him. While she had despised her father herself, his choice in enemies was rarely off when it came to their ability to interfere with schemes. Jones was a thorn in the paw, but she had the necessary personnel to remove annoying thorns, as she had already ordered one to do so.

Her scheming came to an end with the loud crash of a pair of objects hurtling through the ceiling. They were as fast and powerful as rockets, but since they failed to explode, had to be something else. She noted what they were as Thor and the Hulk stood some distance before her and oriented themselves to their new surroundings.

Upon spotting her, Thor leveled her hammer at the woman. "There is the one our master told us to kill."

So, it wasn't a social call. Her mind was awhirl as she told her companion, "Protect me," and at the same time pushed a button on the chair's armrest. Lightning fast two metal half-spheres sprang out of the floor and met above her, encasing her in a metal cocoon a single second before the unnoticed Wasp's lethal bio-energy blast struck where the woman would have been.

The chair dropped down a hundred meters via a hydraulic lift into a near impregnable 'safe room'. The metal shell above, as well as the room itself, was composed of secondary adamantium. Not indestructible, but durable enough it would take the combined might of both the Hulk and Thor at least a minute or so to break through it. And her bodyguard would see to it they were very interrupted. Preferably to death.

She processed the information on hand. They had come to kill her. Something Avengers didn't do, at least by design. They also said 'master' which indicated mental influencing, and there was one man who had it in for her who headed that list. And he knew exactly where she was located so he could send the assassins. She hadn't thought Mesmero possessed the nerve to rebel. He was an unambitious, hedonistic dolt. She had allowed him to live in luxury at her behest, and all he had to do was a certain number of assignments that were simple with one of his abilities.

It really was pathetic. With his powers he could have been a major player, but instead he squandered it on wine and women. Those that didn't play like kings deserved to be treated like pawns. But this pawn was trying to take out a king. Audacious, but no matter the danger a pawn represented, it was ultimately just a pawn.

She got out her communications pad. She needed an assassin, fast. She scrolled through the list. Bullseye was still in prison. 'The Enforcer,' Revy Lee was operating out of Madripoor. Razorfist was working with Carlton Velcro in France. The 'Nun With a Gun' was in Madripoor as well (She couldn't believe an assassin had recycled the name of a World War I heroine). Razorblade was in Vietnam, all of them too far away to be of use.

The next name both surprised and delighted her. Not only was he available, but he was already in Tokyo, and money was no object to one of her means. She dialed the service that would contact him. "I want an immediate hit and have the target's exact location. I'll pay double if he can do it in under an hour. Triple if under half an hour." And she sent information on how to track Mesmero's signal to the service. The traitor would surely have ditched his phone by now, but he had had it upon his person long enough that she would know where he was for at least a week.

Now all that was left was to wait. She thought she had better than 60% odds of her bodyguard coming out on top. Certainly it should have been near impossible, even if he were beaten, for it to occur in less than an hour.

So she waited, pondering what to do after the matter was resolved.

Xxxxx

Wasp clicked her tongue in irritation. Another half second and the target would have been dead. Wasp fired a few blasts into the metal barrier, but it wasn't even scratched. It would be up to her companions to punch a hole through it and finish the mission.

She turned to her partners, who were facing off against… that was odd. He had been a very handsome European man. Now he had changed into a seven foot tall, green-hued, amalgamation of multiple super powered beings. She recognized Iron Rose's helmet, boots, and gloves, as well as Captain Japan's shield. There was a familiar Fantastic Four symbol on its chest, and its skin had the texture of the Thing's rocky epidermis. And unless she was mistaken, that was Captain Elastic's trademark straw hat on its head. Other things, like the lightning bolts on some parts of its outfit she was unfamiliar with. All of it was varying shades of green.

So she had been correct initially. Something big was about to happen.

Xxxxxxx

The being was the Super Adaptoid, a robotic creation of A.I.M., one the organization had not been able to replicate due to the most vital component of its creation being stolen. It possessed the unique ability to duplicate nearly any super powered being it drew near to, even if only once. That made it incredibly dangerous. What made it even worse was that it could simultaneously duplicate up to eight superhuman 'templates.' If it only used one, it would become an exact duplicate of the being in appearance. When it used multiple templates, it increased in height and took on a mix and match of the various beings uniforms while taking on a green hue. Technically it wasn't truly invincible. There was an upper limit to its powers. It had a maximum level in strength as well as durability. But while it had some limitations, it was still one of the most dangerous weapons they had ever created.

In the beginning, A.I.M. was delighted at having such a powerful weapon. Then they learned two serious drawbacks to it. The first was, once it became common knowledge in the underworld of what the Super Adaptoid could do, everyone wanted it. A number of attempts were launched by rivals to capture it, including emissaries of The Magnificent Ten, and Monica Rappaccini's A.I.M splinter cell, hitting them in a 48 hour period.

The other one, which might have been worse, was that MODOK, the leader of A.I.M., had determined that the Super Adaptoid was on the verge of gaining true sentience, thanks to the precision of its duplicative abilities. And nothing could be done about that without gelding it of its abilities. Once it attained self-awareness, there was no telling if they would be able to control it.

So it was decided they would sell the robot to someone whose agenda didn't conflict with its own and make it their problem, as well as pocketing a huge sum of money in the process. And that was how the Super Adaptoid had ended up with its current owner. She had been using it primarily as a personal bodyguard, but occasionally employed it for resource acquisition (like the Gargoyle or Mesmero), or outright assassination, (like Sunset Bain and Shinobi Shaw).

Now it was being used for its primary purpose. But there was a problem. These were the last two Avengers it would have chosen to fight. The Hulk's 'madder he gets' strength level was beyond the Super Adaptoid's maximum, so it hadn't even bothered to waste storage space duplicating it. And for some inexplicable reason it couldn't duplicate Thor at all.

Thus it went with a variety of others' abilities that would be able to counter raw strength and lightning. But there was something to attempt first. Its eyes glowed red as they met that of the first person approaching, the Incredible Hulk. "Halt."

He did nothing of the kind. Mesmero must have anticipated the power duplication and somehow shielded them from it. So much for the easy way.

The Hulk charged the Super Adaptoid. Just as he was about to strike, the robot used Captain Elastic's power and snapped its body out of the way like a giant rubber band, allowing the goliath to careen through a wall. At the same time it elongated its arms and used Iron Rose's repulsors in two different directions at Thor, each hitting fully.

The Hulk recovered and snarled, "Stupid Rubber Man stand still."

The Super Adaptoid did so, allowing its body to become as rubbery as possible. The emerald beast's fist sank deeply into the robot's midsection and, despite the elasticity, still felt damage. The Hulk's strength was in excess of the Captain's ability to absorb the kinetic energy. As the Hulk's fist rebounded back the robot solidified and relied on the Thing's strength and rocky exterior to handle the Avenger. The robot evaded the next punch, then grabbed the Hulk and tossed him away, more for distance instead of damage.

There was movement out of the corner of its eye, and the Super Adaptoid brought its shield in front of it, as well as creating an invisible force field behind the shield for additional protection.

It proved necessary as Thor's hammer slammed into the shield, crumpling over half of it. The force of the remaining blow not absorbed by the shield was nearly too much for the invisible field as well. But held it did, giving The Super Adaptoid a chance to dispel the field and retaliate by unleashing another repulsor blast with one hand while reforming Captain Japan's shield with the other. It then boot jetted into the air to evade the incoming Hulk's leap.

Taking only a glancing blow from the latest blast, Thor said, "Let us see how this cheap imitation of our comrades endures the power of the Goddess of Thunder," and brought her hammer down on the ground.

A bolt of lightning sheared through the building and struck the airborne robot. It continued flying unaffected.

"Od's Blood," Thor swore.

The Super Adaptoid felt the robotic equivalent of relief. Had it not been for the Living Lightning's immunity to electricity, it would have been hard pressed to remain fully functional after that assault. Although that point might have been rendered moot as the Hulk leapt up and finally latched onto the robot, hurling them both downward and on the ground. The Hulk tried grappling with his foe, intent on using his strength to rip it limb from mechanical limb. Rather than deal with its opponent's superior strength, the Super Adaptoid channeled all of the Living Lightning's power into the gamma-spawned creature. Despite his body shaking and hair standing up on end, the Hulk managed to bury a fist into the robot's side.

A different strategy was called for. It swapped out Captain Elastic's template for the Radioactive Man and grabbed his foe's wrist. Instantly the emerald hero felt his strength go from increasing in direct proportion to his anger (which had indeed proven great), to remaining the same, to decreasing.

He struggled, shouting, "What is happening to Hulk?"

The answer, which the Super Adaptoid was not going to provide, was that it was using the Radioactive Man's abilities to drain the Hulk of the gamma radiation coursing through his body. Soon he'd be weak enough to deal with.

Or that was the plan until Thor's boot met the Super Adaptoid and sent it flying into the same wall the robot had thrown the Hulk earlier.

"Hulk hates being weak," he snarled as he rose to his feet, strength rapidly returning.

Again the Super Adaptoid changed tactics, and used the Invisible Girl's ability to turn invisible.

"Thy cowardice will avail you not." Thor tapped her hammer to the ground, this time producing an instant monsoon. With the now numerous holes in the Swiss cheesed ceiling, water deluged upon the robot, outlining him.

The Hulk saw this and lashed out with a fist. With his strength nearly returned, he managed to drive the Super Adaptoid back again.

As the pair of mind-controlled heroes moved in for the kill, the robot hurled his shield with Captain Japan-like precision. Backed by the Thing's strength, the disc impacted the green goliath with a force his fellow Avenger could never muster, dropping him as it caromed into Thor, knocking her on her back, then returning to the Super Adaptoid's hand.

Once more the fight continued in earnest.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was a war. That was the only way to describe it. A small scale war. While one part of Wasp wanted to participate in it, the higher functions of her brain had developed, "Yoshida Syndrome," (Daredevil coined it after the mutant who would have incinerated the normal Avengers had they gotten too close). To try going toe-to-toe with the power being tossed around was basically suicide, and none of her teammates could bring her back from the dead.

It was all terribly shocking. No individual should have lasted this long against the combined might of her allies. They weren't just the most powerful members of the team, they weren't holding anything back, like they would against lesser opponents. But not only was this shapeshifting being surviving, it was holding its own, and at times pressing an advantage.

Thor and the Hulk rushed at their foe from opposite sides, intent on smashing it between them. Rather than moving, it stayed where it was. Wasp thought it had gone insane until the last moment, when she saw a pair of insect wings pop out from its back just as it shrank down, allowing the pair to collide full force with one another. Wasp was flattered it had used her power to evade the attack. It followed up by shooting up to its full height, using the momentum as well as its own impressive strength to smash both heroes with tremendous uppercuts that sent the pair to the ground. She'd have to remember that move.

The being grabbed the Hulk's wrists and the Avenger started visibly weakening. Thor rose to her feet, but her foe looked toward her and a powerful green beam of energy emanated from its chest, levelling the goddess. The Hulk tried breaking out of the hold, but was so weakened he actually starting shrinking and became pale.

This was bad. If he turned into Ryouga, he was dead. Heedless of the risk. Wasp darted out from cover and flew straight toward the being, shooting him with a two-handed, full power, point blank bio-blast to the faceplate. The force unleashed made it release the Hulk. As it tried to regain its hold Thor's hammer staggered it again.

And the fight continued.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mesmero surveyed his surroundings in disgust. A fleabag hotel in the seediest section of Tokyo. The place smelled of urine and other bodily fluids from the endless string of dregs that found their way into this hovel. But it suited his purposes. Cash only and no video cameras. He had ordered Thor to cause a major storm once his 'mistress' was dead. He was mildly surprised it hadn't come already. Thor and the Hulk should have been enough to get the job done and quickly. His control was all powerful, they would try to kill her with the best of their abilities. Nothing she had should have staved them off for long.

In hindsight he should have kept the flying girl with him. She was useless in the fight, and he could have played with her until the job was finished. It would have given him someone to do, and he was fixated on the idea of having a superhero or two as his playthings. He'd celebrate his newfound freedom by doing her and Thor at the same time while the Hulk played bodyguard. No super-powered thug would get the drop on him ever again.

Mesmero smiled. Any minute now and the world would be at his feet again. No more doing what other people wanted. It was anathema to him. He was the ultimate puppet master and everyone dangled at the ends of his hands. The stupid bitch that had once held a temporary advantage over him was no different in the end. Oh, if only she had not been immune to his power, the things he would have done to her.

Ah well. No doubt she'd be torn limb from limb any minute now, and he'd be satisfied with that. He'd have the girls describe her death throes to him in between rounds of going at it.

Mesmero went to the window and threw the drapes open so he could see the instant the skies darkened. While it remained bright and sunny, it mirrored his disposition. It was wonderful having such a great weight lifted from his should—.

And that was the last thought he had as a 7.62X54mm bullet opened a hole through the front of his forehead, then traveled out through the back, taking a large amount of bone and brain with it. As Mesmero legs went limp and he dropped where he stood, one would have noted he went down like a marionette whose strings had been cut all at once.

Xxxxx

On the rooftop across the street, Emiya Kiritsugu, better known simply as 'Hitman', recovered his spent shell casing and went to the roof exit, Dragunov being stowed into its case. That had been an easy hit. If only most of his employers had satellite imagery to track down his target for him. And he had been assured that had been the target, as no one else would have had that particular radiation wavelength in the area. He had heard the Chinese had been trying to implement an identification system like that with one of their SPB's, but hadn't been able to make an effective tracking system. Clearly someone had beat them to the punch.

The bonus would be useful in tracking down his real target in Tokyo. The Scarlet Witch was somewhere in Japan, he was certain. He wanted to find her before the Great Game began. The rules stated potential competitors were fair game before the competition began. He would be the only player when the game officially started, if he had his way about it.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

"Retreat to position X1!"

To the surprise of the trio of Avengers, their foe flew straight up in the air at top speed. They turned at the sound of the voice.

The metal halves of the sphere were open and the woman had returned. "I trust you no longer feel compelled to kill me." Despite being worded like a question, it was stated as fact.

The Avengers looked at one another, understanding that in the din of battle, they hadn't realized the compulsion that had dominated their minds was now gone. They stared at each other with similar looks of confusion that was quickly transforming into anger.

The woman continued. "As I thought. When Avengers come calling so openly for your death, it's certain one of their foes must have forced them to do it. Since you are victims here, I will not hold you responsible for the destruction you caused if you leave immediately."

Thor looked at the others. "Aye, we have trespassed here long enough. That fool who would dare ensorcel our minds will pay most grievously."

"Hulk does not want to be paid money. Hulk wants to smash." He curled his fist tightly.

"Fair enough, my friend."

Wasp wanted revenge as well, and said as much. But as she departed with the others, not having been in as pitched a battle as they, she had more of her wits about her. She felt the wrongness of the situation, smelled another bad guy, so to speak. One who had super powerful robots, hypnotists who wanted her dead and knew he needed Avengers to do it, and who were apparently aware when the hypnotist's influence had stopped and it was safe to come out of hiding. Even when the people who had been hypnotized did not.

Luckily, she knew exactly who this suspicious woman was. Biko Stane-Daitokuji was notable enough to have been pictured in a magazine Wasp had leafed through during the boring times when she was on Avengers monitor duty.

She knew damn well this wasn't going to be overlooked. An Avengers meeting would help sort things out.

Xxxxxxxxxx

[END CHAPTER]

Wow! It's been since about 2000 I had 'the mysterious figure' first hinted at in Chapter 2: Two Beauties and a Beast. Had I actually been working more diligently at this, it might have been a mite more interesting as the revelation would have been sooner. Also the anime she's from is 15 years older than when I first decided to use her, and it wasn't exactly new at the time. ^_^

And a 'No Prize' to anyone who can remember and figure out every appearance of the Super Adaptoid since he first popped up in that same Chapter 2. And a second one if you can figure out what anime character would have been the original 'Nun With a Gun.'

As it stands now, next chapter should be a Kasumi one I've been planning on doing forever. It might even feature those most well-known, bad ass villains from the Marvel Universe that darn near every writer has used: The Split Second Squad.

Look them up in that Marvel appendix if you don't believe me. They're all over the place. Really.