Avenging Shadows - Part 31

Quentin Collins, Mantis and Jacques were driving back to Collinsport from their visit at the Xaiver Institute for Higher Learning in Snow Valley, MA.

"So what do you think?", Quentin asked as he glanced into the backseat where Jacques sat.

"It was an interesting experience", Jacques said. "Everyone seemed nice enough."

"This one was impressed at the presentation that Mr. Cassidy and Miss Frost put forth", Mantis agreed. "And Charles Xaiver is a fascinating man."

"Given the long history between the Avengers and the X-Men, I'm surprised that you had never met Professor Xaiver before now", Quentin said.

"This one's time with the Avengers and the encounters with Xaiver's team never coincided", Mantis admitted. "I'd met some of the X-Men before, but never Xaiver himself."

"So what about the school", Quentin asked. "Are you interested in attending, Jacques?"

"I'm not sure", Phillip remarked. "I understand why my mother insists that I embrace my human half and experience as many normal activities as possible, but sending me off to a private school?"

"We've already discussed this", Mantis answered. "Though it would sadden me to be away from you for any length of time, the life I have as an Avenger is not appropiate for a teenager... not even one who is destined to be the Celestial Messiah."

"I can handle myself", Jacques interjected.

"That's not the point", Mantis replied. "Just by existing, you are a target for those who would do you harm and attempt to harm both your father's race and mine. You are very capable, but sometimes that's not enough. A place like Xaiver's school would not only provide you a strong education, put also provide a sanctuary as well. It would make me feel more comfortable."

"I hate to interupt, but I've heard you mention it several times and I've never quite understood. What exactly is Jacques's destiny? What is the Celstial Messiah? And the Celestial Madonna, for that matter?", Quentin asked.

"The Celestial Madonna is the name given a woman chosen to represent earth's humanity", Mantis answered. "I was chosen to join with the highest representative of an intelligent race of plants, the Coati, to create a new form of life that is destined to lead both species into the future."

"And that would be the Celestial Messiah... me", Jacques said. "I'm half human and half Coati and supposedly have this great future and destiny ahead of me."

"There is no supposedly about it", Mantis said.

"What about free choice? What about what I want to do and be?", Jacques asked.

"Why can't you have both?", Quentin asked. "I mean, you're supposed to be this major entity and have this great future lined up, but no one except for you can decide the path you take to getting there."

"This one agrees with Quentin", Mantis said. "That's why this one wants you to have as many opportunities as possible, to grow and learn and experience, and be able to make your own destiny and create your own path."

"I don't know", Jacques said. "I understand where you're coming from, but private school?"

"It's an option I'd like you to consider", Mantis said. "This one will not force you to do anything."

"Just think about it", Quentin smiled. "There are worse things and from what I observed of some of the students there, I doubt it would ever be boring."

"I'll think about it", Jacques agreed. "But how much longer now until we get back to Collinwood? I'm not used to riding in cars. It would be so much easier to just teleport."

"Easier for you, but what about your passengers?", Quentin joked. "I've taken that ride and it's not quite as comfortable for the rest of us."

"Chicken", Mantis smiled.

"Not much longer", Quentin replied as he slowed down. "See, we're already entering the town limits of Collinsport now."

"Slow down", Mantis said. "This one senses something... familiar."

"I feel it too", Jacques replied. "It's a sense of despair and sadness, much like what we were feeling at Collinwood a few days ago."

"I'm not surprised", Quentin remarked as he slowed down and pulled in front of a dark, abandoned building. "Since this building right here was where Julia Hoffman had a private office and an apartment in the back."

"Dr. Hoffman again", Mantis commented. "I'm positive that it's she who is responsible for these strong feelings."

"Even though she's dead", Quentin said quietly.

"Given your own experiences, you are certainly aware that death is not always final or absolute", Mantis replied.

"True enough", Quentin answered. "Let's go inside and take a look around."

"But how will we get inside?", Jacques asked. "I'm not sure, but isn't breaking and entering against the law?"

"It is", Quentin said. "But this property is now owned by my family."

Quentin went over and looked at the lock on the door before kneeling down in front of it. Within a matter of seconds, the door was swinging open.

"And I know how to pick these old locks", Quentin smiled. "After you?"

And Quentin Collins, Mantis and Jacques moved through the doorway into the darkened building.

**

Hercules and The Black Knight were finishing up a training session in the Dungeon.

"And I hit the cut-off switch and that's it", the Knight said as he dodged a stun-beam from a robot to hit a big red button on the wall.

"Already", Hercules proclaimed as he moved several junked remains of other robots from his path. "The son of Zeus had barely began to warm up."

"Two hours is well enough for us mortal types, Herc", the Knight said as he removed his helmet and wiped the sweat from his brow.

"So what does thou have planned for the eve, friend Dane" Hercules asked.

"A hot shower and then a few hours in the lab rebuilding my sky-cycle", the Knight replied.

"Tis' too pleasant an evening to be wasted on menial tasks", Hercules responded. "Me thinks that the Scion of Olympus shall partake in the nightlife of thy local gathering establishments."

"So you're planning a night on the town", Dane questioned. "Have fun!"

"Thou should join me in a night of beverage and female pleasures", Hercules bellowed.

"Knock yourself out", Dane responded. "Maybe one of the others might want to go, but I'm bushed and I really need to get to work on that sky-cycle."

"I shall seek out other company than", Hercules said as he walked towards the exit door. "But if thou changes thy mind, it will be at least an hour before I depart."

"I'm not changing my mind, Herc", the Knight said. "Have fun!"

Suddenly, a loud buzz rang out.

"That's the alert", the Knight said as he flipped a switch. "Black Knight here. What's up!", he said quickly.

"Dane, this is the Widow. We've got a situation and I need a team, asap! It's a giant robot over in Berlin", the Widow replied over the speaker.

"I've got Hercules with me", the Knight said. "And we're on our way to the Quinjet. Who's available in the castle?"

"Spitfire, Issac and Sharon are on their way to the Quinjet. I'll meet you there as well", the Widow replied.

"Where are Druid and Union Jack", Dane asked.

"Druid is staying here on moniter duty", the Widow replied. "And Union Jack is off on a personal matter."

"We're on our way", the Knight said.

"So much for an eve on the town", Hercules replied.

"Well, you said that you had barely had a chance to warm up", Dane said as he grabbed his helmet. "Maybe now, you'll get the chance!"

Lead on, brave Knight", Hercules said as he and the Black Knight headed towards the Quinjets.

**

As they walked into the abandoned building that once held the office and apartment of Dr. Julia Hoffman, Quentin Collins, Mantis and her son, Jacques moved quickly and quietly.

"This place is very quiet", Jacques observed.

"Like a tomb", Quentin commented.

"Yet I can still feel the emotions, the despair and agony", Mantis replied. "Do you feel it, Jacques?"

"I feel something, like a longing, a strong desire", Jacques answered. "But I can't seem to get a lock on where it's coming from."

"Where are the personal effects and furnishings of this building, Quentin?", Mantis asked.

"The medical equipment is in storage in Collinsport", Quentin replied. "Julia's personal belongings are in storage in the attic at Collinwood."

"But her essence is still very strong here", Mantis observed. "That's very odd."

"There is something here", Jacques commented. "I can sense it!"

"What? A person?", Quentin asked.

"No", Jacques said. "It's... something else."

"Where?", Mantis asked.

"Look! There!", Jacques pointed and there stood a young girl, clad in the oddest clothes.

"What? Sarah? Sarah, is that you?", Quentin asked, moving towards the small figure.

"They're hurting her", Sarah said sadly. "They're hurting her!"

"Who? Who is being hurt, Sarah? Who is hurting them?", Quentin asked.

"They're hurting her!", Sarah said once more before vanishing into the darkness.

"Who.. or what was that?", Mantis asked.

"Was that a... ghost?", Jacques asked.

"That was Sarah...Sarah Collins", Quentin replied. "She's Barnabas's little sister."

"But that would make her a...", Mantis started to say.

"Yes, she's a ghost", Quentin answered. "And if she's here, then something is majorly wrong."

"Who do you think she was speaking of", Jacques asked. "Dr. Hoffman?"

"Most likely, given what you two have been feeling so far and where we are", Quentin answered. "But I have no idea of who else she might be referring to."

"But we will find out", Mantis said grimly. "This one promises you that!"

"Let's get back to Collinwood", Quentin said. "Then we can talk and hopefully figure something out."

"This one would also like to examine Dr. Hoffman's personal belongings", Mantis said. "Maybe we'll find some clues as to what is going on and how to resolve the situation."

"Good idea", Quentin answered. "Let's get back to the car and go."

**

As the Avengers International team departed the Quinjets in Berlin, they were quick to see that it wasn't just one giant robot, but six of them.

"Move quickly and try to contain the fight to this area", the Widow said as she leaped into the sky, carried by her Widow's line.

"Hercules and Issac, move in with me", the Knight said quickly. "Sharon and Spitifre, go on crowd control and remove the bystanders."

"Have at thee, robots", Hercules bellowed as he quickly dodged force beams and unloaded a mighty blow against one of the robots.

"I recognize these pieces of junk", Issac said as he blasted yet another with one of his bio-mystical blasts.

"They're Mandroids", the Widow said as she swung by and snatched a young lady out of the path of one of the robots.

"Yeah, we fought them when I was with the Defenders", Issac continued. "They were used by a group called the Secret Empire."

"They're generally A.I.M. manufactured", the Black Knight said as he moved to snatch two more bystanders out of harm's way.

"Then A.I.M. sells them to the highest bidders", the Widow added as she blasted at a robot with her Widow's sting.

"I care not who makes them", Hercules said, "but only how do we beat them down into submission."

"Just like we were doing in the Dungeon", the Knight said. "Whatever it takes! But be careful of the people inside the armor!"

"It's armor and not actual robots?", Sharon asked as she lept on the back of one of the mechanical monsters. "That means we can't go all out and risk killing them!"

"But nothing stops them from trying to kill us", Issac grunted as he ducked behind an overturned car to avoid a barrage of blasts.

"Take them down, Avengers", the Widow said.

"We're trying", Spitfire said as she used her speed to create a vortex that lifted one of the mandriods a hundred feet in the air before allowing it to crash to the ground. "But it's not that easy. These things are tough!"

"I have an idea", the Knight said. "Cover me while I go to the Quinjet."

"Whatever you have to do, do it", the Widow said as she blasted another of the robots with her sting.

"And do it fast", Sharon said as she monkey-flipped another of the creatures and barely dodged a blast from another.

The chaos continued for several more minutes, when the Knight came back out of the Quinjet.

"See if you can get them all close together into a group", the Knight said.

"Will do, Knight", Issac said as he blasted one of the robots in the chest with a bio-mystical bolt.

"If thou wants this iron fiend", Hercules said as he lifted one of the Mandroids above his head, "so be it!"

And with that, Hercules tossed the creature towards where Issac's foe had already landed and was struggling to get to it's feet.

"Here's two more", Sharon said as she and Spitfire, using teamwork, drove two more of the Mandroids back where the Black Widow used her Widow's line to ensnare and yank them into position.

"That's four, so where are the other two?", the Knight said.

"Here is number five", Hercules said as he punched another of the Mandroids and it went skidding across the ground to land near it's comrades.

"And here's six", Spitfire said as she used her super-speed to propel another into the pile of Mandroid soldiers struggling to get to their feet.

"They're all together, Dane", the Widow said.

"Now what?", Sharon asked.

"Now this", said the Knight as he tossed what looked like a gernade from his belt. "I pieced this together on the Quinjet and it should..."

A big blast of light filled the air.

"What the....???", one of the Mandroids yelled. "We can't move!"

"Disable all electronics and machinery within a several hundred yard radius!", the Knight finished.

"An EMP bomb", Sharon smiled. "Very clever!"

"Which makes these guys Mandroid armor nothing but dead weight", the Widow added.

"It should only last about ten minutes, so we need to get these guys out of that armor and into custody fast", the Knight said.

"I doubt we'll have a problem with that, will we, Spitfire?", Issac asked as he glanced at his silver haired associate.

"Not at all", Spitfire smiled and with that, she moved at super-speed and quickly removed the armor from the six, befuddled vermin who had been fighting them only seconds before.

"And without the armor, they're powerless", Sharon smiled.

"We surrender! We surrender!", the villians repeated over and over.

"And on that, summon the local authorities and let them take these guys in custody", the Widow said.

"I'm wondering though why there were men in Mandroid armor running around here. Who are they working for and what was the point?", the Knight asked.

"I was wondering that myself", the Widow said. "Maybe one of these gentlemen can give us some answers."

"Screw you, lady", one of the guys spit at the Widow.

"Well, maybe you'd rather talk to Hercules and Issac", the Widow smiled.

Hercules and The Gargoyle stepped up and approached the six, now handcuffed criminals.

"Wait a second! We have rights?", one of the guys stammered.

"And I have a mad Olympian god and a Gargoyle who want answers", the Widow smiled. "Your call!"

"We can't tell ya.... or we're dead!", one of the goons answered.

"Do you know why they call me the Black Widow?", Natasha smiled as she leaned forward, looking into the eyes of one of the goons.

"You're an Avenger... everyone knows that heroes don't kill. But if we rat out our boss to you, he will kill us!", the goon cried.

"I haven't always been an Avenger", the Widow smiled. "And since you're in our custody, your life is meaningless to your boss anyhow."

"Whether you talk or not", the Knight added, "your boss is going to think you did and act accordingly. How long do you think you'll survive if we cut you loose?"

"Aw, crap!", one of the guys said. "We failed and we're dead already!"

"Listen up heroes", another of the guys said. "Can we go somewhere and talk!"

The Widow smiled and nodded to her fellow heroes. "I think we'll know who's behind all of this soon enough."

"Shouldn't we leave the interrogation to the local authorities", Sharon asked.

"I think I'd rather do it myself", the Widow said. "More fun this way!"

**

Back in the vast dining room of Collinwood, Quentin, Mantis and Jacques have returned to the old house and Quentin had Willie gather Dr. Julia Hoffman's personal belongings from the attic, where they have been stored since her death many years earlier.

"Is that everything, Willie", Quentin asked as Willie sat the large box on the table.

"I think so, Quentin", Willie said. "I'll go back up there and take one more look if you'd like."

"Thank you, Willie, but this should be enough for now. What do you think, Mantis?"

"This one thinks we should get started and look for anything that might help us understand just exactly what is happening here", Mantis answered.

"What do you want me to do", Jacques asked.

"This one wants you to look over the materials from Xaiver's school", Mantis replied. "And think about if you'd like to attend there, while Quentin and I look through these boxes."

"I can be of help", Jacques said. "My empathic powers are even more acute than yours, Mother. Please, let me help!"

"He might be able to sense something you or I can't", Quentin agreed. "I think both he and Willie should stay and help us look. Otherwise, we're going to be here all night."

"Fine", Mantis replied. "Let's look for anything that might help... like notebooks, journals, pictures, tapes, or anything else."

"Let's get to it", Quentin said. "And maybe we'll get lucky!"

**

Dr. Druid watched the computer moniters intently. Moniter duty was a boring task at times, but the Doctor took his job seriously and was paying attention for any alerts or alarms. But his mind wandered as minds often do, and Druid was lost in thought when the silence of the room was interupted by the sound of a phone ringing.

"Yes? Avengers Castle. This is Dr. Druid", he answered as he picked up the phone.

After listening for several moments, Druid replied, "I see. Most of the team is out right now on a mission, but I'll be glad to assist."

After listening for a few more moments, Druid hung up the phone and set the communications system on automatic.

"It seems that the work of an Avenger is never complete" he thought to himself as he grabbed his cloak and headed towards the Quinjets.

**

The Black Widow and the other Avengers sat in their Quinjet, headed towards the Swiss Alps.

"It's amazing how you got that guy to crack so quickly, Natasha", Sharon Ventura commented.

"Not really", The Black Knight observed. "The reputation of the Black Widow among the underworld is legendary and no one wants to cross Natasha!"

"It's just a matter of knowing what buttons to push", Natasha agreed. "And I've had some good teachers. Not to mention how convincing Issac and Hercules were with their mad and crazy acts."

"Might as well put this gargoyle mug to good use", Issac smiled.

"Aye and aye again", Hercules agreed. "Yon vermin was trembling at the mere idea of facing the wrath of the son of Zeus!"

"Yeah, what he said", Spitfire laughed.

"So now we're headed to the Swiss Alps and a set of coordinates", the Knight commented. "Mind telling us why?"

"Because of one word mentioned by the man I questioned", the Widow replied. "He mentioned the name Snowman."

"And who, pray tell, is that?", Spitfire asked.

"In one of my first cases with SHIELD, we encountered a would-be world conquerer named Daniel Erick Phillips", the Widow answered. "He was a motivational speaker type who established a cult like following in Switzerland. Somewhere along the way, he got bored with his group of followers and decided that he wanted to rule the world."

"Sounds like a million others I can think of", the Knight commented.

"It does", the Widow replied, "and normally, he wouldn't even rate a mention, except that he had one follower, a young lady, who became his greatest disciple and assistant. She was a mutant who controlled ice, snow, and tempature, hence the name 'snowman'."

"Still doesn't really sound major league to me", Sharon remarked.

"What makes this man dangerous and drew SHIELD's attention is that he managed to obtain several nuclear bombs from an old base in the Soviet Union and had attempted to use them to blackmail the world into ceding him power. I managed to infiltrate his base and defeat him and his assistant and recover all of the nukes... but one", the Widow said.

"And you think that maybe he still has that nuke", Gargoyle said. "Oh vey!"

"Yes", the Widow replied. "He was recently released from prison due to health problems. SHIELD had him under observation, but he's vanished from their sight. If he's free and still has access to that nuclear bomb, he could kill millions."

"What's the deal with the Mandroids?", Spitfire asked. "If this is the same person you're thinking of, why did he have those men in that armor running rampant in Berlin? Wouldn't that be counter-productive to any plans he might have?"

"That doesn't make any sense", Sharon agreed.

"To me neither", the Widow remarked. "But the coordinates I got from our friend are very close to where Phillips had his base of operations. And when he mentioned the word 'snowman', I feel it needs to be checked out."

"If nothing else, we need to find out what happened to that missing bomb?", the Knight observed. "A missing nuke is definitely one of our top priorities."

"Agreed", the Widow said. "And hopefully, we'll get the chance to ask him about that. Now settle down. We'll be arriving at our destination in just a few minutes."