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Another interlude between Chapters 3 and 4 of "Whence Came the Spider" to explain how the Mighty Avengers came to be the Mighty Avengers they are in this "Whence" Universe. What If: Whence Came the Avengers By Bill Hart As always, I am he known as Uatu, one of the many eternal Watchers. Once more you have returned in order to learn more of the vastness and complexity of the multiverse. As I have already done several times in the past, I bid you welcome to my hidden lair. It is necessary to delay once again our return to the observations of young Pamela Parker. But as we have already seen on numerous past occasions, in this alternate world where Peter Parker suffered the bite of a massively irradiated dying female spider and ultimately became Spider-Woman, many other events have transpired differently here as well. We have already observed how differently those known as the Fantastic Four evolved in this altered reality. However, there is another event we should observe for ourselves before continuing with Pamela's ongoing tale. There is another group of heroes and heroines that we must now observe. Even though, there is no Asgard here - the matriarchal Ashmagordia has filled its place in this reality - these heroes and heroines are far more similar than dissimilar to those you've always known. It is the formation of that unparalleled band of mighty heroes and heroines that now deserves are full attention. Together, we shall now look backwards in time and watch that historic event unfold anew. We shall observe and learn together the origin of that powerful group of heroes and heroines now known collectively throughout much of the multiverse as the Mighty Avengers. *** Locked away on the secluded Ashmagordian Isle of Silence, Lokari, both trickster and goddess of evil, was busily plotting her revenge against her mightiest enemy, Thorine, the thunder goddess. "It is all because of that thrice-accursed bitch Thorine that I have been exiled to this barren poor excuse for an island," snarled the angry goddess. "I dare not even leave this Isle of my own accord, as it was Odina, queen of the goddesses, herself that ordered my banishing here. I'm no fool; I dare not invite her wrath down upon me." Of course, Lokari was no where near the innocent little angel she'd have others believe she was. Had she not been Odina's daughter, just as was Thorine, her latest punishment might have easily been more severe. "And yet, even though my physical body may be imprisoned here, there is no one - not even wise and powerful Odina herself - that can prevent my magical powers from roaming this, or any other, universe via the astral plane in search of my just and rightful revenge." Once Lokari knelt in the small grassy glade, she began concentrating on separating mind from body. As soon as her astral self had slipped the bonds of her immortal frame, Lokari very easily dispatched her disembodied self down the Plaid Span Trifroth and past its rather dull unsuspecting warrior guardian Heimdara to the world of Mithmagordia, better known to its mortal inhabitants as Earth. Only after she arrived on Earth would Lokari find some way of tricking Thorine into returning to Ashmagordia. "Once she finally returns here to face me, I'll do battle with her once again. Only this time, I'll defeat that little bitch forever." Lokari's disembodied self had soon focused her attention on the small office of Dr. Donald Blake, a lame, somewhat frail, and mild-mannered man, within whom dwelt the soul of Thorine. 'What a complete and total fool he is,' thought Lokari. 'He treats the sick and injured, often without asking his due compensation and respect.' The little boy he'd been treating for some scrapes and bruises jumped off the examining table. "I sure feel a whole better now, Doc Blake," he smiled, as he landed on the floor. "I'm glad to hear that, Bobby," smiled the doctor as he leaned on his antique walking cane. "Now go out there and hit a few homers for me in today's baseball game." "You got it, Doc," smiled Bobby happily, as he and his mother headed out the office door. "I'll hit one just for you, you'll see." "Who's next, Jane?" smiled Dr. Blake. It wasn't likely, but he wished his nurse Jane Foster might see past the frailties of his body. 'Bah! Humbug! This is nothing but useless folderol,' thought Lokari. 'Defeating this foolish mortal Donald Blake simpleton means less than nothing to me. I could crush him easily with a mere thought, but it would be just a hollow meaningless victory unworthy of being called one.' Lokari's great vanity and sense of pride both demanded she conquer her foe as Thorine the thunder goddess, and not some meaningless mortal male vessel. But in order for her to do that, she now required some powerful and fearful menace that would of necessity force that dullard male Dr. Blake to re-assume his role as the mighty thunder goddess. 'I will scour the entire earth until I find such a worthy menace.' *** It was several hours later before she found such a worthy menace. Lokari wasn't the least bit tired following her long search. Why should she be? She was a goddess. And goddesses never tired. In addition, revenge was always one of the strongest motivating forces for her. 'Quite fascinating!' thought Lokari, as her consciousness drifted over the southwestern desert. 'There is a huge flying figure. How could it be possible for some mere mortal to fly like that?' But as she neared for a closer look, she discovered that the figure was not flying after all. The huge green-skinned mortal was covering the entire area using a series of fantastically powerful leaps and bounds. 'Now, I see,' smiled Lokari wickedly. 'It is no mere mortal I spy on; it is he known as the Incredible Hulk.' It was at that very moment that Lokari decided she'd found her unwitting ally. At the same time, she peered inside his soul and saw no inherent evil or malice within the large green-skinned one. But all that goodness never stopped other mortals from fearing him. He was clearly different than they were. His difference made him an easy target for the narrow-minded fools most mortals were. It also made him the perfect foil for her plans. No one would ever blame her for anything that happened this day. Whatever happened, the Hulk would clearly be its cause. Despite his many, yet insignificant to Lokari differences, the green-skinned fool was still merely mortal. 'But what clever diabolical scheme should I employ to further my own ends?' It took less than a heartbeat for the evil goddess to come up with her foul plan. With very little additional concentration, Lokari projected the image of a bundle of dynamite set to explode within mere minutes onto the train trestle beneath the soaring Hulk. Never realizing the image he saw might be a false one, the Hulk plummeted downward to snuff out its fast-burning fuse before the device could explode and destroy the trestle. However, the bundle of dynamite was an unreal illusion. It simply wasn't there - a concept difficult for the Hulk to grasp. In reaching for something that wasn't actually there, the Hulk miscalculated his plunge. Instead of saving the trestle from the devastating blast of a non-existent explosive, the Hulk crashed into the trestle, shattering the supports. 'Poor witless mortal fool,' laughed Lokari. "Just perfect." "Charlie! You gotta stop the train!" yelled the engineer. "It looks like something's smashed the trestle up ahead. We're going to crash!" "That's impossible, John!" screamed back the brakeman. "We're going far too fast. We'll never be able to brake this train to a stop in time." On the astral plane, Lokari was already gloating to herself about the total success of her evil plan. 'The poor foolish mortal pawn,' she grinned. 'Everything has gone just as I thought it would. When the approaching train crashes into the ravine, the Hulk will be blamed for all the destruction and loss of life. That green-skinned mortal moron will easily become the most wanted man on the face of this entire planet. Surely, that disgusting simple Dr. Donald Blake will choose to become Thorine so that she might join in the hunt to capture him. That dimwitted bitch will never know she's been cleverly manipulated into doing just what I wanted her to do.' However, while the trickster goddess of evil had been busy gloating, the Incredible Hulk had been feverishly working to correct what he conceived as being his own blunder. He'd found, then subsequently, relocated an enormously huge boulder beneath the damaged trestle. 'What is that fool doing now?' asked Lokari from the safety of the astral plane. 'I don't believe what I'm seeing. That mortal fool is using that huge boulder as a support to stand on. What good will that do him? The train is almost on top of the fool now.' But as the Hulk poked his head through the broken track in order to gauge just where the train was and how much time he might have, he was easily spotted from the engine of the onrushing train. "Look out there, Charlie! That green head between the tracks." "It's the Hulk, John! Blast that green-skinned monster anyway. He's done this for no good reason. He must be trying to kill us all! I'll never be able to stop this train." However, using the almost limitless gamma-charged strength of his incredible body, the Hulk supported the damaged tracks on his massive back until the train had safely passed over the damaged trestle. Once the train had safely passed over him, the Hulk knew he could finally relax again. As he did, the trestle fell into the shallow ravine below. 'Amazing. The fool mortal actually saved the train,' thought Lokari. 'But only he and I know what actually happened here. I'm not about to tell anyone what I saw. And I doubt he'll get a chance to even attempt an explanation. The mortals will still blame all of this on the Hulk. Very soon now, the hunt for this menacing green-skinned mortal behemoth will be on in deadly earnest. Thorine will also live again. It's all because of me, Lokari, the most clever mistress of schemes, and my master plan of revenge.' She laughed at both her cleverness and the ultimate folly of mortals. *** Just as Lokari had fully expected, the next editions of the local newspapers put the full blame on the Hulk for the near disaster. "HULK IN UNPROVOKED ATTACK ON TRAIN", screamed one headline. And another, not to be in any way outdone by the other, proclaimed "ENGINEER IDENTIFIES HULK AS WOULD-BE TRAINWRECKER". But the one living being in the whole world that knew the entire truth with regard to the Hulk read the newspaper accounts in totally stunned amazement and disbelief. "This can't possibly be true. The Hulk would never do anything like that. There's just no way." Within minutes, young Rick Jones, who owed his own life to the courage of Dr. Bruce Banner, had summoned the members of his newly organized Teen Brigade - a group of teenage ham radio enthusiasts. "If the Hulk is innocent, he'll need help real fast, Rick," said Christina. "They're going to be shooting first and asking questions later, if ever." "But if he's guilty, it'll sure take more than just the army to stop him," warned Freddy. "We've gotta contact someone with equal firepower," suggested Rick. "I think we should try getting in touch with the Fantastic Four." Rick began nervously pacing the floor. "Don't just sit there. Use those special Fantastic Four frequencies they gave us for emergencies like this. Tell them to contact me, pronto. We don't want any innocent jokers getting hurt." "You heard the man, Willie. Get a move on." "I'm on it, Jack," replied Willard, who for very obvious reasons preferred being called Willie. As he positioned the headset, he was glad he'd always worn his hair in a crew cut. Thirty seconds later, a frantic radio message had been beamed from the headquarters of the Teen Brigade in the southwestern desert across the country toward New York State. "Calling the Fantastic Four! Calling the Fantastic Four! Condition RED! Repeat - condition RED! Contact the Teen Brigade immediately! Hulk must be located! Do you read us, Fantastic Four?" But Lokari, knowing that mortals could never really be trusted to stick to her plan, was still watching the unfolding events intently from the astral plane. 'Those meddling bitches of the Fantastic Four would ruin everything. I don't need their interference. Nor do I want them hanging around. I just want my rightful revenge on my sister Thorine.' It was a simple matter for the evil trickster to magically alter the wavelength and therefore the frequency of the Teen Brigade's request for help. She also removed any references to the Fantastic Four in the message. Now, instead of being picked up by those four meddlesome bitches, the Brigade's signal had been suitably redirected to that radio sitting on Don Blake's desk. In his study, the small radio suddenly crackled with static. "Contact the Teen Brigade immediately! Hulk must be located! Do you read us?" "Very strange," mused Dr. Blake, as he reached towards the radio only to discover it wasn't even turned on. "It sounded like a call for help coming over the radio. Perhaps Thorine should investigate." As he rose from his chair, he picked up his ancient looking walking cane. "The Teen Brigade is located in the southwestern desert. If this really concerns the Hulk, it must be an extremely serious matter. If that's the case, the time has come for Dr. Donald Blake to strike his enchanted cane once upon the floor in order to cast off his mortal guise." As he'd said he would, Donald Blake struck his cane once on the floor. In that instant it struck the floor, lightning eerily lit the room and thunder echoed in the sky above. "And now," in a higher pitched voice, "I've once again become the mighty Thorine, goddess of thunder." Her transformation completed, Thorine stretched out her arms, then pushed her long blonde hair away from her eyes. It always took her a few moments just to readjust to her true Ashmagordian form. Being a frail weak male was nothing like being her shapely thunder goddess true self. She often wished her mother Odina had selected a female mortal with which to bond her. That young nurse, Jane Foster, who worked in Dr. Blake's office, would have been an excellent choice. It would have solved other problems as well. But for some totally inexplicable reason known only to herself, wise Odina had decided her headstrong daughter would learn more about the life of mortals by sharing her existence with the male Donald Blake. *** But others, unsuspected by Lokari - even though she was a goddess, she was by no means infallible - had also heard the Teen Brigade's radio plea for immediate assistance. Just as Dr. Blake had, they believed the message was directed to them. Among them were the renowned biochemist Dr. Henry Pym, also known as the astonishing Ant-Man, and his partner Janet Van Dyne, alias the Wasp. "Wait for me, Ant-Man!" yelled Janet, as she hurried toward the pair's twin catapult. "I thought you weren't coming along, Jan," smiled Hank, as his pretty partner approached. "I just can't see why you always have to stop and powder your cute little nose every time we have a mission." "Henry Pym!" snapped Janet. "You just an old chauvinist. You're beginning to sound just like a stuffy old bachelor again." "You'd better get used to it, Jan. I intend on staying that way for the foreseeable future," replied Hank. Janet joined him on her side of the twin catapult. "Now, let's see if you can remain quiet long enough for me to activate the catapult." Janet glared at him for a moment, but said nothing until they after they'd been catapulted through the air to the place where the first team of Dr. Pym's trained flying ants awaited their arrival. "I don't know why I have to use one of your flying ant relay teams, Hank," said Janet, as she stood with one foot on each of her flying ant team. "In case you've forgotten - I don't see how you could - I happen to have my own pair of wings." "I haven't forgotten your wings, Jan. I bioengineered them for you," replied Hank, straddling his own team of flying ants. "We've got a couple thousand miles to cover, Jan. I sure don't want you exhausted when we finally get there." *** At the same, or nearly the same, time, another pair of ears had intercepted the Teen Brigade's urgent, yet magically diverted, broadcast. Billionaire industrialist playboy Tony Stark, sole owner of Stark Industries, but better known to the world as Iron Man, had also picked up their plea on the radio in his study. "It's lucky that I was tuned to the right frequency tonight," said Tony, after realizing what he'd just heard. "I think I'll go help them out. Things have just been far too dull and quiet around here lately." As he quickly donned his iron suit of armor, Tony began wondering about his upcoming match. "I've always wondered whether or not the Hulk really exists. And since he apparently does, it seems as if I'll find out sooner than I'd ever thought possible if the strength of Iron Man is a match for his." Once he was fully garbed as Iron Man, Tony energized the thrusters in his boots and took to the sky, beginning his long flight to the southwest desert. "I'll propel myself using my built-in solar energy circuitry. It will be a little slower than using my stored battery circuitry, but it lasts longer and will keep the battery fully charged for an emergency. I've got a long way to go just to reach the Teen Brigade. *** However, in the main clubhouse of the Teen Brigade, there were several long faces amidst the pervasive feeling of gloom in the room. "Still no word from the Fantastic Four, eh?" asked Freddy. "I guess they never got our message," moaned Milton. "It's either that," sighed Rick, as he continued monitoring the ham band through his headset, "or they can't be bothered answering a bunch of kids like us." But suddenly, Rick's mood abruptly and inexplicably changed. "Hey! Hold on a minute, guys. This must be it! I'm finally getting something in the headphones." Rick began grinning from ear to ear. "It's Ms. Fantastic herself!" "Well c'mon, Rick," wheedled Willie. "What does she have to say?" asked Christina. "You gotta let us all in on what's going on, Rick." "I'm switching the audio output to the external speakers," smiled Rick. "Go ahead, Ms. Fantastic." "We just intercepted the message from the Teen Brigade, Rick," replied Rachel Richards. "I think you'd better check the calibrations of your transmitter. The message was misbroadcast on the wrong frequency." "Phooey!" groused Bertha Grimm, also known as the Thing. "Why is it that every time there's some heavy duty lifting that needs being done around here, our little Stretchie girl gets a call on that blasted radio of hers?" "Bertha Grimm!" chastised Susan Storm the Invisible Girl. "You and I both know that you get the worst case of mike fright imaginable when you just think about talking on the radio." "Aw, Susie." "I'm sorry, Rick. I'm afraid we won't be able to help you out this time. We're wrapped up in another case right now and can't possibly get away," said Rachel. "However, according to my calculations, your errant message should have been picked up by a few others who should be able to help you just as much as we could have. If you don't get that help within the next half hour or so, then radio me back and let me know." "Will do, Ms. Fantastic." "Who are you kidding, Rachel?" asked Jeannie Storm, the Human Torch. "Just who else could even come close to being able to do any of the things we do?" "Teen Brigade out!" said a disappointed Rick Jones. It had been his first call to the Fantastic Four for help and he'd been turned down. "It sure sounds like we struck out there, Rick!" groaned Freddy. "It sure didn't sound like the Fantastic Four could make it to me." "I wonder what Ms. Fantastic meant when she said someone else might be coming to help us?" asked Christina. "Who else is there with their kind of power?" "I don't know," replied Rick, still feeling down and disappointed the Fantastic Four would be unable to help. "I guess they're just trying to pass the buck or something so we don't feel so bad." At that moment, the outer clubhouse door swung open. Willie stared in amazed disbelief at their unexpected new arrival. "Hey guys," he stammered, unable to take his eyes off her. "You really won't believe who's here, guys." "Why so surprised, young man?" asked the blonde goddess of thunder. "I've come to help capture the Hulk. Did you not send for me?" Willie was struck speechless, a rare feat indeed. All he could do was gawk at the imposing figure of Thorine. "Wowsers!" exclaimed Milton. "It's really Thorine! I can't believe she's here. I've never been in a room with such a stupendously gorgeous woman before." "Watch it, buster," growled Christina. It was hard enough competing with girls her own age without suddenly having to compete with some goddess. But in the presence of the thunder goddess, no one noticed the changes beginning in one of the members of the Teen Brigade. It had been a small spell Lokari had cast on the boy, but mortals were constantly in need of being reminded of their place. No mere mortal lad would ever disgustingly ogle any Ashmagordian goddesses, even that bitch Thorine, while she could prevent it. "Are you feeling all right, Willi?" asked Freddy. "I don't know what it is, but you suddenly look a little lost." "It must be all this excitement of Thorine being here, Freddy," replied Willi with a wide smile. Freddy was such a nice boy; she wondered why she'd never noticed just how nice he was before. She shook her head slowly sending her long dark hair swirling wildly about her head. And yet, Willi had this really strange feeling something was somehow amiss. She just didn't know what it might be. However, a quick look around the clubhouse revealed no recognizable changes to anything or anyone in the room. And she was still Wilhemina, even though every one called her Willi. She just preferred it that way. "Look up in the air," said Freddy excitedly. "They're flying around above us. Ant-Man and the Wasp have come to help us." "It would seem that the gang's all here," said Iron Man as he, just as unexpectedly as the other newly arrived super-heroes had, entered the Teen Brigade clubhouse. On account on their small size, no one could hear the conversation between Ant-Man and the Wasp. "I've never seen Thorine this close and personal before," said Ant-Man. "She's definitely a babe," he smiled. "Her pictures in the newspaper certainly don't do her justice." "Henry Pym!" snapped the Wasp furiously. "You do know you're goggling a goddess; don't you? What makes you think she'd even notice someone like you?" "First of all, I don't goggle. Secondly, I didn't know your eyes were such a pretty shade of green," replied Hank. "If you'll stop acting needlessly jealous, Jan, we've got a little work to do here. Just slip behind this projector lens with me. I'll adjust it so it will cast our images onto the wall." A moment later, the images of Ant-Man and the Wasp were being seen on the wall of the clubhouse. "We heard that the Teen Brigade needed a little help," said Ant-Man through the projector's speaker system. "That's why we're here. It certainly looks as if you're got plenty of help now." "This is just so cool," grinned Rick. "First, Thorine shows up. And then, Iron Man arrives. And now Ant-Man and the Wasp are here." Rick still couldn't believe their incredible good fortune. "This is far more help than we ever dared hope for after the Fantastic Four turned us down." As Willi looked at the projected images, she wondered what Ant-Man saw in the Wasp. She was just so skinny. Willi began shaking her head again. Something simply wasn't right somehow. At the same time, she had no idea what might ever be wrong about thinking Ant-Man was the just the cutest little hunk she'd ever seen. She'd never really believed her mother when she'd told her boys would interest her as more than just friends one day. Lokari was not pleased by any of these new developments. 'All these mortal fools merely complicate things for me. I'm not interested in any of these others. My only desire is to lure Thorine back to Ashmagordia.' The trickster knew there must be a way to accomplish that; all she had to do was think of it. And then, it came to her. 'Thorine still stands by the window. I need only create a mental image of the Hulk and make it run past Thorine's field of vision.' A moment later, Thorine, gazing out the Teen Brigade clubhouse window, spotted Lokari's well-crafted illusion. 'It's the Hulk,' she thought. Swiftly stepping outside, she was solely intent on capturing the green-skinned behemoth. "There is no need for me for me to disturb the others." She twirled her remarkable hammer about her head. "No matter how fast or how far he can leap, there is no place he can go that I cannot follow by hurling my mighty hammer and holding onto its unbreakable thong." However, as she approached the fleeing Hulk, Thorine grew increasingly more suspicious of his strange behavior. There was something wrong with the way he moved. It took the thunder goddess a few seconds to realize what it might be. "He moves as if he hasn't yet seen me. Indeed, it seems as though he is oddly unaware of everything around him." But abruptly, the Hulk ceased running away. As he neared an enormous boulder, the green-skinned giant turned back to face the swiftly closing Thorine. "Now the beast finally sees me," grinned Thorine, as she readied herself for battle. "He must be thinking of hurling that boulder at me. But my invincible hammer will soon put an end to that idea." However, the thunder goddess was swiftly taken aback when she watched her thrown hammer pass through the Hulk as if he were nothing more than an intangible ghost. "It's impossible." But even as her mighty enchanted hammer returned to her, the Hulk began slowly fading from her sight. "That wasn't really the Hulk after all," growled Thorine, stating the obvious. "It was merely a mental image designed to deceive me. There is only one capable of such devious foul wizardry. For whatever reason she thinks she might have, Lokari must be behind this." Thorine looked skyward. "Lokari, evil one, hear me! I know not what your evil plan is, but I have warned you over and over again never to meddle in the affairs of Mithmagordia. And now, you have dared defy me yet again, sister." Lokari began laughing. She'd succeeded in the opening phase of her plan against Thorine. Her goody-goody sister was swiftly returning to Ashmagordia. It wouldn't take Thorine that long to traverse the Plaid Span Trifroth and enter Ashmagordia. "When she arrives at the Isle of Silence, it is I who shall emerge victorious this time," grinned the evil trickster goddess. "For this time, I am very well prepared and quite ready for the coming of Thorine." *** But there were still other wheels that had been set into motion by Lokari's machinations. These wheels were now like the proverbial 'irresistible force'. They could be neither slowed nor stopped. "Thorine seems to have disappeared, my young friend," said Iron Man. "I have no idea where she could have gone, but I wouldn't worry too much about her disappearance. I'm sure that Ant-Man and I will be able to find and contain the Hulk." "You'd better be careful," replied Rick. "If the Hulk really is on one of his rampages for some reason, then look out! He's far stronger than anyone even suspects and the madder he gets, the stronger he gets." "You don't need to worry about us, Rick," replied Ant-Man. "We'll be very careful." "And just remember that he's innocent. I don't exactly know how I know that, but I know it's the truth," said Rick. "He must not be hurt. Understand?" "That might be easier said than done," said Iron Man. "Let's go, Ant-Man." "Whatever you say, Iron Man." The Wasp glared at both of the men. Why was it always her fortune to be surrounded by guys that clearly didn't believe she could pull her own weight? And yet, she had to hurry to catch up with the two. "Just wait until I get a chance to speak with you alone, Henry Pym," she muttered. As they departed the clubhouse, Rick wished them good luck. He also wished he could go with them. But he knew that wasn't possible. He was no super-hero. "If you won't be needing us for a while, Rick," said Willi, "Freddy and I are gonna go get something to eat." "Go ahead," replied Rick. "I'll hold down the fort while you're gone." "Thanks, Rick," smiled Willi. She definitely wondered why Freddy had taken so long to ask her out on a date. Of course, she still might have been waiting impatiently, if she hadn't finally decided on forcing the issue. Freddy looked rather surprised, when Willi grabbed his hand. "Let's go, Freddy." She turned toward Rick. "We'll be back a little later," she smiled. As Rick watched Willi and Freddy leave the clubhouse hand in hand, he thought - even though he had no real idea why - the two of them made an odd couple. Even though Rick had known both of them for years, Freddy just didn't seem to be the type of guy Rick thought would ever interest Willi. But he'd been wrong about a few things before. And he'd probably be wrong about other things again. Especially, when it came to figuring out just what it was girls liked. *** Just where was the Hulk hiding? How was it possible that a seven-foot, half-ton plus, green-skinned behemoth that was being hunted and hounded unmercifully remain hidden from his innumerable pursuers? Even Rick Jones was bewildered the Hulk's apparent disappearance. However, given he'd heard absolutely nothing from Bruce Banner, he knew the Hulk was still the Hulk and out there somewhere. But where had he taken refuge? *** Where indeed? The Hulk was simply hiding in plain sight - more or less. All it had taken was a little makeup and a change of clothes. "Ladies and gentlemen!" screamed the ringmaster. "May I present to you now - for your edification and your enjoyment - the one and only Mechano, the mightiest, the most powerful, the most lifelike, the most amazing robot on the face of the earth!" The crowd oohed and aahed as Mechano was slowly rolled out into the center of the main ring under the big top. But his great size was in no way responsible for the amazement then felt by the crowd. With the greatest of ease, the supposed giant robot was casually juggling a full-grown stallion, a bull elephant, and a bull walrus. "Watch the mighty Mechano, my friends!" screamed the ringmaster again. He hoped no one among the amazed crowd would decide a call to the SPCA might be in order. As the owner of this circus, he simply hated the idea of getting bad press. "He walks like a man! He moves like a man! If he could only speak, he'd undoubtedly talk like a man! "But as all of you can plainly see, mighty Mechano has the fantastic strength of more than a dozen bulldozers! Ladies and gentlemen! Children of all ages! This is Mechano - the robot marvel of this or any age." The owner was beside himself with joy. "Finding that power-packed robot marvel was the greatest thing that ever happened to this circus. The creditors were on my back. However, we've been sold out every night this week." "It's still kinda hard for me to believe he's only a robot, boss," said one of the clowns standing nearby. "Even as impossibly huge as he is, he still looks pretty real to me." "That's always been the magic of the circus," smiled the ringmaster. "Here, even the impossible is real." "C'mon, boss. Just take a real good look at him. He couldn't possibly be real," replied the juggler. "There's just no way anyone could be strong enough to do the any of those amazing things that we've all seen Mechano do." "Wow! Look at him now!" In the center ring, Mechano had just lifted the lion cage above his head. Inside the cage, aside from all the obligatory props of the trade, had been four lions, three tigers, and a pair of very startled lion tamers. At the same time, totally unnoticed by the Hulk or anyone else, one small and mostly insignificant ant had been watching the giant robot's act with more than a passing interest. Based on size and strength, it easily fit within the parameters for which it had been asked to watch. It quickly sent out its message of potential discovery. "At last!" exclaimed Ant-Man. "One of my vast army of ants has been watching an incredibly powerful performer at the local circus. It might easily be the Hulk. Since the Wasp and I are faster, we'll go on ahead, Iron Man." "Don't worry about me. I won't be too far behind you." Within moments, Ant-Man was one more aboard a team of flying ants and the Wasp was flying beside him. "I'll give the ants their orders along the way, Jan. Iron Man is still right behind us." "I wonder what he looks like under that iron mask of his," mused Janet. She didn't think a little bout with jealousy would hurt Hank too much. "Do you wanna bet he's really dreamy looking?" "Don't you ever think of anything else?" snapped Hank. "Why should I? I saw how you kept looking at Thorine," replied Jan. "How's a mere mortal girl like me ever supposed to compete with a goddess?" "Oh brother," sighed Hank. How would he ever convince Jan that she had no competition? "Quiet!" he exclaimed suddenly. "There's the circus tents now. I've got to beam some important instructions ahead to the ants. 'Dig directly below the performer. Weaken the ground beneath him and cause a cave-in,' he cybernetically transmitted to the ants through his helmet. As Mechano lay on his back, he was casually spinning a huge wooden circus wagon with his powerful legs. Once again the crowd oohed and aahed. But then unexpectedly, the ground beneath him opened up. "Ugh!" exclaimed the Hulk. "What happened?" Even though, he wasn't as smart as his puny alter self Banner, the Hulk soon figured out what had happened. "Hulk trapped in this crevice," he whispered. "It can't be an accident. Someone wise to Hulk being Mechano. Hulk not know how they did it. Hulk not think it important. But Hulk not stay here. Hulk gotta get out of this hole!" As he began exerting his incredibly powerful muscles, the maddened Hulk thrashed and pounded and battered and heaved until the ground itself could take no further punishment. "Hulk free!" he exclaimed, as he leapt from the no longer confining hole. "What that?" he asked as something whizzed by his head. "I just flew close enough to verify his identity," said Ant-Man into his small microphone. "This is the Hulk! Repeat! Mechano is the Hulk!" "Tiny bugs fly past Hulk." And yet, he had to take a closer look. "No, not tiny bugs. Tiny people riding bugs annoy Hulk." He looked around the surrounding area. "Hulk not understand. Hulk not like what Hulk see. Hulk must leave now. Tiny bug people getting too close." Ant-Man steered his winged ants to the microphone the ringmaster had been using to heap praise on Mechano. "I'll use this to make him hear me, Jan. Maybe I'll be able to reason with him." "Reason with him? You must be kidding, Hank," replied the incredulous Wasp. "He's just so green and hideous. I'd really hate to meet him in some dark alley late at night." But after an additional moment of thought, she quickly added, "I'd even hate to meet him in a brightly lit alley at high noon." "Wait, Hulk! This is Ant-Man speaking!" spoke the tiny hero into the microphone. "I know who you really are. I must speak with you. If you're innocent, I'll help you; I'm your friend." "Go away, little bug person! Leave Hulk alone!" shouted the annoyed behemoth. "Hulk speak to no one." He also had no intent of creating a panic by revealing his Hulk identity, even inadvertently, to the soldout circus crowd. "Hulk have no friends, little bug person!" "If you won't stop, then I'll have to make you stop." Ant-Man turned away from the large microphone and psionically transmitted through his helmet. 'Release the steel cylinder, my brave tiny warriors.' "Little bug person is big fool!" shouted the Hulk. "Hulk cannot be stopped by little bug person!" "I wouldn't wanna bet the farm on that just yet, big fella," replied Ant-Man, as the ants bit through the fastenings holding the heavy iron cylinder hanging above the Hulk, letting it fall over him and trap him. In the meantime, the large circus crowd was still watching the unfolding dramatic events in awestruck amazement. They believed what they were watching was all part of some elaborate show put on just for them. "Best darn show I've ever seen." "That big dumb robot has the disposition of my dumb brother-in-law." "I'll bet that robot's probably the smarter of the pair." "How do they ever dream up such wild amazing things." Abruptly, the Hulk ripped away the iron cylinder as if it were little more than the thinnest of tissue papers. "Bug person refuse to stop. Hulk tired of being hounded." He tore the mask away from his face. "Masquerade as robot over now. Hulk no longer cares who knows who Hulk really is." He wiped away the remaining makeup from his face and tore off what remained of his Mechano costume. "Hulk gonna tear this place apart with my bare hands. What has Hulk to fear? Nothing can hurt or stop Hulk!" The sudden revelation that Mechano was actually the renegade Hulk in disguise startled the crowd. As had been expected, they panicked and screamed. Some of them even got up and ran for the exits, while most just remained staring dumbfounded at the unimaginable events unfolding before their disbelieving eyes. "We've done it, Jan. We've finally brought him out into the open." "I'm not so sure that was such a good idea, Hank. Tall, green, and gruesome looks royally pissed." "Every second counts. Lure him under the trapeze net," said Ant-Man. "Once he's there, I'll do the rest." "Don't let me down, Hank," replied the Wasp, as she headed towards the Hulk. Although she hoped it wouldn't go that far, she knew she could trust Hank with her life. "I'd sure hate to have someone like him for a new permanent playmate." "Tiny bug girl back annoying Hulk again." The Hulk swatted at the air around him. "Why tiny bug girl buzz around Hulk? Tiny bug girl must be enemy." 'Just what I needed - a super-jumbo sized new green enemy,' thought the Wasp. 'How can anyone so big and bulky move so incredibly fast? He must be the most dreadful thing I've ever seen in my life.' "Tiny bug girl think she can escape Hulk because bug girl so small." The Hulk grabbed one of the nearby bellows. "No one escapes Hulk!" he exclaimed, as he began rapidly pumping the bellows. "Ohh!" groaned the Wasp. "The wind from that bellows feels like a hurricane blast." She gasped for air. "Can't breathe... Can't see... Out of control... Hank, I'm in a lot of trouble here! You gotta save me!" "No one can save you now, little bug girl," gloated the Hulk as he picked up the insect-sized Wasp between two of his massive fingers. Suddenly, another massive figure - this one golden in color - entered the circus tent and the ensuing fray. "You are very wrong about that, Hulk!" exclaimed the golden clad figure. "There is one who can save her! And save her I shall!" "Iron Man!" Surprised by the appearance of and the challenge from Iron Man, the Hulk momentarily forgot about his tiny prisoner and loosened his grip. It wasn't much, but, as small as Jan was, it was more than enough for the Wasp to escape the Hulk's grasp. Through his built-in radio receiver he'd previously tuned to the same frequency used for communication between Ant-Man and the Wasp, Iron Man, even as he pursued the Hulk, was being fully briefed on their plan of attack. "That was perfect timing, Iron Man," said a very relieved Henry Pym. He was glad Jan had been rescued from the Hulk and was now safe and unharmed. "Make him run towards the center of the tent. My ants and I have prepared a little surprise for him there. Just let him try to escape by leaping through the top of this tent." As Hank had anticipated that was the escape maneuver attempted by the Hulk. With one mighty leap, the Hulk crashed through the top of the tent. Only instead of gaining his freedom, he'd become thoroughly ensnared within a high-strength nylon safety net Dr. Pym's army of ants had spread over the top of the tent. "I can only hope it holds him long enough," whispered Ant-Man. But the netting that would have held a rogue bull elephant motionless was as nothing to the Hulk. A mighty surge of brute force exploded through the powerhouse known as the Hulk. His powerful leap carried not just the netting along with him, but the entire tent as well. "He's getting away!" shouted the Wasp. The remaining crowd gasped in stunned amazement. Never before had human eyes beheld such an incredible and awesome spectacle. They'd have something to tell their children, their grandchildren, and even their children's grandchildren. Never had any mere mortal been witness to such a stupendous battle of titans. Having snagged the remains of tent on one of the shaggy peaks and ripped the netting away from his body, the now unencumbered Hulk continued his flight with one lone unshakable pursuer following him. "Give it up, Hulk!" shouted Iron Man. "There is no place on this earth where I cannot follow you." Abruptly, the mighty green-skinned fugitive dropped to the ground. Caught off guard by the Hulk's unexpected maneuver, Iron Man whizzed past him. With the speed of a charging rhinoceros, the Hulk leapt back into the air again. But now, the Hulk was behind the startled Iron Man. In that one instant, the hunted had become the hunter. A massive blow from the Hulk shattered Iron Man's propulsion battery, damaging his propulsive jets and endangering his life support system. Switching immediately to his emergency backups, he wafted slowly to the ground. Until he could repair this damage he'd just sustained, Iron Man was helpless and he knew it. Certainly the Hulk must know that as well. "Hulk... Wait!" shouted Iron Man, knowing he wouldn't be able to follow if the Hulk fled again. "I want to help you. Please trust me. You can't remain a hunted fugitive forever." "Bah!" growled the green-skinned Goliath as he effortlessly leapt once more into the sky. "Hulk not trust anyone, golden man." *** In the Grand Chamber of the Great Imperial Palace of Ashmagordia, Thorine knelt before the Queen, her mother Odina the Most Wise. "Most noble Odina, High Lady and Protectress of all the goddesses of Ashmagordia, I beseech thee grant thy daughter permission to visit Lokari on the Isle of Silence. Only by doing so may I learn if she be responsible for the deviltry on earth I already suspect is her doing." Odina pondered on her daughter's request carefully. She knew, as did most of the Ashmagordians, there were several longstanding unresolved potentially volatile issues between her two daughters. "Permission is granted, Thorine." She paused for another long moment, as if she were considering what else must be said. "But harken unto my words. Even though you be the daughter of my heart, Lokari too is my daughter. I cannot allow myself to interfere in whatever transpires between you." "I understand perfectly, Mother." Scant minutes later, alone in the darkness the mighty thunder goddess set out in the small one-woman boat across the Sea of Mists heading for the Isle of Silence. Thorine knew full well that the enemy she now sought was not simply another legendary goddess. Lokari was also a trickster, as well as her sister. However, being her sister had not prevented Lokari from becoming Thorine's most sinister and dangerous foe. "Lokari must know I'm coming for her. I'd be surprised if she hasn't set numerous traps for me along the way." Thorine continued poling her one-woman boat on her slow, but steady, trek across the Sea of Mists. "But I dare not turn back... no matter what the risk I take. Lokari would think me a coward. My evil sister must simply learn to leave the Mithmagordians alone." Without any warning, Thorine's small craft was suddenly attacked from the sea. "Tangle roots!" exclaimed Thorine, immediately recognizing the danger in which she now found herself. "These foul roots are the wicked scourge of inland swamps, not shallow seas. My diabolical sister must have planted them here to trap unwary intruders." The roots continually strengthened their vise-like grip on Thorine's small boat. It was all instinctive for them; it was all they knew how to do. Knowing she needed to act quickly and most decisively, Thorine began whirling her enchanted mallet increasingly faster and faster. Within a few seconds, her hammer was spinning faster than the fastest and most powerful known propeller ever devised. The rapidly whirling hammer was also cutting a wide swath through the tangle roots with better efficiency than a giant buzz saw. "Made it!" exclaimed Thorine, as she finally cut through the last of the foul roots. However, her ordeal was not as yet at an end. As she finally came within sight of the Isle of Silence, the sky swiftly darkened and the sea itself grew darker and increasingly rougher. Lightning brightened the sky. Thunder echoed endlessly. And then, the gigantic, long silent, volcano that had originally created the Isle erupted with a deafening roar. "I should have known. This is more of Lokari's evil handicraft," snarled Thorine, as she watched the fires intensify on the mountain. "Only she and I have ever known the magical incantations necessary to bring that long slumbering mountain flaming back to life." At that very moment, the mountain began spewing exactly what Thorine had feared it would. It was just as all the old stories she'd read as a child had said it would be. If the rest of those old stories were as true - there were no reasons to believe they weren't - the volcanic gas globules now being spewed from the volcano were capable of sapping the strength of any goddess, leaving her weak and helpless before they eventually exploded. There was only one small chance of escaping that fate. Thorine swiftly leapt from her small craft into the open sea, which would effectively shield her from the enervating effects of those globules, as well as their subsequent explosions. Fortunately, the Isle of Silence lay directly in front of her. And just as fortunately, Thorine's lungs were as healthy and strong as the rest of her body. 'I need only hold my breath another few minutes,' she thought while trailing behind her spinning hammer. On the shore of the Isle of Silence, Lokari began gloating, as she looked out over the suddenly calm and silent sea. "Her craft floats empty now. She is nowhere to be seen." Lokari laughed wickedly. "Have I defeated Thorine so quickly and easily? How overrated you were, dear sister!" However, as if in answer to Lokari's question, an unnatural, giant waterspout suddenly erupted from the surface of the Sea of Mists. From within its center, Thorine herself answered, "No, my evil sister! You have not defeated me! Our latest battle has not yet begun!" "No!" scowled Lokari. "Have you forgotten my hammer is capable of generating waterspouts, sister?" smiled Thorine, as she stepped onto the beach to confront Lokari. "That is, of course, in addition to its more common usage of meting out fitting punishments to my foes." With little wasted effort, she flung her mighty hammer unerringly toward her evil mischievous sister. However, Lokari was far from being defenseless. With the speed of thought, she reacted to the approaching danger. A brief pass of her hand swiftly froze the molecules of the air in front of her to form an icy shield, just strong enough to deflect Thorine's thrown hammer. "Hah!" exclaimed Lokari. "You should just give up now, sister. You are clearly overmatched. I'm far too fast and too smart for you." "Fast, perhaps? But you're not all that smart," replied Thorine, as her enchanted hammer returned to her hand. "You were expecting my arrival, Lokari. That can only mean you have committed some foul deed, knowing full well I would come here to avenge it." She stepped up to the remains of Lokari's icy shield and shattered it with one mighty blow of her hammer. "And avenge it, I shall. Nothing shall save you now, princess of evil." "I wouldn't count on that, my accursed sister," grinned Lokari. "Do you remember the name of this Isle? Do you even remember for whom it was named." Her mischievous grin widened further. "In case you might have forgotten, although I doubt that's true, the 'Silent Ones' dwell below us. They are the natural-born enemies of all goddesses... they are the Trolks." A large misshapened hand, extending upward from somewhere below the Isle's surface abruptly grabbed Thorine's ankle. Only mere moments later, she found herself trapped in the vise-like grip of a hideously ugly Trolk. "I'm afraid you've been away from Ashmagordia far too long, Thorine," smiled Lokari evilly in triumph. "Have you forgotten? Here, we are all immortal. Here, we are all super-powerful." Lokari's laughter hardened. "There is nothing that lives, in either Ashmagordia or Mithmagordia, that is capable of breaking the grip of a Trolk once applied!" She watched while the Trolk begin pulling Thorine toward the hole from which he'd been released from the underground world. "This is the true trap I had planned for you all along. In exchange for obeying me, I only had to promise I'd deliver you, the mightiest of all the goddesses, to them." The Trolk, with Thorine firmly in hand, had already entered the hole in the ground. "They shall drag you down below. I'm quite sure they have some very interesting things planned for you, dear sister." "I'm not quite finished yet, evil sister," snarled Thorine. All that remained visible was her arm, which still clutched her mighty hammer. "I still have one hand free. And I can still pound my enchanted mallet upon the ground. I am still the goddess of thunder. How can there be thunder without blazing lightning to accompany it?" Thorine struck her hammer upon the ground. Thunder boomed and lightning filled the air. A blazing bolt of white lightning struck the inside the hole near the Trolk that held Thorine. More accustomed to the underground darkness, the Trolk - his sensitive eyes momentarily blinded - was startled by the intense brilliance. As a result, he turned loose his otherewise unbreakable grip and fled into the safety of the darkness below. "Now that your foul treacherous accomplice has fled back to the Stygian depths that spawned him and his kind, it is time for you to feel the rightful wrath and awesome vengeance of Thorine." But as she swung her hammer at her sister, Thorine was surprised when it passed right through Lokari without apparent effect. "Surprised, Thorine?" grinned Lokari. "That wasn't truly me, you poor misguided fool. It was only a mental image." She laughed at Thorine. "You really must remember I can match you trick for trick, and then some, dear sister." As Thorine turned to face the real Lokari, she was suddenly confronted by at least another dozen indistinguishable images of her trickster sister. "It'll take more than mere tricks to save you from me now, Lokari." Thorine began slowly twirling her hammer. "Although I cannot tell which of the images before me are false and which is the real you, my sister, my enchanted hammer will soon solve that problem for me." The whirling hammer began picking up speed. "I need only twirl my mallet at the speed of a gigantic fan, so that it simply blows all of your figures to the edge of the cliff where the real Lokari is certain to reveal herself by attempting to break her fall." She smiled as one by one the extra images vanished. "See how simple that was, sister?" "Blast you, Thorine!" snapped Lokari. She hung precariously from what remained of a small tree. "But you haven't won yet. I'll let myself plunge into the sea below me before I allow you to seize me." "A most hollow threat, mischievous goddess of evil." Thorine began rubbing her enchanted mallet along the ground. "My hammer is now connecting with the strong flow of magnetic currents that give life to the Trolks below." "No! I won't let you take me!" screamed Lokari. "I know what you're trying to do; I won't allow it. I'll jump first!" "It's already too late, Lokari!" Her hammer now imbued with strong magnetic energies of its own, Thorine reached out with her mind and easily captured her sister within its projected magnetic force. "I have you now! You have much for which to atone, Lokari." Once she was within range, Thorine grabbed and held her sister in an unbreakable grip of her own. "Wait! Stop!" shouted Lokari. "Where are you taking me?" she asked nervously. "What are you going to do to me?" Thorine smiled. "With our wise and noble mother Odina's permission, I shall take you to Mithmagordia. Once there on earth you will find others waiting for you. These others are almost as powerful as I am." *** Several days had passed on earth. The Hulk was still at large. Iron Man had repaired his damaged systems. He, Ant-Man, and the Wasp still continued their search for the Hulk. "Captain? Am I seeing things or what?" asked the commercial jet airplane's co-pilot, shaking his head slowly. "Look over there!" He pointed out the cockpit window. "Do you see that same strange green thing I see flying around out there?" "That's just the Hulk, Sylvester; I've seen him up here a few times before," replied the pilot calmly. "He isn't really flying, you know. As I understand it, he seems to fly by making these prodigious leaps with those powerful legs of his." "Oh." The co-pilot was relieved. With the pilot having identified the flying green object as the Hulk, they wouldn't have to fill out any of that dumb UFO required paperwork and risk getting grounded pending an investigation. But seconds later aboard the same jetliner, an urgent message was unexpectedly received. "Attention, Flight 738! Attention, Flight 738!" began the message on an unusual frequency. "This is Iron Man. Have you seen the Hulk? Repeat - have you seen the Hulk?" "Sufferin' succotash," muttered the co-pilot. "This is Captain Harris of Flight 738. That's an affirmative, Iron Man," replied the pilot, as Iron Man appeared just outside the cockpit window. "The Hulk just went whizzing past us. If I had to guess, I'd say he was heading for the Motor City." "Thanks for the help, Captain Harris." Iron Man waved at the two men, then turned and sped away in his continued pursuit of the Hulk. "I saw it. Didn't I, Captain?" muttered Sylvester. "I just don't believe any of it." "You'll get used to it, son," smiled Captain Harris. "Does this happen a lot, sir?" "You see one of those super-hero or super-villain types flying around up here every now and again. They're nothing really to worry about. We leave them alone; they generally leave us alone," replied Captain Harris. "However, it is a very rare day when you see more than one." "I see," replied Sylvester. "Do we need to write up a report?" Captain Harris gazed askance at his young co-pilot. "What in blazes for, boy?" he asked. *** Although the Hulk had ducked inside the largest auto factory in Motor City in order to escape his pursuit, Iron Man relentlessly continued tracking him. "Big golden metal man still chasing after Hulk," he grumbled. "Hulk can't lose Iron Man." "May I have your attention, please!" began the announcement over the loudspeakers. "All workers currently in assembly area 13D are asked to vacate that area immediately." "The Hulk must be stopped," added Iron Man to the message. "You workers should take cover quickly!" "You don't need to tell us twice, Iron Man," said one of the many assemblers fleeing for safety. From the nearby tall stacks, Iron Man picked up and flung dozens of tires toward the Hulk. It wasn't too much help. "You're wasting your time, Iron Man!" snarled the Hulk. "These puny rubber things can't possibly hurt Hulk." He glared at Iron Man. "But Hulk now sick and tired of running away. Now Hulk's turn to attack Iron Man." He reached down and very casually tore a large steel shaft away from the nearest assembly mechanism along the now mostly vacated production line. "Help!" shouted a nearby worker. "Someone's got to stop him before he tears this whole place apart." The Hulk grabbed one of the many tires Iron Man had thrown at him. After impossibly stretching the tire between two posts, the Hulk placed the broken off shaft - as if it were an arrow - between the posts, then pulled the tire back much like an archer might pull back his bowstring. A moment later, the steel shaft was speeding on its way like a deadly missile towards Iron Man. WHUMP! The sound of the large shaft's impact reverberated throughout the cavern that was the auto factory. Those few remaining workers still insane enough to risk being within the building looked toward Iron Man and were totally amazed at seeing him still on his feet. But the force of the blow he'd received from the Hulk had undeniably staggered the armored warrior. Very fortunately, he'd already had the foresight to strengthen several additional areas of his armor after his previous encounter with the Hulk. The blow he'd just absorbed probably would have incapacitated him earlier. It would have easily stopped anything made of mere flesh and blood. "All right, Hulk, I've had enough of this," snapped Iron Man, as he slowly regained his balance. "I've tried reasoning with you, but now it's time to change tactics." With his own augmented strength, Iron Man swiftly reshaped the shaft into a large steel grapple. "I can play this your way, Hulk." He tossed his newly-fashioned grapple in the direction of the Hulk. "Bull's eye!" he shouted, as the thrown grapple pinned the Hulk firmly to the wall behind him. "You really think this little toy of yours can stop Hulk?" asked the incredulous green-skinned behemoth. With very little effort, the Hulk pushed back against the wall forcing it to collapse. "Wow! I never expected that!" exclaimed Iron Man. The Hulk was definitely full of tricks. He was more clever than he'd given him credit. "He just pushed himself backward right through the wall." "Hulk got to get out of this place. Hulk need room to move around," he muttered. "Hulk need more room to fight Iron Man." Stepping through the hole made by the collapsed wall, Iron Man very slowly and quite cautiously approached his downed, yet still extremely dangerous, opponent. "Hulk, I want to help you," he tried to explain again. "But I'm beginning to think the police might have been right about you all along. Maybe you are the menace they claim you are. But in any event, you're far too dangerous to be allowed to continue running around loose." "Sez you, golden metal man," growled the Hulk. "Just come a little bit closer, Iron Man." The Hulk pushed the grapple away from him. "Once I put my arms around you, metal man, even that iron suit won't help you." Slowly and methodically, the Hulk rose to his feet. "Hulk tired of being hounded by others for no reason." But just as it appeared that a clash of titanic proportions might soon commence, a thunderbolt separated the two would be combatants. "I say thee hold!" shouted Thorine. "You two have no real reason to fight." "It's Thorine!" exclaimed Iron Man. "She's returned." "Who is that strange dark-haired girl stuck to the blonde girl's hammer?" asked the Hulk. "This is Lokari, my arch-enemy," explained Thorine. She saw no reason to air dirty family secrets by telling them that Lokari was also her evil sister. "It was she who planned the train wreck! It was also she who arranged for the Hulk to take the blamed, even though she watched him save the train and its passengers." "Why girl?" asked the Hulk angrily. "Hulk not even know you." "It was a part of her evil plan to make me return to Ashmagordia," replied Thorine. "She thought she could trap me there." "It seems she trapped herself," replied Iron Man. Lokari was only the second Ashmagordian goddess he'd ever met. Beneath his iron suit and mask, Tony Stark wondered if all the Ashmagordian goddesses were as beautiful as these two were. Hulk glared at Lokari. "It's a good thing Lokari is puny woman," he grumbled. "Hulk never strike women." "What a perfectly marvelous chivalrous fool," grinned Lokari. "As if I would have allowed you to touch me. Now stand thee back, large and green human dolt. No mere mortal may ever approach or lay a hand on Lokari, goddess of mischief. I have many powers far beyond your feeble ability to imagine them." Lokari inexplicably began glowing eerily. "Where strange glow about girl come from?" asked the Hulk. "What's happening to nasty girl that get Hulk in so much trouble?" "Unbelievable," replied Iron Man. "She's made herself radioactive." Lokari laughed at all of them. "I'll give you ten seconds to leave, green one. You may even take Iron Man along with you. My quarrel is with neither of you. Once you're gone, Thorine and I will resume our battle until it reaches its ultimate inevitable conclusion. Be thee warned, if you remain, you are doomed." But even as Lokari continued her gloating, a swarm of ants silently converged on a nearby switch. To anyone who might have noticed them, it was as if they were obeying some silent commands. And given their great number, they easily flicked open the switch. Unexpectedly, a trap door beneath Lokari suddenly dropped open. "What the..." she exclaimed as she fell through the open trapdoor and into the chute below it that swiftly deposited the trickster goddess in one of the many lead-lined tanks designed for the permanent storage of radioactive wastes. "You did it, Ant-Man!" shouted the Wasp as Lokari fell headlong into the waiting tank. "You've trapped her!" "I had plenty of help, Wasp. And a little luck as well. Success depended on Lokari carelessly standing in the right place... which she did." Ant-Man quickly sent another message to the swarm of ants. He was very proud and exceptionally pleased at seeing how well the swarm closed the tank's door and then spun the lock. 'Very good, my marvelous little allies,' he telepathically told them. It was over now. Ant-Man turned to his partner the Wasp. "The chamber door has been sealed air-tight. Even a goddess like Lokari can't possibly escape an air-tight, lead-lined chamber." "She must have landed down here somewhere," said Iron Man as he and the others entered the room. "This is the place where those trucks that carry radioactive wastes from atomic tests and atomic plants come," added Thorine harshly. "Those foul poisons are loaded into these tanks and than disposed of in the ocean. At times like this, even I think these mortals must be impossibly mad." "You can rest easy now, Thorine," said Ant-Man from where he stood atop the tank that now housed Lokari. "Everything's already been taken care of. My ants have Lokari trapped within this impregnable tank with all the other junk that was already inside it." Thorine smiled at her tiny ally. It was something the Wasp couldn't have possibly missed. However, Ant-Man just took the whole thing in his stride. He wasn't about to give Jan any additional fuel for her green-eyed flames. "Lokari cannot remain radioactive for very much longer... mayhaps a few more minutes at best," said Thorine. "After she finally returns to normal - that is, what is normal for her - I shall open this tank and return Lokari to where she belongs. Before I return here, I will have a very long talk with Odina the Queen about her." "Please wait for a minute," said Ant-Man. "Before we separate and go our own ways, the Wasp and I have something else we'd like to discuss with you." "That's right," added the Wasp. "We worked ver