RETURN OF THE COBALT MAN!

By Steve Crosby

There was little activity on the movie set. Much of the crew was waiting on one person’s arrival, and were growing impatient. The director, who had been loudly speaking on a cell-phone, closed the phone and motioned to a man standing off at the side.

“Ted, set your equipment up. If we wait much longer we’re going to lose the day.”

“You got it.” Ted Roberts started barking orders and moved to assist the other workers. Cables had to be set up, collapsible set pieces moved into place, and minor charges set. Close to an hour of work needed for what would amount to a thirty-second shot, but would be watched for hours on end.

Unfortunately, the crew were only about halfway finished when Wonder Man flew down onto the set. The Avenger and stuntman removed his glasses, showing off his ionic red eyes, and approached the director.

“Hey, Steven. Sorry I was almost late, saving the city and all that. But I’m here now, and we’ve got time to get this shot in right.”

The director nodded. “Of course. We just need to move some things away.” He motioned to the workers, and they started undoing what they’d begun.

While Wonder Man went to get his makeup done, Ted Roberts moved to speak with the director. “Sir, come on. We’ve been ready to go all day. Please give this shot to me and my guys. Show him,” he jerked his head in Wonder Man’s direction, “that you can’t just show up whenever you feel like it.”

“I’m sorry Ted, but you know the studio prefers Wonder Man whenever possible. You and your guys are still getting paid for the day.”

It was about more than money, and both men knew it. Dejected, Ted Roberts turned and went to help his men move their equipment.

“It’s all about the fame, baby,” said Wonder Man to the woman on his arm. She was Scarlet Witch, looking decidedly uncomfortable as the flashbulbs were popping in her face.

Also in their face had been a television camera. That next morning, footage of the super-heroic couple attending a premiere was playing on Silverclaw’s television as the younger was getting ready. She glanced at the screen and shook her head with sympathy for Scarlet Witch. Having been raised in a small South American village, she would have been overwhelmed at the attention.

There was a knock at the door to Silverclaw’s bungalow. She answered it, finding Avengers reservists Cloak and Dagger outside. It was no surprise what Cloak was wearing—the cloak of Darkforce was a part of him—but Dagger’s white leotard was covered by a light jacket and loose-fitting pants.

“Hey girl,” Dagger said. “Ready for your first day of school?”

“Almost.” Silverclaw raised a hand with the index finger raised and backed away from the door. In one motion she grabbed a pack from the kitchen counter with one arm and turned off the television with a wad of webbing fired from the other arm. “Now I’m ready. Let’s go.”

“Partial trait manifestation,” said Cloak. “Very impressive. You’re learning.”

Silverclaw made a face that resembled a cat. “Not impressive. Anybody who doesn’t learn after 10-hour training days doesn’t deserve to be an Avenger. And even then the jury’s still out as far as I’m concerned. I’m actually thinking of college as a vacation.”

“I’m sure you’ll have a good and educational time,” Dagger said in reassurance. “And don’t worry about saving the world while you’re in class. That’s what we’re for—to pick up the ball when an Avenger’s not available.”

“You should be more than that,” Silverclaw said. “You both more than proved yourselves worthy of full membership.”

Cloak didn’t argue, and even gave a slight nod as his cloak billowed out. Darkness enveloped all three. For long seconds, Silverclaw felt cold to her bones, a deep despair she felt she may never recover from. Then the darkness gave way to California sunshine and the cold chased away by a hot breeze. The three heroes had teleported from the Avengers Compound to a private spot on a nearby college campus.

Dagger responded to the comment. “Cloak and I prefer the reserve status. With the work we do on the streets, it’s better that we’re not directly associated with the Avengers.”

“We wouldn’t want to do anything to damage the team,” said Cloak. “You should step back.”

Silverclaw did as suggested, and Cloak billowed out his darkness again. He and Dagger were enveloped, and both disappeared before the young Avenger’s eyes. After glancing around to make sure that nobody had observed the arrival and departure, Silverclaw slung the pack over her shoulder and walked toward a building.

It wouldn’t do if any student found out their classmate was an Avenger on the first day. For Silverclaw, too much attention too soon would be overwhelming.

The store appeared to be an average, run-of-the-mill used appliance/junk establishment. Ted Roberts knew better, chuckling as he passed under the sign with the words “We Tinker to Your Satisfaction.” Inside, the store was empty. Such businesses were a dying breed, and in the present California economy it was a wonder this business was still open.

At hearing the bell sound when the front door was opened, an elderly man appeared from the back room. At sight of Ted Roberts, he smiled. “Ah. Back for another look, or will you be picking up?”

“No.” That was all Ted said. It bugged him when people asked two question in the same sentence, and in a passive-aggressive way only ever answered the first.

“Splendid.” The elderly man knew of this trait, and enjoyed toying with Ted whenever he saw the man. “Please follow me into the back room.”

The instruction was unnecessary. Ted Roberts had visited several times and was well familiar with the place. Nevertheless, he followed the man he knew as Tinkerer into the back room. At first glance there appeared to be more of the same junk and busted appliances. But Ted had an eye for gadgets and recognized advanced devices beneath the gritty façade. Tinkerer ignored all these and approached a blank wall that swung open for him. Behind the wall was a spiral staircase that led down into the true workshop.

“Do you agree to the price?” asked Tinkerer.

Stepping onto the floor of the workshop, Ted Roberts nodded and gazed at the suit of armor. “Why is it behind glass?”

Tinkerer chuckled. “Because it’s made of cobalt, my boy. That glass is lead-lined. The emissions shouldn’t be enough to harm you, but I’m an old man and don’t want to take chances.”

Ted Roberts stepped forward until his face was inches from the helmet that he was level with. He stared at the armor his brother Ralph had built. The armor he’d died in. A thought crossed his mind, and Ted smiled. “Any idea how the radiation reacts with ionic energy?”

Another day, another opportunity to do little work for a lot of money. That was how Wonder Man saw things. With his strength and durability, the current act of smashing through a wall was no effort at all. With even less effort he picked up the two men with guns and hurled with aside. Their flights were safely controlled by wires, but the act looked highly realistic and that was Wonder Man was hired for.

“Cut!” said the director from his position near the camera. “Great work people. Take five while we set up.”

Wonder Man didn’t need any rest, and briefly thought about helping the crew set up faster. The last shot would be the last for him, after all. But he observed Jennifer Walters watching from a distance away and walked towards here. “Jen, what’s going on?”

“Quicksilver sent me,” she said. “He had a thought he’s probably already forgotten that I should take a look at your contract.”

Wonder Man choked back a laugh. “What, is he worried that I sold exclusive Avengers rights to MGM? Do you think I’m that stupid Jen?”

“No.” Jennifer raised an eyebrow. “But Quicksilver? We both know his opinion of you. Still, I’d rather look at it now than be surprised later on.”

“Yeah, all right.” Wonder Man jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “A copy should be in my trailer. I’ll walk you over so you can read it during my last scene.”

But as the two Avengers were walking towards it, the trailer exploded into a ball of fire. Wonder Man acted fast, stepping in front of Jennifer Walters to protect her from the debris. It wasn’t needed for long, as Jennifer quickly grew into the powerful She-Hulk. This kept her alive when bursts of powerful energy shot out from the fireball, each strong enough to knock her and Wonder Man back.

Clad in an armor that resembled the early Iron Man design, Cobalt Man leapt out of the blaze at Wonder Man. He swung a fist, and the blow was powerful enough that Wonder Man was hurled against a camera. It shattered and film spilled out over Wonder Man, who scowled at the sight. His eyes went red and his entire body seemed to pulsate with ionic energy.

Back on his feet, Wonder Man flew forward at Cobalt Man, but was again driven back by a powerful burst of energy. Almost completely ignored was She-Hulk, who ran up behind Cobalt Man and grabbed him from behind. “I got news for you Iron-Lite. You did this dance with a Hulk before, and it didn’t go over so well.”

“Different guy,” Cobalt Man said. Jets activated, carrying the armored man and She-Hulk high into the air. “Different result! Aaaahhhh!”

A sonic assault originated from Cobalt Man’s helmet and struck at She-Hulk’s ears. Disoriented, her grip was broken and she fell the long distance to the ground. Wonder Man moved to avoid his teammate as he flew upward, and directly into a double-blast from both of Cobalt Man’s hands.

“Oof!” Wonder Man struggled back to his feet, fully aware of the fleeing crew and the clearly ruined shoot. This concerned him more than the fight itself, which he was considering as little more than an annoyance. “All right. I don’t know what you’re beef is, but you’ve messed with the wrong movie star!”

Grabbing the remains of his trailer, Wonder Man hurled it upwards.

“Movie star!? Ha!” Cobalt Man dropped down at the approaching missile, shattering the debris on his way to Wonder Man. “You’re nothing but a stunt man! And a lousy one at that!”

But the thrown trailer had only been a distraction. When Cobalt Man’s view had been blocked, Wonder Man flew up at him. The two collided in mid-air, and the battle was joined.

“Quicksilver, what is going on?” Darkstar had walked into the main assembly room beneath the Avengers Compound’s villa. Close behind her was Scarlet Witch, also responding to the alert that Quicksilver had sent to their communi-cards. All they found was an empty room, with only a note on the table and a screen that showed what looked like a battle.

Scarlet Witch read the note. “’Follow as quick as you can.’ What does he mean by this?”

Darkstar jerked her chin at the screen. “I think this is what he meant.”

Scarlet Witch looked up, and saw live footage of a battle going on in Hollywood. An unseen announcer was playing catch-up, filling viewers in that they were in the middle of watching a fight between Avengers and an armored villain. At learning the situation, Scarlet Witch said, “You can better fly us there.”

“Done.” The two female Avengers ran up and out of the villa. Once in the open air, Darkstar created a black platform of darkness. Scarlet Witch stepped on it, and the two flew upwards. Long minutes passed until Darkstar saw the distant explosion and flew towards it. “Almost there. Get ready to jump.”

The Avengers had arrived in a scene from hell. Half of a studio building had been leveled, with She-Hulk just beginning to emerge from the rubble. Wonder Man was in the air, but at that moment hovering a distance from the vortex. That was courtesy of Quicksilver, who was running fast circles on the ground. Inside the vortex was Cobalt Man, barely visible behind the wind and dust.

“Does not Cobalt Man’s armor have an oxygen supply?” Darkstar asked as she landed. Scarlet Witch had jumped seconds earlier and was now running toward the vortex. “If so then that is doing nothing to him.”

It showed Cobalt Man a pattern. He fired from inside the vortex and managed to catch Quicksilver on the leg. The Avengers Chairperson screamed in pain and fell into a skid that carried him ten feet. Scarlet Witch saw the unnatural angle in which her brother’s leg was bent and fought the urge to run to him. Cobalt Man did not get to enjoy his freedom long before Wonder Man tackled him and both crashed to the ground.

“Why are you doing this?” Wonder Man screamed. He punched Cobalt Man so hard the helmet buckled. “All this destruction and for what?”

Cobalt Man pressed both hands against either side of Wonder Man’s head. “To show what happens when Avengers are in town. This is all on you.”

The blast he unleashed was more than simple repulsors. All the radiation stored in the armor up to then was unleashed, blasted directly into Wonder Man’s ionic form. The hero fell back screaming, his body actually going transparent for brief instants.

It was this that spurred Scarlet Witch into reckless action. She had failed to notice Cloak and Dagger teleported behind him, didn’t stop to think that Dagger’s light blasts could have bypassed the armor and affected Cobalt Man directly. Without thought to consequences, Scarlet Witch raised her hands and threw a hex.

The unpredictable power struck Cobalt Man, and a second later he was screaming as much as Wonder Man. Both men were on the ground, writhing in agony over the traumas to which their bodies had been subjected. Not far away, She-Hulk was half-carrying the hobbling Quicksilver as he shouted orders.

“Dagger, strike him again to be sure! Darkstar, restrain him completely. We don’t watch that armor’s weapons activating by themselves. Cloak, get Wonder Man and I back to the Compound. If Pym still hasn’t noticed the alert he should still be in his lab and actually of use. Wanda, what did you do to him?”

“I don’t know,” Scarlet Witch said in ever-growing horror. “I saw you and…and Simon. He had to be stopped so without thinking I…oh god, what have I done?”

Scarlet Witch now saw what she had done to Cobalt Man, and the horror was completely. The armor had seemed to compress over the man’s body, in parts actually sinking into it. Or maybe it was the other way around, Cobalt Man’s body expanding over the armor. Either way, skin could now be seen in place of metal, but it flowed seamlessly into metal and then back to skin again. And as this was happening Cobalt Man was still screaming, his eyes now fixed up at Scarlet Witch. Only one eye was still the slit of the helmet, the other seemed to be pushing up past the slit, staring up at Scarlet Witch with horror and agony.

Scarlet Witch wasn’t the only one close to losing her meal.

Hours passed. Scarlet Witch hadn’t budged from outside the laboratory. She didn’t move at all, until Hank Pym emerged. The man was pulling off bloody gloves, and she immediately feared the worst.

“Is he…?”

“He’ll live,” Pym said. “Although at this point I don’t know if that’s good news. The armor has almost completely bonded with his nervous system now, and the fusing still hasn’t stopped. I’ve read theoretical papers on this, of radiation in an armor mutating a body to the point it accepts the armor like a part of itself. But the levels would have to be much higher, and exposure for much longer periods of time.”

“So it was me then,” Scarlet Witch said. “I did this to him.”

Hank Pym stepped forward and put a hand on his teammate’s shoulder. “You had no way of knowing what the hex bolt would do. Your powers are almost completely random.”

“Exactly Hank. Almost.” Tears were streaming down Scarlet Witch’s face. “I acted without thinking, full of emotion. I wanted to hurt him, Hank!”

There was a moment of silence, and then Hank Pym said, “There’s nothing you can do here. Go be with Quicksilver and Wonder Man. They’re both recovering nicely. I need to go back and…continue to monitor things.”

When Hank disappeared back into the lab, Scarlet Witch didn’t go anywhere. Instead, she sat back down against the wall and waited. Pietro and Simon were going to be fine. But more than that, their conditions weren’t her fault. And Scarlet Witch was going to wait out her handiwork until the end.

NEXT: After battling Doctor Demonicus, the Avengers were forced to deal with other matters. Now they return to Demonica to salvage the dangerous equipment left behind. Provided nobody has beaten them to it!