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Avengers vol. 3 #12
Title: "Old Entanglements”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciller: George Perez
Inker: Al Vey and Bob Wiacek
Colors: Tom Smith
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Megan McLaren does a news story about the Thunderbolts. She talks about how they were revealed to be the Masters of Evil, but that since then some of them broke from their leader and helped foil his plans. She says that they have seemingly acting as heroes since then fighting a robotic Hulk, Graviton, and the new Masters of Evil. There is speculation however, that the Thunderbolts are still villains masquerading as superheroes again. Megan then shows the picture of Hawkeye helping Songbird and MACH-1 escape the National Guard, and says that there is also speculation over whether Hawkeye is acting of his own free will or if he is being controlled somehow.
The news story reaches Avengers mansion.
Captain America is frustrated because Hawkeye still isn’t
responding to his Avengers communicard. Firestar says that
Hawkeye’s card locator chip has been turned off, but she has
no way of knowing if he turned it off, or if the Thunderbolts
turned it off for him. She says that she is putting the override
program on automatic so that it keeps trying to break through the
card’s lock until he finds out where he is. Cap says that
the Thunderbolts mentally controlled the Avengers before and he
won’t let it happen again. Wanda and Simon enter. Wanda
reminds Cap that it was Baron Zemo that mind controlled the
Avengers, and that it was the Thunderbolts that freed them. Cap
says that if he is wrong that he will apologize later. Hank Pym
appears on the screen and says that since they have things on
automatic that he would like everyone to come see something. Cap
asks Hank what’s up. Hank says that what is up is the
Vision. 
Vision says
that restoring his legs has taken a while, but that he is glad to
be back. Cap shakes Vision’s hand says that he never ceases
to amaze him how many times he can come back from devastating
injuries. Wonder Man tells Cap to step aside. He says that Cap
might get to go first as Avengers leader, but Vision is his
brother. Simon hugs Vision. Simon says that the Williams boys
have a habit of surviving. Simon says that he is back from the
dead, and Vision is back from mechanical damage. Vision says that
it is most welcome. Cap excuses himself to go to the “play
room”. Justice watches Cap go and thinks about how
inconsequential he feels next to a living legend. Firestar thinks
to herself that she wishes her problems could be as easily solved
as Vision’s. Hank asks Firestar if he can see her for a
minute. Justice says that he is going to talk to Cap.
Wonder Man tells Vision that they have to go out and celebrate. He says that he and Wanda have been checking out his old haunts, but then realizes that he might have just put his foot in his mouth. Vision tells Simon that his and Wanda’s time was over long ago, and that it is not a problem for him. Wanda detects something in Vision’s voice that lets her know that he is being less that truthful. Simon says that they should call the Beast up too. Jarvis lays down tea and says that if they don’t need anything else that he is taking Silverclaw to dinner. Vision tells Jarvis to have a good time and give his best wishes to Lupe.
Justice addresses Cap in the workout room and says that he wanted to talk about something. Cap says that he is frustrated about Hawkeye and thought he might work them out. He asks Justice if he wants to join him. Justice agrees. He tells Cap that ever since the Avengers formed that he has idolized that team, and that it was always his dream to join the team. Justice says that now that he has he finds himself nervous that he is going to mess up all the time. Cap says that Justice still views them as celebrities instead of as teammates. Justice says that he was thinking more about them being legends. Cap says that he knows how he feels and starts to tell him a story about the time that FDR gave him his shield. Justice thinks to himself that thinking about the fact that Cap met FDR doesn’t help him see Cap as less of a legend. Cap blocks a shot going at Justice and reminds him that the sequence has been activated. Justice says that he is awake now.
In lab number two, Firestar stands in a scanner. She asks Hank if he thinks he can do something to help the microwave build up inside her. Hank says that it looks very promising. He explains that most mutants have immunity to their own powers, but that for some reason Angelica’s never fully developed. Hank goes and gets a bio-circuitry suit, and says that wearing the suit under her costume will drain off the excess, and that it should help her immunity kick back in. He says that it should take about six months. Angelica repeats the word “months”. Hank says that they could try to speed it up if she really wanted to. Angelica says that she isn’t disappointed, but that she thought she would have to deal with this forever and now it will be over in six months. She kisses Hank on the cheek and leaves with tears of joy. Firestar realizes that in the New Warriors that they never knew what it was about her power, but now after a short time in the Avengers she is just handed a cure. Firestar thinks that she is going to like it there after all.
Simon opens the drapes and asks Wanda and Vision if they want to see a show. Wanda says that sounds nice. Simon says that he is going to go make a few phone calls and see if any of his old friends are in anything. When Simon leaves, Wanda turns to Vision and says that this must be uncomfortable for him. Vision says that this is not uncomfortable for him at all. Wanda asks if Vision is sure. She says that they have been so cold too each other lately. Vision says that this is only natural since they have to accept that their old bonds are no more. Vision says that Wanda being with Simon suits her. He says that she is as radiant as she was on the beaches of Rurutu. Wanda starts to ask Vision what he just said when she is interrupted by the alarm.
Simon is on the phone when they alarm goes off.
Firestar is putting on her bio-circuitry suit when the alarm goes off.
Cap and Justice are still training. Cap goes up to the screen and asks Hank what is happening. Hank says that the computers have found Hawkeye, and that they have to go after him immediately. Hank shows Cap where Hawkeye is. Cap tells Hank to get everyone to the quinjet, and that he and Justice will be there soon. Justice says that it looked like the Arizona Mountains. He asks if that is bad. Captain America says that it could be. He says that Hawkeye, and the Thunderbolts, are at the site of one of the West Coast Avengers’ deadliest battles… the old Dominus Base.
At the old Dominus Base, Hawkeye is showing the team what he wants to be their new headquarters. Moonstone says that it is a hole in the ground with twisted metal on it. She says that she doesn’t see how this can be their headquarters, but Hawkeye says that is because Moonstone has no vision. He says that they are looking at the walls of the central core, but that if the base behind it is in good repair that it is just what they are looking for. Atlas says that this place is in the middle of nowhere, and that it doesn’t look like much. Jolt says that she has been clipping newspapers since she was a kid, and she never heard of Dominus. Hawkeye gives them the background on Dominus starting with Lucifer fighting the X-Men and trying to take over the world through mind control. Lucifer was defeated and eventually the West Coast Avengers learned that Lucifer wasn’t the real threat, but rather Dominus was. Dominus was a supercomputer that ran the base Lucifer set out to build. The West Coast Avengers defeated Dominus’ human form and the whole core of the base, the whole Dominus supercomputer, took off into space and never looked back. Hawkeye says that after Hercules busted up their cabin he remembered this place and reasoned that their had to be quarters for people like Sunstroke and Dominus’ human form. Hawkeye blasts a hole in the wall, and tells the others to find or make a way in and look around. He tells them to keep in contact via their costume radios.
Moonstone thinks to herself that Hawkeye is moving things along very quickly, but that she will have time later.
Atlas thinks to himself that this is a very remote location, and that it would be the prefect place for a trap.
Songbird thinks to herself how Abe said to trust Hawkeye, but that she isn’t so sure yet.
MACH-1 thinks about the new base and the new start. He says that it is worth what he is going to do.
Jolt thinks how she doesn’t need to be nervous because Hawkeye is an Avenger. Jolt radios Hawkeye and says that it looks like he was right. She says that everything is intact and in working order. Moonstone radios in that there is enough living quarters to house a football team. Atlas radios in that there is frozen food still preserved. MACH-1 says that he is in the main power plant, and that it is humming away. He says that you would think that it would have been shut off by now. Hawkeye says not to look a gift horse in the mouth. He tells everyone to keep exploring. Hawkeye thinks to himself that this whole thing is a risk. He says that the Thunderbolts have good intentions, but good intentions don’t make heroes. He says that he hasn’t felt this good since he lead the West Coast Avengers.
Songbird thinks
to herself that this base gives her the creeps. She says that she
doesn’t like being so far underground and decides to get out
and get some air. Songbird starts to go out the tunnel up, but as
she goes up she runs into the Avengers coming down. Captain
America tells Songbird that if she knows what is good for her
that she will surrender and take them to Hawkeye. Songbird says
that Hawkeye was setting them up the entire time. Songbird says
that she doesn’t go down that easy. She creates a sound
sphere that pushes the Avengers back up the tube. Songbird
contacts the other Bolts and says that she is at the main pit and
that they have been ambushed. Captain America tells Vision to
take Songbird out. Vision explains that he became intangible so
that her sound bubble passed right through it. Vision sticks his
hand through Songbird and starts to harden it. Songbird screams
in pain. Wanda notices that the ground is beginning to shake.
Atlas bursts out of the ground and smacks Vision off Songbird.
Atlas is surprised to see that it is the Avengers. Moonstone
arrives and blasts Vision from behind. Moonstone thinks to
herself that she doesn’t think Hawkeye called the Avengers,
but that she doesn’t want the Bolts getting captured after
all the work she has put in on them. Cap says that there are only
three of them there, but that the others can’t be far
behind. He tells them to end it quickly.
Wonder Man says that his first opponent since he came back from the dead is his old ionic imitator. Simon says that some things never change. Atlas says that he’ll show Simon what’s changed. Wonder Man decks Atlas. He says that he may have a new face and costume, but he is still the second rate copy of him that he always was. Simon goes in for another punch, but he bounces off Songbird’s sound shield. Moonstone reminds Atlas to watch each other’s backs and to keep switching opponents. Moonstone blasts Justice while Songbird deflects Firestar’s blasts. Atlas stomps his foot and Captain America has to roll out of the way. Captain America uses his shield to deflect a large rock at Atlas. MACH-1 blasts it out of the sky as he and Jolt arrive. MACH-1 tells Jolt to stop Wonder Man from coming up behind Atlas. Jolt thinks to herself that these are the Avengers, but that they are attacking her team. Captain America realizes that the Thunderbolts have been training and are fighting well. He also notices that some of the moves seem familiar.
Justice calls Jolt a cheap crook and asks if she thinks that they can beat the Avengers. Jolt asks Justice who is an Avenger and calls him a jumped-up New Warrior.
Vision says that the files say that Moonstone is supposed to be a skilled psychologist, but that he will have to update the files because no competent doctor would think that people would fall for the same scam by the same people. Moonstone says that is big talk, and then asks Vision how his wife is.
Songbird says that the Avengers fight with like a bunch of jabronis. She says that it is no wonder the Masters of Evil trashed their mansion.
Wanda watches from the sidelines and realizes that something is wrong. She searches for mind control like she did with the Squadron Supreme, but she isn’t finding any. She says that she also doesn’t detect any evil intent from the Thunderbolts. She says that they started fighting as if just defending themselves. Wanda says that she has to stop this fight. Wanda is trying to make a hex that will allow an underground river to spray everyone, but she is stopped when an arrow hits next to her face. Wanda sees Hawkeye and realizes that he was not kidnapped or controlled. Hawkeye says that he just wanted to see how his guys would do in a real fight for a minute or two. Hawkeye tells Wanda that they should go break this up. As Hawkeye exits the base he fails to notice that the machinery has come on by itself.