Uncanny West Coast Avengers

Chapter 39: While Tigra's Away

By

The Uncanny R-Man

Disclaimer- All familiar characters belong to Marvel Comics.

Avengers Complex, Malibu-

It had been an hour or so since Tigra had departed for Genosha with her team. USAgent had since gathered the remaining West Coast Avengers in the Quinjet bay as he gave them their orders.

'I'm heading to Atlantis to talk to Namor.' The former Captain America told the team. 'Spider-Woman and Jocasta, you're going to Los Angeles to find this Sersi woman.'

'Don't we get a choice in the matter?' Spider-Woman enquired.

'Tigra left me in charge while she's gone, so what I say goes.' USAgent told the heroine. 'You got a problem with that?'

'I guess not.' Spider-Woman sighed as USAgent continued with his mission briefing.

'That just leaves you, Ant-Man. It's your job to stay here and look after the place.'

'So you're going to leave me here to look after a bunch of super-powered teenagers all on my own?' Ant-Man asked.

'You're not going to be alone, Lang.' USAgent reminded his teammate. 'You've got the giant dog to keep you company.'

'Woof!' Lockjaw barked happily, wagging his stumpy little tail.

'If everybody's clear, then let's get a move on.' USAgent said. 'Avengers Assemble, already!'

Prince Namor's Throne room, Atlantis-

USAgent had headed to Atlantis to seek an audience with its ruler, Prince Namor. Namor had served with the Avengers before, so USAgent was hoping that he was willing to rejoin.

'Why should I even entertain the notion of joining the Avengers again?' Namor enquired as he glowered down at his guest from his throne. 'Especially when the one that requests my presence is a pale imitation of a good friend?'

USAgent bit back his anger. It wouldn't do his cause any good if he let Namor push his buttons. For all he knew, throwing a punch at the Atlantean Prince might have even caused an international incident. The Avengers had enough problems without a hoard of angry Atlanteans invading the Surface World. Namor was a stubborn man, but he could be played just as well as any man from the surface world. Prince Namor was as vain as any man on the Surface World.

'Your majesty, I know that I am but one mere surface dweller, but I beseech you to join the West Coast Avengers.' USAgent began. 'The team would be honoured to have your strength amongst its ranks.'

'Your transparent attempts at flattery amuse me, John Walker.' Namor chuckled slightly. 'I may rejoin the Avengers. I do find running my kingdom quite boring. Then again, I may not join you on the surface. You will get my answer soon enough.' The Atlantean prince dismissed USAgent with a wave of his hand. 'Begone now before I forget now merciful I am.'

USAgent sighed heavily as he was marched out of Namor's throne room. He hoped the other's were having more luck than he.

Los Angeles, meanwhile-

Spider-Woman and Jocasta looked up at the enormous glass building in front of them.

'Are you sure this is the right address?' Spider-Woman asked her cybernetic teammate. 'This is where Sersi's living right now?'

'Sersi is extremely long-lived and as such has owned many such dwellings during her time amongst the mortals.' Jocasta explained. 'This is the most likely place that she will be staying. Sersi enjoys living with the rich and famous whether they are Roman senators, medieval rulers, or more modern movie stars. Sersi prefers to live where the parties are, and where better to find a party than Los Angeles?'

'Great, so we're going to meet a drunken immortal.' Spider-Woman rolled her eyes. 'I can see this is going to be a lot of fun.'

The two Avengers entered the building and headed up to the penthouse suite where they believed the Eternal known as Sersi to be staying. They stopped outside the door and Spider-Woman raised her hand to knock when the door opened and a rather handsome man clad in nothing but a pair of tight white underpants stumbled out.

'But beloved, it was but one night…' The man begged as he looked back into the apartment. His answer was his remaining clothes thrown into his face.

'You're handsome, Andre, but a woman needs more than a studly body to keep her warm at night.' Sersi told her boy-toy. Then she noticed her guests. 'Oh, hello. I don't believe we've met. Spider-Woman and… Jocasta, is it?'

'You know our names?' Spider-Woman blinked in confusion.

'Darling, please.' Sersi scoffed. 'Of course I know who you are. I always make sure to keep watching for news of my friends in the Avengers. Come on in, I think I still have some wine left from last night.' The Eternal sorceress beckoned the two Avengers inside and closed the door, leaving the handsome Andre alone in the hallway.

'No wine, thanks.' Spider-Woman turned down the offer. 'Not while we're on official Avengers business.'

'What about you, Shiny?' Sersi asked.

'I do not require food or drink to survive.' Jocasta responded. 'Alcohol does not affect me either, and as such I cannot gain pleasure from imbibing it.'

'Your poor thing.' Sersi tutted sadly as she patted the former bride of Ultron on the back. 'Don't worry, a night out with Auntie Sersi will soon set you straight.'

Sersi headed into the kitchen and began rifling through the cupboards for something to drink.

'Let me guess, you're here to ask me to rejoin the Avengers.' Sersi surmised, her head poking into a nearby cupboard in search of alcohol. 'It's about time you people got around to asking me that. I guess you got bored of having parties without me, hmm?'

'So, you'll join us?' Spider-Woman asked.

'Of course, darling.' Sersi grinned happily. 'Just give me a second to find something to drink. I hate to begin the day without a dozen martinis or so.'

Avengers Complex, meanwhile-

Back at the home of the West Coast Avengers, Scott Lang sat idly in the monitor room. It was his job to keep an eye on things while the rest of the Avengers were busy. Scott leaned back in his seat to get a look at Lockjaw. Crystal's loyal dog was snoring on the floor.

'The kids tired you out already huh, buddy?' Scott smiled at the slumbering pooch as he sat back in his seat. 'Man, I know I shouldn't say this so soon after the Marauders attacked us, but I wish something would happen.'

'Tempting fate a little bit, aren't you, Dad?'

'Gah!' Scott let out a yelp of surprise and tumbled backwards off his chair, waking Lockjaw in the process. 'Cassie!'

Cassandra Lang, Scott's daughter, also known as the young heroine Stature, giggled at the sight of her father crumpled on the floor.

'Oh gosh, you should have seen your face, Mr Lang.' Luna Maximoff laughed. 'I wish I had a camera.'

'You girls shouldn't have surprised me like that.' Scott admonished the two young heroines as he picked himself up off the floor. 'Especially after all the Marauders put us through.'

'I hope my daddy's okay.' Luna sighed sadly. 'I wish I could be there to kick the asses of whoever took him.'

'I'm sure Crystal will do enough ass-kicking for everybody.' Cassie reassured her friend. The young heroine then noticed something moving on one of the monitors. 'Hey, it looks like something's moving outside.'

'Dammit! It's got to be another attack!' Scott hissed as he threw on his insect-controlling helmet and shrunk down to ant-size. 'You girls stay here, okay? I'll deal with the intruder.'

Scott leapt onto the back of an ant and flew outside the home of the West Coast branch of the World's Mightiest Heroes. There was a rather large figure standing outside the front gate wearing a trench coat and fedora concealing their face. Scott recognised the figure instantly.

'You!'

TBC…

Next: Ever-Loving Blue-Eyed Avenger

Who could it be at the front door? Yeah, the title pretty much gives it away, doesn't it. It's the Thing, okay? But what does Momma Grimm's Little Boy want with the West Coast Avengers? Tune in next time to find out!