"Can't you fix that?" she asked.

"That's the way it's supposed to look."

"Excuse me?"

"It's the Static Channel"

Jennifer March stared wide-eyed at her host, Janet Van Dyne with a look of horror. "An entire channel just full of static?"

The woman known the world over as the Wondrous Wasp shrugged with a tiny smile, " It was part of the satellite package. I flip it on every once in awhile to remind me of things."

"What sort of things?"

"Maybe that Life is full of static." Jean-Paul Beaubier, the mutant Northstar, quipped from his spot on the arm of the couch on the other side of the room.

Jan shot him a carefree smile. "Actually, that's not bad. Maybe I'll use that sometime."

Jean-Paul crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Feel free," he deadpanned.

"Does anyone know where Brunnhilde went?" Cecilia Reyes inquired,."When we got back, she just sort of disappeared."

"She said that she had someone to talk to," Lorna Dane, the mutant mistress of magnetism revealed. "She didn't say anything other than that though."

"I'm surprised that she hasn't said anything about Dragonfang. Or Patsy..." Isaac looked over to where Jennifer March, the woman who wore the body of Patsy Walker, the former Hellcat. "No offense of course."

"None taken," Jennifer said offhandedly. There was still so many questions she had, about how she had came to be in New York, and why everyone was saying that she was wearing someone else's body. It didn't look any different from the one that she remembered though. It didn't feel any different... and yet, there was enough evidence that she had been someone else... maybe she still was.

She looked back to the rag tag company she had found herself with: Cecilia Reyes, a doctor by profession, a mutant by genetics; Isaac Christian, he was some sort of demon. "Gargoyle", she corrected herself. She wasn't sure what to make of that. He seemed nice enough though, despite his frightening appearance. Lorna Dane, who was one of the most beautiful women Jennifer had seen, and had green hair! AND... she claimed she didn't dye it! Apparently it had something to do with the fact that she was a mutant.

Jennifer sighed, for hair like that, she reasoned, she might just have signed on for the mutant package.

Jean-Paul, she couldn't pronounce his last name, and wasn't even going to try, her French was so weak to almost be dangerous, was apparently also a mutant. He was as handsome as he was self-possessed. It hadn't taken very long for her to keep her distance from him, his attitude seemed to pour from his veins with a life of its own.

The one they called Valkyrie scared her the most though. She had just kept staring into her eyes, as if pouring into her soul. Jennifer shuddered, thinking back to the moment when she was sure that the Valkyrie was going to kill her for not being who she thought she should be. Apparently she and Patsy had been close friends. Perhaps more.

Heather Douglas, the bald woman who called herself Moondragon kept smiling at her. At first, Jennifer took that as a good sign. But the more the woman stared, the more worried she became as to her intentions.

Hannibal King had been waiting for them when they got back. She never met his eye, and didn't want to. The way he moved, the sound of his voice, made her keep her distance. He stood now, not far from where Jean-Paul was standing. He kept looking around nervously, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop.

They were, she knew, heroes by trade. But, even having only just met them, she knew they were far from the ordinary. Cecilia had told her all about them on their way back to Jan's mansion to talk things over. She told her that they were called

MV1 #190 February Year 4

Jan's mansion... Asgardian goddesses...gargoyles...these were the things of fantasy. Like the idea that Cecilia had told her their real names. She had said nothing of the sort. Out loud at least.

Jennifer stared from face to face, wondering how she had "heard" CeeCee... and wondering why the bald woman, Moondragon was still smiling at her.

"I'm sure she'll come back when she's ready," Jan assured. Isaac nodded approvingly. "Right now I'm far more worried about Rina."

Lorna nodded. "I've been sending out feelers, but I haven't been able to locate her signature."

Cecilia eyes drifted over to Moondragon, who shook her head in the negative.

"She's a big girl," Jean-Paul snorted. "I'm sure she can take care of herself."

Isaac gave him a glare. "She shouldn't have to. We are all each other’s responsibility. That's what being part of the family is about."

"I never knew we were all supposed to be some big happy family," Jean-Paul retorted. "I thought we were professionals here."

Janet Van Dyne smiled warmly at Isaac, before turning toward Jean-Paul. "Professionals form families. Trust me on this one. You're not going to find a closer family than you do in the superhero community."

Jean-Paul thought of his own sister, Jeanne-Marie*, and of his teammates back with Alpha Flight. He shook his head. "Not always" he responded. But he knew his words betrayed his heart. He glanced toward the door before it opened.

(* Better known as Aurora - GD)

Timeslip walked through, carrying a small bundle carefully in her arms, with a cloaked woman following her.

"Rina!" Cecilia exclaimed, and ran to greet her. She stopped suddenly a half step away from crushing whatever it was in her arms. The bundle shifted slightly. "What's going on here?" CeeCee asked, as her eyes skittered from the bundle to the woman behind her friend and teammate.

Rina smiled as the rest of the team gathered around her and her bundle. The woman stood back a bit, mirroring Moondragon's moves on the other side of the group. "Everything's fine" Rina replied, in her best reassuring voice, "I just met someone who needed my help." she looked down at the bundle in her arms, peeling back the concealment to reveal a smiling infant. "Two someone's actually."

"Whose baby is it?" Jean-Paul asked, his voice shaky.

"Mine," the woman replied, with a familiar sounding voice. "As I told Rina though - we won't be bothering you long."

"Nonsense," Jan quickly interjected, effortlessly bridging the distance between the group and the woman and took her by the arm, "You're more than welcome to..."

"MY GOD!" Moondragon screamed, jumping back, "Get away from her Jan..."

"Wha... What's going on?" Jennifer asked from her spot with the rest of the confused group. They all looked to Heather.

Jan looked at her arm entwined with the woman's, then back to Heather in confusion.

The woman smiled and unhooked her arm in one swift motion, then took a step back, "Everything's fine, Jen," she said with a brief nod. "Heather's right though. You all should have as little to do with me as possible. You have far more problems going on right now than having to deal with me. I do thank you though, Ms. Van Dyne. It was a nice thought."

"Somebody better start doing some explaining right now - or I'm going to lose my composure," CeeCee exclaimed, her voice absent of sarcasm.

"You just... have to stay away from her," Moondragon tried her best to explain. "Just trust me. She's... she shouldn't be here at all." The Titan of the mind cast a stern look toward the woman in the cloak. "I would love to know what you're doing here myself, but the less I know the better... right?"

The woman nodded. "Very perceptive. For someone who can't see something right under her own nose."

"What are you talking about..."

The door opened again, and the room tensed, bursting on the edge of explosion.

Elsewhere

"Well – hello, Father"

"I greet you, my daughter."

"I was starting to think that you weren't coming."

"Why would I not come to you, my dear?"

"I don't know. Perhaps you were ashamed of me. Perhaps you did not think me important enough to ask."

"Never. You are important enough to ask."

"Then you are indeed ashamed of me."

"Of course not"

"Then why did you not address that part of my argument?"

"I did not think it merited mention."

"Liar"

"But of course... but not in this instance. I love you my dear. There is no prouder father anywhere."

"You don't know how to love."

He chuckled. "Then perhaps you have taught me how to do so."

"Doubtful."

"But possible you might want to consider."

"Where are the others then?"

"The others?"

"Your partners in this enterprise. I've heard tales of your recruitment... always the three of you. And yet - here you are by yourself."

"I thought this required a personal touch."

"Or you did not want the others to mock you for a weakling of a daughter."

"Of course not. That is absurd."

"Then where are they?"

"Away on their own business."

"Am I just a formality then?"

"You are my daughter and it was thought..."

"That I was guaranteed, that nothing more be offered or asked than your coming and all would be signed and sealed?"

"In a manner of speaking..."

"No"

"It is just that..."

"No"

"No to what?"

"No to the deal. No to you. No to whatever you want to ask me, or tell me to do."

"I don't understand... this is a prime opportunity for you to..."

"Do your bidding? To work as a lackey to the Great Lords of Darkness that have been assembled to swat a fly?"

"Hardly a fly... unless you want to repeat your last experience?"

"I thank you, father, not to mention such things. But against what you have assembled, they are a mere fly. Against what you are posed on achieving? Against that alliance? They are less than a mite."

"And that is why you need to join your might to ours. Be on the winning side. Reap the rewards of power and glory that shall indeed be ours for the grabbing."

"That and your insolence are why I shall not be taking part in your little game father. I have no interest in 'joining the winning side'. One more hand on the wheel will not mean more or less to you. In fact, is it not true that the only reason you came to me at all was that it was expected of you."

"In a manner of speaking..."

"There is no 'manner of speaking' when it comes to you father. I have never seen you as a lapdog before father. Never until just now. It is not a flattering image for you sir, not flattering in the slightest."

"If you are not with us..."

"Then I am against you? Is that the same threat you made to..."

"DON'T! SHE WILL PAY FOR HER DEFIANCE! I HAD HOPED THAT YOU WERE SMARTER THAN HER THOUGH, MORE CLEVER. IT IS A SHAME TO SEE YOU MADE OF THE SAME STUFF. MUD INSTEAD OF MORTAR."

"If you're going to kill me father... do so. Otherwise this audience is finished."

"You dare take that tone with me?"

"Father, I have dared quite a bit in my time. But informing you that I am a grown woman, capable of making her own decisions, and rather insulted not to have been brought into this cabal in my own right, rather than as your hanger-on, that is not daring father. That is a fact. That is something no amount of lies can cover or distract the eye from. That is truth itself father. Perhaps you should have brought your handlers to do the deed if you cannot."

"I shall remove you from this existence. Daughter or not. No one speaks to me thusly. I shall remind you of your place, as I should have years ago."

"Perhaps" she said, reflecting, "But that is neither here nor there. You are in my domain now. And I say that this audience is over. Do you wish to dispute that? Do you wish to bring your might to bear here in my realm, at the focal point of my strength? Or, do you want to leave peacefully? You will be free to play your little games with the Defenders. And I, I will be able to conduct serious business."

"You will pay for this, you know."

She nodded solemnly. "We all pay in the end, Father."

He nodded without another word, turned and was gone in a poof of brimstone. Mephista sat on her throne for a good long time, staring after him, and wondering what she should do next.

The Mansion of Janet Van Dyne

Hannibal King stared as the door started to open. "Good god, not another surprise." he muttered in his head, just glad that Moondragon wouldn't be able to read him. he glanced back toward the main body of the house. In particular to a door that led to the cellar. He'd been staying down there during his stay, it was the closest thing to a crypt that was available. He spent most of his time there of late. At least since Joey* had left.

(*The Blue Shield - GD)

No one bothered him down there. Even better, no one seemed to pay it too much attention. It was a reminder of who... of what, he was. Which made it perfect for hiding someone. Not for long he promised, but long enough to hear her out, away from the rest of the group. Perhaps she could help him, maybe help them all. At least that was what she claimed.

He focused on the door, uttering a silent prayer to the gods of the undead, that it wasn't more trouble.

He wasn't sure if they heard, or if they were just in a weird mood when they answered.

Brunnhilde the Valkyrie strode into the room with a big smile on her face.

She took three steps into the room, and stopped dead in her tracks.

"Someone better tell me what's going on here before I start smashing heads."

"A woman after my own heart," CeeCee muttered in approval.

"Rina came back," Jan offered." With a couple of friends."

Valkyrie looked to the woman in the corner and shuddered, "She shouldn't be here." she looked over to the baby in Rina's arms and smiled. The baby smiled back. "He shouldn't be here either. But... he's... unusual enough for it to be ok. I hope..."

"I think you're right, Val," a strong male voice replied from the door. "Am I welcome here, Ms. Van Dyne?" he asked, deferring to Jan.

They all turned with a start. Jan's face lit up like a child on Christmas. "Come here and give us a kiss!" she exclaimed, running across the distance between them. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly.

"Save a little of that for the rest of us," Cecilia exclaimed, as she too kissed the newcomer.

"What's the big deal?" Jennifer asked no one in particular.

Moondragon looked at the newest arrival with a detached air. She nodded as he took off his coat and jacket. He nodded back. "He's Stephen Strange." Heather supplied." Doctor Stephen Strange. One of the team's founding members. But then, you don't need me to tell you that, now do you?"

Jennifer didn't respond. She merely got up and gave Stephen a kiss of her own.

When her lips left his, he turned with a start. "You're not Patsy."

She smiled, "That's what I've been trying to tell these people."

Cecilia took a step to the fore. "I think we all should just sit down and while we're getting reacquainted, we should take the time to sort all of this out."

"There is much wisdom in that," Brunnhilde confirmed, nodding in approval.

"Shall we retire into the parlor then?" Jan asked, her arms clasped around Stephen's right arm, with Lorna completing the matching set on his left.

Isaac turned and immediately stalked into the parlor, as did Hannibal. They took their seats as far from where Strange would sit as possible. As they judged their distances, they caught each other’s movements and exchanged a smile.

"You too, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Never can be..."

"Of course."

"I hope you boys don't mind the company," a woman's voice came from behind them. They turned as one, seeing the beautiful white- haired woman standing near the other door," But I thought I'd let Stephen make his entrance alone. I see now that it was a good idea."

"Clea!" Isaac exclaimed, recognizing the mage's life mate. He embraced her warmly. "I didn't think that you were coming."

"I wasn't going to. In fact, I told Stephen this was something he had to do himself. There was quite a bit of discussion about how to handle it when Brunnhilde stopped by to mend fences*."

(* In the classic Doctor Strange #100! - GD)

"So that's where she went then? Curious." Isaac muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

"How so?" Clea asked.

"Yes, Isaac, do tell - how so?" Valkyrie said from the door.

They all turned to look as the Asgardian goddess entered, a warm smile on her face rather than the threat that dwelt in her voice. "How is that curious?" she asked as she sat down on the love seat next to Hannibal. The vampire flinched a bit, before regaining his composure.

"Friends. We should be celebrating our at long last reunion, not pecking each other to death." Stephen said with a warm smile that seemed to reach down deep inside.

"We're like cats that way," Jean-Paul quipped, moving quickly away when no one seemed to get the reference.

Cecilia gave him a confused look, before turning back to Stephen, "Why should things be any different than they usually are around here, after all... Clea!" She smiled warmly as she went across the room to greet the sorceress. But Jan beat her there, returning to normal height just in time to get in a buss and a hug before the mutant could get arrive.

The baby fussed in Rina's arms. The young hero started to hold him out to his mother when she noticed that she was no longer present with the group.

"Did you see...?" she started to ask, but no one seemed to be paying any attention. She sighed and settled down in a chair to rock the baby softly to sleep.

Elsewhere in the mansion

"I just wanted you to know," the woman in the cloak said.

The other woman nodded. "And I appreciate that much. It is good to know that even in such times there is someone I can count on. When will this occur?"

The woman in the cloak stood still. "I've said too much really. All I can say is 'soon' and if I didn't know I was supposed to tell you this, I wouldn't be saying even that much."

"She told you then?"

"Yes, she will."

The woman in hiding nodded solemnly. "Then at least I know that this is the correct course of action. I had wondered..."

"We all did. But things have a way of turning out for the best. Even the unlikely ones."

"Those most of all, some would say."

"And they'd be right," the woman in the cloak noted, "I won't be coming back to see you before I leave. But know that you are on the right path. No matter what else happens in the meantime, everything will work out fine."

The woman in hiding nodded as she watched her new friend, her old friend someday, disappear back into the darkness. Now all she had to do was to wait for the 'meantime' to end.

In the Realm Between

He laughed, and twisted the sword deeper. His grip was firm on the hilt projecting from his chest. His laughter was halting at first, then grew stronger. It echoed through the void.

"I like it," Maximus the Mad proclaimed. "I think I'll keep it!"

"You're going to keep a sword sticking out of your chest?" Moonstone asked, aghast, " I knew that you were crazy, but I didn't think that the Dragon would bring me someone completely nuts to serve me."

Maximus crooked his neck to the side and smiled, his teeth brilliantly white, "Have I not served you well oh mistress of mine?"

Moonstone looked horrified. "Have you not served me well? I asked for Patsy Walker to be recruited into the Moonguard. You brought her in, and then put her immediately into action against her old team. An act I did not authorize. Then you revealed yourself to them."

"Was revealed I say in my defense. I thought I was far from their view. Apparently I was wrong."

"You seem to be wrong a lot lately. Such as, what was the deal with killing Hellcat! There was no need."

"Ah, but that is where you are incorrect oh mistress o' mine."

"You needed to kill her."

"Oh yes"

"Why? Please tell me, why did you need to kill Patsy Walker?"

Maximus the Mad pressed his face into hers. She tried to back up, but hit something that blocked her. She half turned to see Moonscythe unmoving in the path of her retreat. His mask was off, and his smile was undying in the grips of insanity.

She turned back toward Maximus, and he once again pressed his face up so that they were eyeball to eyeball. She felt the hilt of the sword in his chest digging into her own. She suppressed the pain as well as she could, along with her own fear.

"You want to know why I killed Patsy Walker dear heart? You want to know why?"

"Yeeesss," she stammered out.

His smile got even more twisted as his eyes seemed to go black." Because that's what the voices told me to do." he cackled, and then backed away quickly. He walked several feet away and sat down in the nothingness, hanging his head and playing with the sword stuck in his chest. And laughing...

The Van Dyne Mansion

"...I can't believe you did that!" CeeCee exclaimed.

"Well, there was more to it than that, but basically..." Stephen smiled.

"You're being modest dear," Clea offered, "I think a greater emphasis should be on the 'more' rather than the less. You've been quite busy of late."

"True," he agreed, to the amusement of everyone.

Correction: Almost everyone. Heather Douglas stood near the door, her eyes never leaving Stephen and Clea, her gaze as fixed as it was completely lost.

"Enough about me though," Stephen said with a wave, "What of you? How have the Defenders faired of late? What's happened to Patsy? Who is Jennifer here, no offense, dear - not trying to talk as if you're not here..."

"I know," she smiled.

"...what's this I heard you mention about Kyle? And where is Rina...'s friend who came with her? For that matter - Brunnhilde, what is this about you losing your sword?"

"I fear it to be true, old friend" she muttered.

"Why is it then that you didn't come to me for aid in any of this? I would have been more than glad to help. I still am in fact."

"We know, Stephen" Janet said, "But things have been happening so quickly and..."

"We couldn't be too sure of you after all," Hannibal added with a stern look, "We still can't when you get right down to it."

Isaac shook his fearsome head. "After hearing some of the things that have been going on in his own life*," he said matter-of-factly, "I think that Brunnhilde's judgment was sound that this was the time to mend bridges with the good doctor."

(* See Alex Maggi's run on Doctor Strange for details! - GD)

Rina stared at Northstar and smiled, taking a glance at the baby on her lap. There were times for mending bridges, and times for making them, to the future. He smiled back, but without her warmth. She pretended not to notice, and pretended she wouldn't cry herself to sleep later about it.

"Thank you, old friend," Stephen said, with a nod to the Gargoyle. "Could someone please feel me in on all this, I feel that I much to catch up on."

Cecilia smiled warmly, "Well, let's see... I guess the best place to begin would be when we..." she began, and didn't stop her narrative until well into the next morning.

NEXT: Another old friend comes to visit - with dramatic repercussions! Plus: The evil continues to grow and a secret comes unraveled!

Send mail to: Gary Dreslinski