Everyone stands at the ready, (well, except Thor, who had landed quite hard on his butt in the middle of Yellow goo) their senses alert and adrenaline pumping.

The Black Knight spouts, breaking the tension: "Strewth! bring 'em on, bring 'em all on, I can take 'em! Eh, all gone?"

The redhaired woman had been focusing on a runestone during the last seconds of battle... and he looks up just then, seemingly coming out of a daze. "It's gone," she remarks. "The white... 'space phantom,' was it? It's gone." (Although Hellcat privately remarks to herself that although she couldn't detect the thing with her spell... she's not quite sure if it's due to the Phantom being out of range, or merely being undetectable, or worse-- if the spell failed.)

As everyone begins to breathe a bit easier, they slowly look back from one to the other... and then to Rick Jones...

The Black Knight turns: "Now, lad, what was all this about, eh?"

"Alright, Mr. Jones..." Hellcat continues, "...care to explain what those things were? What's going on here?"

At the same time, Moon Knight walks over to Thor and extends his hand to help him up. "Not bad, old man. Not bad. You got a name?"

Rick Jones responds to the others, "Don't look at me - they we'ren't MY space phantoms. Y'see they....no. I...no. Ummm....I'd like to thank you all for your help, although I don't know HOW you came to be here - my message was sent for Herbie of the Fantastics. But I do thank you! Ummm. Who precisely am I thanking?"

Black Knight : "You have the honor of speaking to the Black knight, fabled last son of ancient Camelot! bane to space phantoms and all their ilk who would accost the just and innocent! Enemy of all infidels and guardian of the weak and female! And I don't take no shit from nobody, right? So just remember your places and everything will be keen, OK?

Venom plops herself down hard, her back against a wall, the voices fading in the background as she mentally chides herself. She;d heard of other people like her with special abilities, and she'd always wondered what it would be like to test her mettle against them. "Well, there you are," she said to herself.

"What am I doing here? What business do I have risking my life when I've got a kid on the way? I should go home, I should..."

And yet...there was no way she could let a mystery like this go unsolved. She'd stay around a little longer to see what came of it all, but next time there was no way she'd let herself get trounced so badly. She clamors over and listens to Rick's explanation.

Thor gratefully accepts the hand of this luminous being-- be he priest, elf or something else entirely. "I am ... I was ... that is I ... have called myself Don Woodson for decades ... I ... am ... grateful for your assistance. What may I call you, bright one?"

Questions plague each person at the scene, but each remains unsure of how to ask them, or if they even should be asked? Did the Phantoms possess its victims, and if so, when? How much do these mysterious creatures really know about your identity (How? and to what purpose?) and if these creatures know all about you, how much do your recent compatriots? (And... how can you find out?)

Black Knight: "There are simply too many unaswered questions, best not to dwell on them over much. It is not a knight's place to fathom God's plans, leave that to the priests. it is a knight's place to be ready to strike when the need arises, and the Black knight shall always stand ready to fight the good fight! For God and righteous people everywhere!

Moon Knight contines, to Thor: "Fate is a funny thing. A few months back I was just plain old Malcolm Beck. Now I'm teaming up with strangers with powers as strange as my own to fight space phantoms in the middle of the night at the zoo. Heh. I guess dressed like this my handle would be Moon Knight. At least that's what the...the...uhm...person who gave me this...er...job called me."

Thor's eyes widen with understanding for perhaps the first time tonight, "ahhh a KNIGHT!" he beams, and then he gestures to the rest of the crowd, "I see there are several here who may be knights and elves and slayers of monsters. I had thought our kinds to be long since extinct," and with that he squeezes the glowing man in the biggest bear hug he's likely to have received in quite a while.

The Black Knight also responds, overhearing: "Ah, a fellow knight! Tell me, sir, what order are you a member of? Hey, watch it you old sod, dont hurt the moon faerie, there! Just cause he looks like a poof don't mean he deserves to get crushed, unless you were sharing a moment, eh?" He helps remove Moon Knight from the drunken old git's embrace. "What did you say your name was, old boy?"

Moon Knight: "Sigh. "Thanks. I think. I'm not a member of any order that I know of. There's just me. I was told that I'm certainly not the first to bear the title, but I've checked the history books and I never could find any record of another though. And it's Moon KNIGHT, not Moon FAERIE." Moon Knight rolls his eyes wondering what he did to deserve this. Before his rebirth was he really THAT bad of a person?

Black Knight: "Hmm, curious garb for a knight indeed. Moon faerie seems more apt, but since you have displayed some valor in combat I shall overlook it. But if you are no member of a knightly order then I can scarce call you knight! Moon Warrior is what I shall call you!

Moon Knight: "Nice getup by the way. You get that at the discount store last Halloween?" he says with a smirk.

"This is the sacred Ebony Armor of the Black Knight, enchanted by Merlin himself in the dyas when Camelot herself was young! It has naught to do with that vile pagan practice of Halloween!

Rick Jones looks blankly around him. The people and surroundings seem to dim around him as his eyes begin to go in and out of focus. Even tho the others are introducing themselves and asking questions

Shaking his head, he seems to speak as if by time-worm memory, "The Space Phantoms will be back, of course. They are programed for ruthlessness and comprehensiveness. Typically, they are sent to dessimate their opponents, and often only leave one survivor-- if barely. They are sent... by the Kree!"

Moon Knight makes sure Thor is steady on his feet and turns his attention to Rick. He crosses his arms and arches an eyebrow. "Uhm...I don't want to seem rude or anything, but what the hell is a Kree? And what do they have to do with me? Or anyone else here for that matter..."

Rick: "The Kree are a powerful space-faring race of, well, aliens. Most are blue-skinned but otherwise human-looking. *wince* And what they have to do with you, is, well, me."

The Black Knight responds, but as if to himself in his own little world as the rest of the group focuses on Rick's explanation. "Stick it to them, goodammit! Just like with the bloody jerries in '39, don't give an inch or they'll take Poland!

"Sir Winnie himself would have been proud to have given such a speech, were he on one of his benders. but still a noble effort. I'm with you, pal. Ay, the Black Knight shall stand ready to repel these vile demon spawn invaders. As The Great Bard once wrote: This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England Methinks I am a prophet new inspired And thus expiring do foretell of him:. . . "

Rick continues: "A week or so ago, I was out star-gazing, and saw a small alien spacecraft crash - I had thought it was a shooting star or something. When I found the dying pilot, the bastard tried to take me over - to kick me out of my own body, and take control of it; he didn't count on humans being a bit more stubborn then they thought. Before the ship exploded, I grabbed some of his equipment (he said, motioning to his uniform), and skedaddled - almost fast enough to avoid the explosion."

BK: ". . . His rash fierce blaze of riot cannot last, For violent fires soon burn out themselves; Small showers last long, but sudden storms are short; He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes; With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder Light vanity, insatiate cormorant, Consuming means, soon preys upon itself.. . ."

Rick: "When I woke up in the hospital, I was attacked by the racial enemy of the Kree - a Skrull, a competing alien race that can take on whatever shapes they choose. The really weird part is that I have some of the Kree pilot's memories - which is why I recognized the Space Phantoms, and why I've gotten so good at this chop-socky stuff."

"...This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle, This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, This other Eden, demi-paradise, This fortress built by Nature for herself Against infection and the hand of war, This happy breed of men, this little world, This precious stone set in the silver sea, Which serves it in the office of a wall, Or as a moat defensive to a house, Against the envy of less happier lands. . . "

Rick looks away, uncomfortable. "Not that I did much but barf goop fighting the Space Phantoms...." He looks back. "Anyway, while trying to sort out what to do, I was contacted by this babe who gave me a device to contact the Fantastics - and it contacted you guys instead. She said that the head of the government Investigative Team is an alien, and will stop at nothing to destroy me completely, collecting "agents of unspeakable power" to hunt and destroy me. She also said that anyone who comes into contact with me also becomes a target - including the government team, and the lady herself."

". . . This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England, This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings, Fear'd by their breed and famous by their birth, Renowned for their deeds as far For Christian service and true chivalry, As is the sepulchre stubborn Jewry, Of the world's ransom, blessed Mary's Son, This land of such dear souls, this dear dear land,. . . "

Rick: "I thought that maybe some of you might be them. In fact, I still might...thats the problem with government conspiracies - you never know who to trust! After tonight, since you all helped me, I assume that it makes you all targets as well."

"There is only three things I do know:

One: I love our country and planet too much to let aliens infiltrate it - whether Kree, Skrull, or My Favorite Martian. Whoever is hunting me is going to find that out - the hard way.

"... Dear for her reputation through the world, Is now leased out, I die pronouncing it, Like to a tenement or pelting farm: England, bound in with the triumphant sea Whose rocky shore beats back the envious siege Of watery Neptune, is now bound in with shame With inky blots and rotten parchment bonds:..."

Two: I can't do it alone - the Space Phantoms proved that, if nothing else. I'm going to need help, and I'd like to ask each of you for that help, both because you've inadvertantly made yourself targets - and because its the Right Thing To Do. Lets band together to avenge this insult, this invasion of our planet! Are you with me?

"...That England, that was wont to conquer others, Hath made a shameful conquest of itself. Ah, would the scandal vanish with my life, How happy then were my ensuing death!

And the Black Knight continues: "Bloody good shit, that Shakespeare! Hey, Ricky, what was the third thing, anyway, chap?"

"Oh. That Hellcat is drop-dead gorgeous."

Hellcat buries her head in her hand. This motley group can't be representative of all Marvels, can it?

Zemo: "If Earth needs us, then I'll fight along side you. I could give a damn about your country, I'm fighting for this planet. But do we have to take this sword wielding madman with us? He might hurt himself or someone else."

Rick: "As long as the someone else is Them instead of Us, I'm all for it."

Zemo: "Then I take it you didn't see the bumbling fool attack me. Of course, he attacked me after that impertinent child foolishly mistook me for an enemy. I wonder if we should let those two help us. Maybe we should let them strike out on their own so they only get themselves killed."

Rick: "Well, I thought Venom was trying to attack me, and I was wrong. Lets give them the benefit of the doubt, and assume the best of motives. They seemed pretty good in a tussle, after all"

Patsy Walker suddenly speaks up: "Well it doesn't look like you've given us much choice, does it?"

The gathered heroes turn at the sound of Patsy's scathing Irish brogue, her eyes glowering at all of them. She rubs her shoulder, apparently bruised during the altercation.

"Frankly, Mr. Jones, I'm not convinced all of us can do it together, judging from tonight's performance. We barely survived against four of those monsters, and I'll bet there are plenty more from wherever they came from."

Her eyes settle on the bedraggled Thor. "Unless we intend to throw this drunken oaf at the lot of them, I don't think we stand a chance."

"We need help. From those Fantastics or whomever. We need a plan. Lastly, we need to get out of this damned zoo. I don't know about you, but the thought of waiting around for those devils to ambush us doesn't appeal to me."

Rick turns to Hellcat, "Look, lady - I didn't ask you to show up, and I didn't ask you to help. If you want to scamper away while others protect our little mud-ball for you, don't let the door catch your tail on the way out."

"Actually, you did ask me to show up, whether you realized it or not, and you did ask for help. And much as I'd like to leave you to your own devices, my natural predisposition towards survival precludes me from doing so. So if you don't mind dispensing with the idealistic nonsense and petty bickering, I suggest we get the hell out of here and come up with a decent plan, eh?

Thor looks at the ground in shame at this. He thinks how nice it would be to have a drink about now. "Uhm, m'am? young lady? miss? Uhm, I ... just vanted to say that tonight is the first time I've felt alive in many years. If there is anything a broken down old man like me can do to help you all, I vill, that is if you think I can help you. For starters," Thor continues, licking his lips and thinking about an unopened fifth of Glen Morangie under his bed, "my house is not too far from here, it's small but varm . . ."

Zemo: "There is no way I'm going to some alley and sit in a box! If we must all go somewhere we shall go to my estate. Maybe my servants can make you presentable. But I still want to know what we're going to do with this sword wielding madman? I don't know of any heroes who carries swords."

Thor has had enough. The rude treatment by the the Black Knight was one thing. As a worn out worthless warrior he deserves no less than mistreatment and ridicule by a young and powerful warrior. Also he has become quiet accustomed to the rudeness of the the Christains--especially the soldiers. But this arrogant man has gone too far.

"I--do--not--live--in--a--box!" Thor says between his teeth. "And I know a great many HEROES who carry swords! The bravest man I ever knew carried a sword --as did --my vife. I vill not go to your wodampt estate nor vill I go anyvhere vit de -- dy @#@#$%&*@$%&*&$%@#! (translated from the Old Norse)."

The Black Knight speaks up: "Ay, well said! Do you hear that, base braggart? Thus speaks a true warrior who didst most nobly acquit himself in battle for all his scruffiness! There is a true warrior that you should heed, pup! The Black Knight would rather spend eternity at this ragamuffin's accommodation, however base they maybe, than to spend a second in your den of iniquity! I say thee nay, the Black Knight shall go to his "estate." A billion Jews learned the folly of that well enough! I say it is the abode young Mr. Jones or naught!"

Zemo stares at the Black Knight.

Black Knight: "Big talk from a stinkin' German! Why should the Black Knight fear you? 'Twas I who vanquished two of the foul monsters whilst all you have done is assault a girl child! You are not even worthy of the Blakc Knight's notice! if it is a battle you wish, then first you must prove yourself worthy of receiving the honor of batling with the fabled Last Son of Camelot! You will not goad me into a fight, although i will defend myself, be assured of that!

"Does the knave dare speak of the Black Knight? As if any man, if man ye be at all isnide such a shell, who would accost a woman would DARE have the effrontery to speak to the last scion of fair Camelot! And a bloody jerry at that. Keep pushing me, you damned Kraut, and I'll show you what kind of a hero carries a sword!

Zemo: "So you're a bigot, a sword wielding maniac and you have delusions of grandeur. The rest of you still want to take this "thing" along? And for your information, the girl attacked me. I never did anything to hurt the child. Of course I had a mental case charging me with a sword! Of course I'm not sure if your mental state knows which of your personalities attacked me! Anytime you want to see this "jerry" kick your sorry tin plated ass you let me know. Dolt!"

Zemo waves his hand in the Black Knight's direction in a very dismissive manner.

The Black Knight turns his back, cape whipping around! He stands resolute, arms crossed! his mind is made up and woe to those who would dissuade the Black knight when he has decided upon his course of action!

Venom is talking to Rick and Hellcat at the time: "Don't mind me. I'm still trying to shake the image of that mad embrace between Captain Caveman and Moondoggie (or whatever). This all seems a little out of my league. I'm used to scaring off muggers over in Babylon Towers, not throwing a beatdown on cosmic gummi bears. But if what you say is true, then, I guess I'll follow along for a while.

(While Venom talks, she also mentally coaxes one of my little spider friends into crawling up Hellcat's tights.)

"And the name's Venom, okay? I've been in the papers."

(As she steps back into the background again, she nudges Thor.) By the way, no offense, Hagar. That's one ginchy accent you got there."

Thor turns to the small girl guiltily, "I am sorry child," he mumbles, "for striking out at you -- I only sought to save the boy. My feeble skills are yours to command until I have earned your forgiveness."

Zemo: "We should get going to my estate. If we have to bring this pathetic piece of genetic trash with us" Zemo points to Pat "then so be it. But the rest of you will be in charge of keeping this mentally unstable fool away from me and any innocents. Follow me"

Zemo flies into the air and then stops to see if the others need any help flying or if they are even flying.

Venom takes a giant step back from the large, ale-smelling brute as veins bulge from his head. "Personally I vote for Rick's place. If he's the one the aliens contacted, shouldnt we be looking around for clues or something?"

Rick nods at the Black Knight. "I will go with these warriors - they have proven themselves."

He Looks at Zemo, "You just talk alot."

Venom, under her breath: "Oh, just ENCOURAGE them why don't you? Sheesh..."

Thor seems glad to see the armored man leave and stomps off in the direction his house. There's a bottle of liquor and a warm bed there that >will suit him better than anything else this night. Damned insulting flying men, black knights, faeries, elves. Bah! Let them come for him, let them kill him. They'd be doing him a favor . . .

Hellcat pinches her nose between her thumb and forefinger. She feels a migraine coming on. This group can't save the universe. They can't even agree to leave the park together. It's late, it's cold, and there's a goddamned spider crawling up her leg. She contemplates leaving them all here, getting help from other heroes, but... who can she trust? For better or worse, this group is it.

"WE..." she begans, shouting to get everyone's attention. "We can go to my office. Alright?"

"And no..." she answers Thor's question before it's asked, "there's nothing to drink there. Now let's go."

Hawkeye stands nearby as the various characters around him continue their discussion/banter. He feels increasingly unfortable -- he cant't be bothered by this! As important as it sounds, there are more pressing concerns.

"Okay then," he begins, and his sudden speech causes everyone to stop and look at the winged human. "Even if an alien race is bent on invading earth, there are people all over the city that need *real* help, *right now.* I'm sorry. You have to do what you have to do, of course, but I have to do what I have to. If you need me -- send a message."

With that, Hawkeye springs into the air, his wings carrying him swiftly and softly out of sight. "Still," he thinks to himself, "There's something familiar about that name: 'Kree...'"

LATER, AT THE P.I. OFFICE OF PATSY WALKER....

Since this assemblage walking through the city would be quite awkward and make a conspicuous visual, each character goes their own seperate way to meet at Hellcat's office.

The office is nice, but very new and thus also very sparse. Soon, everyone is standing or sitting around the exterior office. Patsy greets everyone as they arrive, with a terse acknowledgemnet rather than a warm hello, and has nothing to offer but some coffee or tea, especially at this late of hour.

Rick, having stopped at a 7-11 for two six-packs of Fresca, (Rick Jones loves Fresca...) offers a can to everyone.

Venom: "Uhhh...no thanks, Rick. I drink the fluid of dessicated flies, but I'm not THAT desperate." (In response to the sidewards glances that statement elicits) "Kidding! I'm just kidding!"

Thor's bare feet have tracked muddy/phantom-gooey footprints all down the hall and into Hellcat's office. Luckily his rain slicker was easy to clean the phantom-goo off of -- but his beard and hair -- oh well. That's what cleaning crews are for . . . Thor isn't shy about plopping down on the nicest piece of furniture in the office. He pulls a raw onion out of his pocket and peels it with his fingernails. Then he begins to eat it slowly and methodically.

Patsy refills Thor's cup of coffee for the sixth time, stabilizing his jittery hand while she pours. She hopes he doesn't start going through withdrawal right in the middle of her office.

After a bit of more small talk (and extended periods of silence) Moon Knight confronts the group with a question plaguing everyone's minds--

"SO! We made short work of those 'Space Phantoms,' okay? But, just when exactly did they possess you guys? And if they were so intent on getting as many 'Marvels' out of the way -- what are they planning? Where? And what do we do about it.... Jones?"

"We need to warn them," she says, interrupting before Jones can speak. "We can't risk potential allies being subverted. Concomitantly, we also have to consider that this may have been an orchestrated attack, that many of the other Marvels were attacked as well. So the question is, who can we trust? Who can we go to--"

Patsy suddenly notices the angry stares coming from around the room.

"Err, OK, so what IS the plan, Jones?"

Thor sits drinking the most vile liquid he has ever tasted in his life. Surely this stuff is going to have quite a kick to it to taste so bad. The Irish must've invented so bitter a beverage, he thinks to himself. He sits pondering just how he got here. The last thing he remembered he was on his way home and now suddenly he's sitting in this office with these strange people. It's not the first blackout he's had, but it certainly is the most organized.

Rick Jones shakes his head: "Why do you keep looking at me? They just want to nail my hide - and everyone else's - to a barn door somewhere."

"Wait! A brilliant idea...."

Rick waits until everyone looks at him.

"Thats what we need! A brilliant idea!"

"Ah, Okay, *ahem*"

Hellcat excuses Venom to either use the phone in the outer office or the pay phone in the hallway -- the building's empty at this hour, so she should have plenty of privacy. Patsy's internal office is off-limits. Venom closes the door to the office behind her as she moves out into the hallway. As she's learned to do in countless intimate sessions with the Spider Man, she sits in a secluded corner with her legs crossed, her ankles turned up.

She closes her eyes and wills her heart rate to slow, then stop. Her breathing becomes shallow, then nonexistant, but her eye movement picks up to a frenetic pace. In her mind, she recites a mantra in a tongue 2,000 years dead.

Hellcat has continued: "Look, you're all looking to Jones for leadership, and it's obvious he doesn't want the job. I don't think Black Knight or Baron Zemo would willingly follow the other one. Firefly and Web-Woman are a bit too quiet for my tastes. No offense, Moon Man, but you seem to be more of a follower to me. I think we can all agree that Thor is out of the question. I'm not necessarily advocating myself for the position, but at least I have a plan. And if anyone else has one, feel free to speak up."

Zemo: "Hellcat has made some valid points. While I would prefer to follow Rick Jones since he seems to know something about these space phantoms, I have no problem following the lovely Hellcat."

Black Knight: "What is this now? Follow a woman? Is that what has become of chivalry is this age? in my day we protected and honored women! We didn't put them on the bloody front lines!

Zemo mutters, "A sexist and a bigot. Nice guy."

Hellcat bit her lip. She could barely contain her disdain for the Englishman. Someday, she thought to herself, the Irish Free State Army will grow a backbone and we'll see where those bloody front lines run then, "bloke."

Thor looks around at the office of this bossy red head. It is the first time he has seen a woman in this land who held a position of importance and who was so agressive. She's like a woman of the North he thought, red hair and all. How unlike these soft pampered American women she was he thought. But she drinks such vile liquid!

Hellcat: "First priority is to warn the Fantastics and any other Marvels we can contact. The longer we wait, the greater possibility of them being attacked. As far as the Kree goes, Jones, is there anything else about them that you haven't already shared with us? Strengths, weaknesses? Any idea of where they might be located?"

"Finally, I know a few spells that may help us locate the Space Phantoms at least, but the range is limited. If any of you possess similiar dectection capabilities, now's the time to use them."

Zemo has been quiet since the Black Knight made his Nazi comment. He now speaks. "Well I do find it odd that the Black Knight's sword was unable to affect me, but was able to destroy the Space Phantoms during the fight. There is more to these Space Phantoms than meets the eye. They either let us believe we beat them, or they are in cahoots with one of us. I don't believe the latter. So my guess is that they were gaining information on us."

Black Knight: "Your insinuation is noted but is as flawed as all German logic. The spidery lass was unable to pierce your armor, does that make her an ally of the phantoms? Indeed, the phantoms originated not simply from my body but also from Rick Jones and the wino and that coward who left Earth in her time of need! Perhaps we are all in allegiance with the phantoms? or perhaps you bring it up yourself to avoid having the harsh light of susipcion cast upon you?

Zemo now turns to the Black Knight. The Black Knight steps in close, eye to eye.

THOR regards the red armor and the black armor. How like chess pieces they seem. Each determined to jump the other. They seem unable to agree on anything -- and yet they both came to save the young Rick Jones . . .

Zemo continues, "I have no idea how you knew I was of German descent, but not all Germans are Nazis. My father.... Let's just say my father fought against the Nazis in World War II. He fought to protect the Jews. So think before you make any more broad generalizations about someone based on your own prejudices."

Zemo kept his voice calm the whole time. "I apologize to the rest of you for my outbursts earlier. I was angry about being attacked by.... him" Zemo points to the Black Knight.

Black Knight: "How did I know you were German? Perhaps in America the name of the family Zemo is not recognized but in England we know it well! I fought in the war against the Nazis, and I have a different recollection about the family Zemo! You claim he worked against the Nazis but what i remember is that the family Zemo supported the nazi party from its earliest days! Mayhap your family has changed it s ways since it fled its homeland, I know not. But what I know for certain is that I will never take orders from you! Comrades, there does not appear to be any good candidate for leader of our group. We can scarcely allow a woman to take the job, and I will not follow a German! I propose that we have no leader. We can all decide together what course of action to undertake. When it comes to battle I shall oversee out strategy as the most experienced warrior! "I concur with the Irish lass's proposal to contact the Fantasticks. After that our goal should be to vanquish this treacherous government agency which has aligned itself with the vile enemies of it own race! Perhaps Rick Jones can tell us where to start?

In the hallway:
While what Marta San Ruiz experiences cannot be accurately related in words, the inquiry she makes of the great Living and Celestial Web through which all spiders communicate basically boils down to is "Have these creatures (picturing the phantoms) been witnessed anywhere or anywhen else besides the Central Park Zoo this evening?

Inside:
Hellcat: "Jones and I will look for the woman. She probably has information that we need. With your permission, Jones, it will require that I subject you to a mental probe to get a mental image of the woman so that I may use a spell to locate her. The rest of you... are any of you capable of looking normal? Those of you who are, see to warning the Fantastics. Approaching them in costume might provoke an unnecessary altercation. Those of you who aren't capable of looking normal (she says, looking directly at Thor) go with them but hang back in reserve. If it looks like something's happening, you know what to do.

"One more thing. If you run into trouble, we need a prisoner. Just one prisoner. The rest, do with as you will.

Although Fire-Ant has been insect-sized most of this time, he suddenly grows to his full height, elliciting a pause between the scattered confusion.

In a voice remarkably like Humphry Bogart, the young man speaks, "All right, sounds like we got us all a plan. I know I'm the small and quiet type, 'cause I know there's more to be learned listening and observing unnoticed, but ya gotta speak up sometimes, too.

"I don't mind going to see these Fantastics, as the gal suggested, but just how do you go about doing that, dolled up like normal folks, at 1 freakin' thirty in the morning, eh?

"Why don't we see what we can learn from this here girl's magic, and I will go alone to reach the Fantastics in the morning. They'll believe me, trust me. I happen to be the only sun to the famous heroes of World War II-- the Human Torch and Ms. Dyna-Mite, and have been making a name for myself out in California. We'll have to stay in touch, but I'll be able to catch up with you all later..."

Outside, Venom is able to enter her trance with ease-- and she was half-afraid that all the excitement and nervousness she felt would make it impossible. Instead, she seems to have slipped into her trance with more connection than ever before! She can hear the wind whispering on the webs from half a country away!

And like a wind, the answer comes to her -- the words whispered as merely a concept, a visual image, expressing more than mere words ever could...

The Phantoms are known! Strange alien creatures, here in the City... some far, some near, the zoo reappears but as a memory. Then-- Venom straightens! Her senses have reached out to even Arizona!! A whole town-- infested with Phantoms, like some cancer, their alien presence creating a void which the web-consciousness of the world cannot perceive. It stands out like ink on a pure white cloth. And there's something else there--

Vemon loses the trance, falling backward. She mumbles in the post-trance confusion, "Mesa Neuva..."

Upon hearing Venom thump against the floor, THOR leaps to his bare feet. A horrible creak of bones reverberates through the room. "That sound! The child! She is attacked!" He bursts through the office door (sorry about those hinges) and stands above Venom's collapsed form, "Child what has happened!?"

Venom shakes the cobwebs loose and is at full alertness once again. "Um...shocking news, Thor. Just floored me, I guess. But it's good news, and something everyone needs to hear."

She edges past Thor and fairly runs as she reenters Patsy's office. "Hey everyone," she says, her excitement obviously showing through her facade of restraint. "Great news! My information network found a huge lead on these phantoms! They've got some kind of a staging ground out in Arizona. A little dirthole town called Mesa Neuva--there's our lead! Let's go!"

"All right! All right!" Hellcat turns to Thor: "You! I did not extend my hospitality so that you can carelessly destroy my property. Get out of my office. You can wait outside until we are finished!"

Without saying a word, Thor's head drops, he turns on his heels, and quietly walks out of the office and down the hall . . .

Hellcat breathes an internal sigh of relief. She doesn't know what she would have done if the behemoth had refused.

Venom: "Hey, hey! You know, you COULD try to be a LITTLE polite to the big guy. I mean, as far as big ornery drunks go, Thor's not so bad.

"But you know, he's the only one of you I know anything about. I've never even been outside of New York before, so before we go running off into the desert, I'd sure like to know at least SOMETHING about you people."