The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence

by Stan Lee

  Ox whipped out a small dart gun and fired. The dart struck Liam in the throat and bounced off. Liam scratched his neck, but there wasn’t even a mark.

  “It’s a fascinatin’ philosophical dilemma, if ye think about it,” Liam continued. “The unstoppable force an’ the immovable object.”

  “It is, at that.” Ox paused. He looked around the cube, and at the room visible past its transparent walls. “I think I could bash this chamber hard enough to bring the walls down around us. That would end your little game.”

  “Aye, it might. But it would probably bring the whole building down too. An’ I’m not sure all your wee Vanguard pals could survive that. Are ye sure?”

  Ox stood still for a moment, thinking. “I could tie you up.”

  “That won’t end the game.”

  “No, but I’m gonna have to tie you up sooner or later.” Ox reached into his pack and pulled out a length of rope. “Might as well get a head start.”

  “That’s very practical thinkin’, Mister Ox. You don’t usually see that kind of planning in the muscleman of a gang.”

  “Well,” Ox protested, “we’re not just a gang. We’re a paramilitary combat unit, and we pride ourselves on our professionalism. Personally, I like to think of myself as more than just a muscleman.”

  Ox crossed over to Liam and began to bind his arms behind his back.

  Liam didn’t resist. “Reminds me of my Uncle Seamus,” he said. “He was a hard man, no mistake. But he liked to do chess puzzles on the side, those brainteasers they used to put in the daily paper. All the other petty criminals made fun of ’im, but…well, when you’re the best legbreaker in all Belfast, you can pretty much do what you like.”

  “I had an uncle like that. Name was Heinrich. He was into word searches.”

  “Aye, well, word searches aren’t exactly yer thinkin’ man’s puzzle.”

  “Nobody ever told Uncle Heinrich that,” Ox replied. “He wasn’t as strong as me, but he was kind of an immovable object. Like you.”

  “I…I got to say, Mister Ox, it’s a pleasure to battle to the death against a man so philosophically inclined as yourself. Makes for a refreshing change.”

  “Likewise.” Ox paused in his work, frowning. “My team are good people, and Horse is a very fair leader. But their idea of a good time is a sweaty game of soccer. Which is great, gets the blood pumping and all—but sometimes I crave more cerebral pursuits.”

  “Aye.”

  “However.”

  “However?”

  “I can’t play your game forever.”

  Liam squirmed slightly in his ropes. “Have ye figured out a way to render me unconscious?”

  “Not yet.”

  “So you’ve got no way of actually winning right now?”

  “Not in the least. But I know how these things work. Something will come along.”

  “Huh! I must say, Mister Ox, that’s a very deterministic way of lookin’ at things. Even, y’might say, fatalistic—”

  Suddenly the lights went out. The power went off, and the computer displays went dead.

  Liam blinked, unable to see for a moment while his eyes adjusted to the darkness. In a flash, he realized what had happened: Duane.

  Then he saw Ox standing before the chamber door. With the power off, the door had snapped open.

  “Game over,” Ox said. “Let’s go.”

  Ox tugged on the rope and Liam tumbled off his seat, onto the floor. It didn’t hurt—nothing hurt Liam, these days. But he hated to lose, especially because of a bloody power blackout.

  “Let’s not be hasty,” Liam said. “I felt we were developing a bond here. Best two out of three?”

  Ox said nothing. He picked up Liam and slung the younger man over his shoulder.

  “Well, I tried.” Liam shrugged. “Maybe a rematch later? If yer not too busy dissecting me at Vanguard headquarters?”

  “Maybe,” Ox replied, deadpan. “But it’ll have to be word searches.”

  Aye, Liam thought. I probably deserved that.

  He settled back and let Ox carry him away.

  STEVEN SPRINTED ACROSS the snow, as fast as he could. The storm was almost past; he could see the horizon in the distance. Behind him, the concealed door to headquarters slid shut.

  I’m not cold at all, he realized. Must be the Tiger.

  Ahead, something was kicking up snow from the ground. A low noise carried through the air, like the growling of a frustrated animal. As he drew closer, he spotted the source: Dog, the Vanguard agent. Kim was using her Rabbit power to poof in and out, narrowly avoiding his searching claws.

  Kim’s jumps were growing shorter. Each time, she reappeared a little bit closer to Dog, her Rabbit energy form flashing briefly around her and then fading away. Dog’s thick hairy arm sliced through the air again, and Kim barely managed to poof away in time.

  Steven gritted his teeth and ran faster.

  Then he realized that Kim had a strategy. She was teleporting in the same direction, over and over again, luring Dog closer and closer to a high mound of ice left behind by the storm.

  Steven stopped and crouched in the snow. He was close enough to jump into the fight if Kim needed him. But he wanted to see what she was planning.

  Kim poofed in again, right in front of the ice mound, and stuck out her tongue. Dog growled at her, enraged, and leapt through the air. She jumped straight up and disappeared again.

  Dog struck the ice mound head-on, cracking it in half. He cried out, a loud sad howling noise, and grabbed at his head. Then he toppled for a second and fell to the icy ground.

  Kim reappeared a few feet away. She looked down at Dog’s unconscious form, and let out a sigh of relief. She looked exhausted.

  “Wow,” Steven said.

  At the sound of his voice, Kim whirled around, searching the air with frightened eyes. Then she saw Steven and smiled.

  He ran up to her. To his surprise, she grabbed him and hugged him tight.

  Steven gestured at Dog, who lay unmoving on the ground a few feet away. “That was amazing,” Steven said. “You figured out how to use his own strength against him.”

  Kim pulled away, glanced down at Dog, and shrugged. “We had dogs back home. You gotta be firm with ’em.”

  Guess I underestimated her, Steven thought.

  A sudden gust of wind blew up. Snow swirled all around, and Kim pulled closer to Steven, shivering. “It’s okay,” he said. “It’s only the storm—”

  Two oversized fists, clasped together, reached out of the snow cloud and struck Kim on the cheek. She cried out and flew away, falling to the ground.

  Steven had just enough time to think, Monkey—and then a thick gloved hand grabbed him by the hair. Horse yanked his head up, and he found himself staring into the strangely calm face of Ox.

  Then they were all pounding on him. Six fists in all: Horse’s and Ox’s heavily gloved knuckles, and Monkey’s bare, lanky hands. Their punches felt like pile drivers.

  “Keep at it,” Horse said. “Don’t give him a chance to recover.”

  Steven fell into a crouch, trying to block the blows—but there were too many of them. Despite the Tiger power, he was starting to feel the pain. His face was bruised, and his neck and chest were starting to ache.

  “C-coward,” Steven said, grabbing Monkey’s shirt. “Try fighting me without your friends.”

  Monkey just cackled back at him. Then Ox spoke up. “This isn’t the playground, kid. You’re dealing with professionals now.”

  “And we play to win!” Monkey said, jabbing a punch into Steven’s stomach.

  Steven slumped to the ground, shaking. I can’t beat them, he realized. Not all three of them. My only chance is to get away and catch my breath.

  He looked up, dazed, seeking an escape route. The three Vanguard agents stood over him. Ox—he’s the slowest. If I can get around him…

  Then he looked past the Vanguard agents, and his heart sank. Near Dog’s unconscious form, Kim lay dazed on the
ground. And next to her, piled up like firewood, were the bound and gagged figures of Duane, Liam, and Roxanne.

  My team, Steven thought. I can’t leave them here.

  He caught Roxanne’s gaze for a moment. She looked completely different from the spirited young woman he’d helped recruit. Her eyes seemed despairing, almost pleading.

  Ox leaned down and punched Steven again, four times in rapid succession.

  “Hold still, kid,” Ox said, pulling his fist back for one final blow. “When this is over, you’ll wake up in Vanguard headquarters.”

  “Maxwell will explain what we’re offering you,” Horse added, lifting him up by his shirt collar. “It’s really for the best.”

  Steven closed his eyes in utter defeat. I’ve failed, he thought. I’ve failed them!

  Just then, a voice cried out across the snow. “Steven! GET DOWN!”

  Drawing on some reserve of Tiger power, Steven wrenched free of Horse’s grip. But he stumbled down to his knees, too weak to walk.

  Get down? he thought, feeling the cold snow under his hands. That’s easy.

  A low hum rose up, filling the air. Steven looked up, puzzled. He couldn’t see who had spoken, or where the noise was coming from. But a beam of bright yellow energy flashed through the air above him, heading straight for the assembled Vanguard operatives.

  The beam struck Horse first. She stepped back and frowned. She seemed unhurt, but puzzled.

  Before Horse could issue any orders, Monkey leapt into the air, waving his arms around. “Whatwhatwhatwhat’s goin’ on?”

  Kim crawled over to Steven. She had a cut on her face, but she seemed otherwise unhurt. “Is that Zodiac energy?” she asked.

  “I don’t think so.”

  Then they looked up and saw the source of the attack. Carlos was stalking through the snow toward them, holding up a metallic staff. It looked like a high-tech cane, bristling with electronic switches. He looked like some ancient wizard equipped with a modern, metallic staff. The yellow glow flared out from the staff through the air, bathing the puzzled Vanguard team in its mysterious energy.

  Steven glanced at the rest of his teammates. They still lay bound on the ground. The energy beam passed over them, avoiding their bodies.

  Carlos manipulated the energy beam carefully, sweeping it through the air. It dipped down briefly to touch Dog’s sleeping form.

  Kim started to rise, but Steven grabbed her arm. “No. Stay down!”

  “Why?” she asked.

  “I don’t think we want that beam to hit us.”

  Ox and Horse strode forward. Steven tensed; he doubted Carlos’s weapon—let alone Carlos himself—could stand up against those two.

  But Carlos just flipped a switch on the staff. The energy flashed off, and the staff went dark. Carlos thrust the staff down to the ground, planting it in the snow. Then he threw his hands up in the air.

  “I surrender,” he said, then gestured at Steven and Kim. “If you can get past my friends.”

  The Vanguard agents watched for a moment, confused. Steven and Kim climbed cautiously to their feet.

  What’s Carlos’s game? Steven wondered. Is he just trying to confuse these guys?

  Kim pointed down at the ground. “Look!”

  Steven turned, along with the Vanguard agents, to look down at the unconscious Dog. Something was happening to him. As they watched, Dog’s fur seemed to recede, his ears shrinking back against his head. The sharp claws on his fingers and toes disappeared.

  Soon he was fully human again.

  Dog shuddered and sat up. “Whoa!” he said. “It’s cold out here!”

  Monkey frowned. “His powers…did he lose ’em?”

  Steven studied Monkey for a minute. Monkey looked different too, in a subtler way. His fingers and toes didn’t seem to curl as dramatically, and he was shifting back and forth on the ice, as if he suddenly found it cold against his bare feet.

  “I think they all have,” Kim said.

  “What about us?”

  As if in answer, Kim vanished with a soft poof.

  Steven smiled.

  Horse turned alarmed eyes toward Steven—just as Steven leapt through the air, unleashing the full power of the Tiger. He’d seen Horse in action before, and he knew she could withstand one of his blows without much trouble. If she still had her powers.

  He kicked her in the stomach, and she went down.

  Ox was already pulling out his dart gun. Steven whipped an arm around and knocked it out of his hand.

  Ox winced and shook his hand in pain. His enhanced strength was gone, too.

  Carlos was already over by Liam and the others, untying their bonds. “Kim!” Steven called. “Help Carlos!”

  Kim nodded and poofed away again.

  Monkey charged at Steven, swinging his fists. But Monkey seemed slower now, less graceful, without his Zodiac-enhanced agility. Steven dodged his blows easily and chopped a hand against the back of Monkey’s neck. Monkey cried out and dropped to the ground.

  Then a thick fist slammed into Steven’s chin. He grunted and stumbled to the ground. When he looked up, he saw Ox moving forward to strike him again.

  “Caught me by surprise there, kid,” Ox said. “But I learned how to fight years before I got my Zodiac power.”

  Before Ox could land another punch, a series of loud sharp cries shot through the air. Ox grabbed at his ears in pain and fell to his knees.

  Steven looked up to see Roxanne, free of her bonds, stalking toward Ox. She cried out again and again, using her sonic power to force him back. She looked very angry.

  Horse and Monkey were helping Dog up off the ground. They all looked dazed, weaker than before. But Steven knew: This isn’t over yet. Carlos’s yellow light-beam took away the Vanguard team’s powers, but they’re still dangerous.

  “Steven. Mate.”

  Steven turned. Liam stood, shaking off the last of his ropes. Behind him, Kim and Carlos were untying Duane.

  Liam pointed at Horse and Monkey, who were huddled together, speaking urgently with the shivering Dog. “Remember the maneuver we talked about back in Ireland?” Liam asked.

  Steven looked at him, unsure. “Think it’ll work?”

  Liam just smiled.

  Steven spread out his hands, willing the full power of the Tiger to come forth. Then he reached out and picked up Liam, hoisting him high. Liam curled his stout body into a ball.

  “Mind the glasses,” Liam said.

  Steven reared back and threw Liam into the air. Liam drew his knees in toward his chest, pulling his body even tighter together. As he tumbled through the air, the Ram energy took form all around him, sharp horns whirling around like buzz saws.

  He struck Dog like a giant bowling ball, sending the Vanguard agent tumbling back down to the cold ice. Liam laughed. “Doggy down!”

  But Liam wasn’t finished. He bounced off Dog and slammed into Horse, knocking the wind out of her. She staggered and fell. By that time, Liam was already reaching out to head-butt Ox in the face.

  Ox coughed and collapsed.

  Liam landed roughly, rolling along the ice for several feet. For a moment Steven thought he might be hurt. But Liam just dusted himself off, planted himself in the snow, and glared at Monkey.

  “Go ahead, mate,” Liam said. “Hit me.”

  Monkey gulped. He reared his fist back and struck. But his movements were awkward and uncoordinated. When his fist struck Liam’s chest, Monkey howled in pain. He whirled around in place, then cried out.

  “My hand!” Monkey cried. “My beautiful hand!”

  Liam hadn’t moved an inch. He pulled off his glasses and cleaned them as if there were no one else around. Then he turned his back on Monkey and marched over to Ox, who lay dazed on the ground.

  “Game goes to me, mate,” Liam said. “Maybe the unstoppable force isn’t so unstoppable after all.”

  Ox grunted and scrabbled away, across the ice. But when he looked up, Roxanne and Duane were blocking his way.


  Josie coughed and rose to her feet. She looked around at the scene. Dog lay moaning on the ground; Monkey was grabbing his foot and hopping around. Ox faced off against Steven’s team, who seemed stronger—and angrier—than ever.

  “Retreat!” Josie called. She whirled and began to run off into the wasteland, away from the headquarters complex.

  Monkey scrambled after her as fast as he could, limping slightly. Dog shivered again and followed, dancing across the snow on his bare feet. “You guys, did I mention it’s cold out here?” he asked.

  Ox cast a last, threatening glance at Liam. “Round three,” Ox said. “It’s coming.”

  “I hope so, mate!” Liam called after Ox’s retreating figure. “But no bloody word searches!”

  Roxanne and the others gathered behind Steven, watching the Vanguard agents dash across the ice. A small gray plane flashed by above, dipping down to follow their path. Ropes dropped from the plane’s undercarriage, reaching down to intercept the small, fleeing figures.

  “Should we, uh, pursue them?” Duane asked.

  “No,” said a female voice. “We can’t exactly arrest them, and we’re not equipped to hold prisoners.”

  Steven whirled around and saw Jasmine limping toward them. Carlos ran over and put an arm around her shoulders, helping her across the snow.

  “Not bad, kids,” Jasmine continued. “You might become an actual, for-real team yet.”

  Kim and Liam exchanged a quick high five. But Roxanne was looking away now, frowning. Duane just looked puzzled.

  “Thanks,” Steven said. “But what exactly just happened?”

  Jasmine perched herself shakily on an ice outcropping. “Blame the man here,” she said, gesturing at Carlos. “Didn’t I tell you he knows more about the Zodiac energy than anyone else alive?”

  Carlos pulled the staff out of the snow and held it up. “I sent out a quick pulse that neutralized the Vanguard team’s powers,” he explained. “It’s only temporary. Once they get out of range, they’ll revert to their old, powerful selves.”

  Liam clapped Carlos hard on the back, startling him. “Carlos! Saving the day with bloody science! Who’s the hero now?”