Sic Semper Tempus Fugit !

By Gord Green

She was as one with nature, gathering energy about her from the static electricity from the scudding clouds above the dark Atlantic. Her billowing blue cloak channeled energy to her body and protected her from the heavy rain. The broad Atlantic Ocean roiled below as she soared overhead, easily shifting from one magnetic line of force to another. Flying was child's play to her as she manipulated her own magnetic aura. She felt completely at home in the heart of the dense thunderheads. Miss America cast her sight far ahead of her to the shores of Manhattan hundreds of miles ahead. It was not a "telescopic" or x-ray vision; it was a sort of perception or remote sensing. With concentration she was able to locate the headquarters of the Avengers by locking on to the familiar aura of Captain America. This was the original Captain, the first, and the real one as far as she was concerned. She had known him so many years and another lifetime ago. She had worked with a couple of his replacements, and as capable as they had been, none of them had the charisma of Steve Rogers.

Madame Bova had told her of the Avengers and she had hoped that they could help her find Bob, her husband. It had been almost forty years since she had seen him, when she had apparently died during childbirth. But it had been just a semblance of death. She had laid in stasis frozen coma, a pitiable imitation of the finality of the grave as the world went on without her. She had children who were completely unknown to her who had grown to manhood without benefit of their mother's love. And Bob, her husband, the Amazing Whizzer, what of him? Bova could not answer any of the questions haunting Madeline's mind.

She was so lost in her thoughts that before she knew it she was directly over the Avenger's compound. Her remote sight quickly saw Captain America within the great building, seated at a large conference table with a group of unknown costumed individuals surrounding him.

Her remote sight found the shortest path through the halls and corridors of the sprawling mansion. She spun downward, her blue cloak billowing around her, protecting her in a projected blanket of force that repelled all other forces and shook of the teeming rainfall. Through a fourth floor window she soared, her lightning charged body short circuiting the alarm system and circumventing the mansions motion detection devices.

She moved closer to the conference room where Captain America was holding the floor talking to the assembled heroes when suddenly a green and red clad humanoid form with outstretched arms materialized before her. She pulled up abruptly and hovered in mid-air in front of the menacing figure.

"HALT! Stop and identify yourself or be in danger of bodily harm!" The Vision intoned. "None but active Avengers may pass beyond this point!"

Madeline had never seen this apparition before, but it reminded her of Aarkus, the Vision who had appeared to serve with her in the dark days of the World War and later with the All-Winners Squad. Could it be one and the same?

"Vision, I must see Cap! It's important. Don't you remember me?"

"I surely don't know you madame, but… … I am interfacing with the mainframe…. You are on file…. Miss America, Madeline Frank, Heroine of World War Two, Member of the Liberators, Member of the Invaders, Member of the All-Winners Squad…. Wife of Robert Frank,the Whizzer…. Deceased. Deceased? This does not comply with my parameters of reality. You should not exist."

"I can see now that you're not the same Vision I remember but the fact remains that I AM here, and I AM alive, and I DO need to see Cap." She looked at the Vision with such an expression that were he human it would have broken his heart. The Vision stopped and took it all in. He put down his arms and relaxed the tension in his body. She was not a threat regardless of the power that she registered on his sensors.

"Miss America, if you will please compose yourself I will escort you to the Avengers Conference room. My sensors indicate that your physical attributes match those on file for the heroine designated Miss America, including the fingerprints from the old FBI and OSS files. There is no DNA data on file, but the other coordinates are in compliance."

"You are much more mechanical than Aarkus, but just as non-emotional." She touched his cheek with the back of her gloved hand.

"Mr. Vision, please let me speak to Captain America. I am no threat, just an old friend who really needs his help!"

Madeline lightly touched down, not allowing her complete weight to press down upon the floor. She followed the Vision into the large conference room where Captain America was standing with his back to the door before a large circular table with a stylized "A" located in its' center. Seated around the table were a group of men and women clad in colorful costumes and gleaming armor making it look for all the world like a modern day Arthurian Round Table!

"Captain, We have a guest." The Vision said.

"MADDY!" Cap gasped as he turned to face the doorway where the Vision and Madeline stood. "B-B-But you were reported dead, according to all reports. You were listed as having died in the mid fifties!" Cap said,

"Yes, and YOU were reported dead in the mid forties and look at you! How could you expect less of anyone else?" Miss America said quietly, stepping closer.

"Excuse me Maddy, I'm just so shocked!" He rushed to her and embraced her, giving her a great hug which she gratefully returned.

"And you look as young as you did when we were together during the War! It's a miracle!" He said.

"Probably no more of a miracle than that which explains you're being here, now, and still the beautiful young man I knew a lifetime ago." Madeline intoned as she stroked his cheek lightly.

The rest of the Avengers looked on in awed silence, obviously moved by the sight before their eyes. It was not often that Captain America revealed his feelings, but it was apparent to all that he was genuinely choked up.

So many loses in his past. So many friends and family gone to dust. He was a man who lived outside of his time. There were those who refereed to him as "The living legend of World War Two", but there were few who really remembered that war and what it was really about. There were few that knew the threat that so many young men were sacrificed to end. So many brave young men whose potential was squandered on the battlefield. Young men like Bucky.

"Why don't you introduce your lovely young friend?" Hawkeye laughed, bringing Cap suddenly out of his thoughts.

"I'm sorry Clint, I was lost for a moment there." Cap said quietly,then returned to the usual authoritarian demeanor that the other Avengers were used to.

"Avengers, I'd like to introduce you to Miss America, an old friend, once lost, now returned to us." Cap said. A small tear appeared in his left eye, which he quickly brushed away.

The Scarlet Witch lowered her eyes, lost in her own thoughts. At one time she had been led to believe that this woman before her was none other but her mother. She had later learned that she was not, but for a large part of her adult life she had considered this woman her mother, known only from yellowed photographs and flickering newsreels. She still held her in a hidden part of her heart and mind.

"Maddy, the vocal one over there is Hawkeye, to his right then is Thor, the God of Thunder…." Cap said.

"Thor rose from his seat."Tis a great honor to bear thy visage m'lady. Verily thou art a legend." He bowed at the waist.

"Going on then, the tall one there is Giant Man, or Yellowjacket or Goliath or Ant Man or just Doctor Henry Pym, depending on his mood! Next is the lovely Wasp." The pair waved. "The one in scarlet and gold armor there is Iron Man, and the bewitching young lady dressed all in red is the Scarlet Witch. You've already met the Vision. They are only a small part of the group of brave men and women who make up the Avengers. Most of them here are not on active duty, but have found the opportunity to visit with us."

*****(This takes place immediately following AVENGERS #437 )*****

Iron Man rose to his feet. "I'm sure we are all pleased to meet you, and we'd be happy to aid you in any way possible!"

"Thank you, thank you all! Cap, I do need some help. You see.. Well… I don't know how to begin, I've been gone so long." Madeline said.

"There now Maddy, First things first. Do you have a place to stay?" Cap asked.

"Well, no. I haven't given any thought to that, or anything else since I …. Well, woke up!"

"For now you're welcome to stay here at the mansion with us. I'm sure there is no objection?" The rest nodded in complete agreement with Captain America. The Scarlet Witch rose and came over to Miss America.

"I would be pleased to be allowed to show Mrs.Frank to her quarters and get her settled." She looked into Madelines' large brown eyes and added softly, "We have quite a bit to talk about, after all."

Madeline smiled and accepted the Scarlet Witches outstretched hand. "Thank you, I have many questions for you all as well, but perhaps it would be best to make haste slowly. Lead on Miss Witch." She laughed, "And may we talk later?" She said to Cap.

"Certainly, after you've rested and settled in. Why don't you join us at luncheon in two hours?" Cap returned.

Madeline and the Scarlet Witch went off to the mansions living quarters. "Madeline, please call me Wanda.It is my birth name." Madeline smiled as she took the young lady's' hand and the pair disappeared into the corridors of the mansion.

TWO HOURS LATER

The Avengers dining room was large and formal. Madeline came in and sat down beside Captain America in the space that had been saved for her. Wanda slid into the chair on the opposite side. They ate in relative silence. Wanda could not help but to keep glancing at Madeline at every opportunity. She had never met the woman, but for a good many years she bore the same last name, Frank, and along with her brother Pietro, had considered the woman a long lost member of the family. Now, here she was in the flesh, appearing to be even younger than Wanda herself. She felt an unspoken bond with the woman, regardless of their true relationship.

After the mansions' food service crew had cleared the table and had begun the effort of cleaning up, Madeline turned to Captain America. "Steve, there are a few things I must know, and I know that I can count on you to be up front with me. Can you tell me of Bob? What has become of my husband, and what of Bob Jr., our son? Madame Bova said that he was here?"

Captain America took both of Madeline's small fine boned hands into his and moved closer. "I'm so sorry Maddy, Bob is gone. He passed away a few years ago. I'm so sorry. Bob Jr. IS alive and well; he lived here at the mansion until just a couple of years ago."

Wanda moved in closer as well. "The Vision and I were there at the time. Robert died in my arms. His final words were of you and your son. He died freeing your son from the control of your old enemy Isbisa. He passed on giving Bob Jr. his freedom and his very life."

Madeline was silent for a moment. A tear formed and rolled down her face to fall to the top of the table,staining the marble.

"Can you take me to his resting place?" Madeline implored.

"Of course,Madeline." The Scarlet Witch put an arm around Madeline's shoulder and pulled her close. The Vision stood silently beside them.

A short time later Madeline stood beside a large granite gravestone in the deserted cemetery. Deeply carved into the highly polished surface was the inscription-

ROBERT FRANK

1922 - 1993

HIS RACE IS WON

MAY HE REST IN PEACE

Wanda slid her arm around Madeline's waist as the woman lowered her face and sobbed. The Vision stood silently beside the two women, hovering a foot off the ground.

"He died as he lived. A true hero to the end." The Vision mechanically intoned. "Wanda and I were beside him when he passed."

Her tears slowed and she wiped her eyes. Madeline pushed her sight into the ground for a final farewell to her beloved husband.

She froze.

She squared her shoulders and her face took on a most grim expression. "Perhaps you can tell me one thing." She said tersely, turning to the Scarlet Witch.

"What's that Madeline?" Wanda asked.

"Why is his grave empty?"

The Vision dematerialized and descended into the earth. A few seconds later he rose to the surface.Wanda was speechless, she had attended Bob's funeral here so many years ago.

The Vision rose higher into the air. "She is correct. The grave is empty" He intoned.

To be continued:

NEXT: REVELATIONS