Avengers, The (1963 series) #359

The Avengers have twelve hours to find a solution to the intensifying of the energy rings around Polemachus before Astra is sacrificed. Vision goes out ahead of Black Widow and Black Knight in the Quinjet who are monitoring the readings he records. Back on the planet, Crystal and Hercules await. Herc asks if Crystal feels more for Dane than mere friendship but she insists she is still working on her marriage to Pietro….

The Avengers join Arkon, Thundra, and Astra to discuss the problem. Dane concludes the problem with the energy rings is a result of overcharging and Vision adds that if allowed to go unchecked all life on the planet will be destroyed in the next 72 hours. Dane suggests that the combined powers of Arkon, Sersi, and Crystal have a small chance of solving the problem. A ruckus outside turns out to be the populace pleading with Arkon to help them, led by Anskar seeking to shame the Imperion into performing the sacrifice….

The Avengers, joined by Arkon, fly a Quinjet out into space to the energy rings. Dane, Crystal, Sersi, Hercules and Arkon go outside the ship in space suits. Crystal uses her special abilities to draw out some energy and shape it into a flare. Sersi then takes it and uses her skills to give it form and direction. Then Arkon hurls a golden thunderbolt into the heart of the energy stream and opens a portal to drain the energy from the universe. Then a tether breaks and Crystal is pulled into the vortex but Sersi is able to leap in after her and pull her out. A second thunderbolt closes the rift and the problem is solved.

The team returns to the ground where everyone is rejoicing at their deliverance. But suddenly Astra collapses and dies. High Priest Anskar informs the Avengers that their actions only succeeded because of the will of the gods and the gods were owed their gift. Sersi, burning with rage, unleashes her eye beams and immolates Anskar and his flunkies. Natasha asks if she knows what she has done. “Of course,” she replies, “I was an Avenger….”

Epilogue 1: Jarvis and Marilla are out walking baby Luna in Central Park when they spot a sad looking Taylor Madison sitting on a bench. They say hello and Taylor brightens up, makes some small talk and excuses herself. Marilla notes what Jarvis missed: Taylor was in severe pain….

Epilogue 2: Proctor has summoned a long-unused agent called Tabula to take care of the rogue Swordsman for him. The Gatherers arrive, Magdalene, Cassandra, and Sloth, all the worse for wear, bringing their latest gather who put up quite a fight. They then spot Tabula and ask who he is. Proctor explains he is the one who will rescue the Swordsman but once the others are gone, Proctor gives Tabula the order to kill Swordsman in the next two days so the endgame with the Avengers can begin….