He was sitting along with Wasp, Hawkeye, and Iron Man in the Watchtower. All were thinking of how to go about finding the last shard of the Emerald. Flash, Wonder Woman, and Martain Manhunter had already left to search for the other two fragments.

Finally, Quasar entered the room. "I think I have something," he said. He pressed a button, and the large screen filled up with images that he had been working with on a computer in the other room.

"I think I have an idea about where the Emerald came from," he said. "But, you'll have to keep an open mind. By my estimates, I believe that the Emerald could have come to Earth as much as four and a half thousand years ago."

"You're saying it's been here for a while?" Wasp asked.

Quasar nodded. "Remember, J'Onn came through a portal, and - I'm not sure of the specifics - most likely plucked from another time, explaining why he cannot return.

"Anyway, as I was saying, I believe the Emerald came to Earth around 2500 B.C. I have ascertained this date by studying the movement of the planets. At this time, there was an inside flyby of Mars."

"Inside flyby?" Hawkeye asked. "Enlighten those scientifically challenged members here."

"Certainly," Quasar replied. "At one point in time, Mars had a different orbit than it does now. It was more elliptical, and would occasionally enter Earth's orbit. Much like what Neptune and Pluto do now."

"Now, if it has been here for so long," Iron Man interrupted, "why is J'Onn in a hurry to find it? Certainly, it can wait."

"Henry Pym was examining the equipment that was used to allow J'Onn to contact his nemesis," Quasar explained. "He found it had been used after we all left the room. It appears Z'Onn Z'Orr is on the loose. More than likely, he wants to get back himself."

"So, let's say this crazy plan succeeds," Hawkeye said, "and either one goes back home, they would exist thousands of years before we were born."

"Yes," Quasar replied. "As I was saying, I believe the Emerald to have come to Earth during a flyby around 2500 B.C. That would be around the time of Noah's Flood."

A stunned silence came over the Avengers seated. Quasar pressed a button, and the image changed to a computer graphic showing Mars and Earth in orbit.

"Like I said," Quasar continued, "keep an open mind. Fortunately, I have spent some time over the past few months talking with J'Onn about his home. I have learned about where his civilization lived, which would give us the location of the Emerald. A quick calculation would give us a location where it could have fallen to Earth." He pressed another button, and the image moved the planets around so all that could be seen was Earth. It zoomed in on an area. "I figure it landed somewhere in the Sinai peninsula, which would be near the Biblical Tower of Babel."

Again, the Avengers were awed.

Finally, Wasp spoke up. "It's strange that you mention that," she said. "A few years ago, I decided to conduct some research on bio-engineering, to better understand the process that gave me my abilities. And you know when you're researching, you always find something that stands out. Something that you think may not be connected too much, but could be. One story that caught my attention and struck me as weird was the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego."

"The fiery furnace," Captain America commented. "From the book of Daniel."

"Yes," Wasp said. "The strange thing about them was that they lived off of just fruits and vegetables. Then, they were subjected to the torture of the furnace because they refused to bow down to a statue of King Nebuchadnezzar."

"And your point is what?" Hawkeye asked.

"Extra Biblical text tell of the crown on the statue having a green stone with unnatural brilliance. It could very likely be the Emerald."

Quasar punched a few buttons, and the map of the Sinai peninsula was drawn on to show the boundaries of the Babylon empire. "It's very possible, considering where it was," he said.

"So, you're saying we're dealing with something that appeared in the Bible," Iron Man said.

"It's possible," Quasar said.

"So we've gotten the Emerald to Babylon," Captain America said. "Are we dealing with the whole Emerald or just one fragment here?"

"I'm going to assume that if the Emerald was used in the statue, then we're dealing with a fragment," Quasar hypothesized. "My guess is that when the statue was made, the fragment was removed from the Emerald, and then used in the crown. The rest of the Emerald was discarded. It is not hard for it to have made its way into the Sahara Desert. But what about the fragment."

"I might have an answer," Cap replied. "Back in World War Two, I was told by a Polish scientist about an unusual rock in a Babylonian palace that glowed with a greenish light. I'll spare you the details, but somehow the Germans ended up with this entire Palace. One of my missions was to retrieve some information and a sample of 'Heavy Water' from a Berlin lab. I also took a glowing green rock."

"So, you've dealt with it before!" Iron Man exclaimed.

"If it was the fragment."

"It's very possible," Quasar said. "So now the question is, where is it now?"

"That's probably not to hard to figure out," Cap replied. "Can you get me the President on the videophone? He should know."

A few minutes later, Alan Scott's head was shown on the monitor.

"Steve!" he greeted. "So nice to hear from you."

"Mr. President," Cap said. "I need a favor. J'Onn has found a Martian Emerald that is very important to his civilization. However, it is missing some fragments that we are currently looking for."

"Yes, I follow you. How may I help?"

"Remember back during the war, when I was sent on that one mission into Germany to retrieve the glowing rock?"

"Vaguely."

"Can you find it for me? I believe that to be the fragment we are looking for."

"Okay," Scott replied. "How soon do you need it?"

"Yesterday. We fear that there is another group trying to find the fragments first."

"I'll get my people right on it."

"Steve, we've found it."

"That was quick."

"Executive privilege."

"What was your cover story?"

"I told them it was an article the Nazis used for experiments with laser technology. I'll be loaning it to Stark Enterprises for testing on a new guidance system."

"How can we get it?" Cap asked.

"I've already called Tony Stark. We've set up a publicity stunt for this afternoon."

"Already?"

"Tony wants this fast."

"Where is the fragment?"

"There is an old Federal Reserve Building in a relatively small town only about a hundred miles south of DC that shut down a few years ago. Some government property was left there for storage."

"What's the name of the town?"

"Culpeper, Virginia. Ever heard of it?"

"I think so. Isn't there a National Cemetery down there?"

"Yes, sir."

"I've probably been to a funeral there. You need me there?"

"As a public icon, that would be nice."

"I'll bring Wasp and Hawkeye. Wasp can be hidden, and Hawkeye can be out of costume as a bodyguard."

"Sounds good. I'll see you then."

He clapped twice. Instantly, a group of white Martians who he had found in the portal came to attention in front of him. He gave orders. He wanted no one who came to witness the event to survive.

Captain America and Tony Stark flanked the president. Down below the makeshift stage, a group of secret service men stood in line. Clint Barton stood in the very center.

A crew had already been sent in to retrieve the fragment, which Alan Scott was now holding. He begin giving a small introduction speech.

After he was done, he stepped back, and Tony Stark took his place at the podium. Alan handed Tony the Emerald fragment.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began. "Today marks the beginning of a new project for Stark Enterprises. The government has graciously allowed us to take this former Federal Reserve Building and turn it into a new Technology Center. Not only will it be used as a research lab for Stark Enterprises, but part of it will be open to the public to experiment with new technology, and to use as a computer center.

"I chose the small town setting, because I feel it is important to reach out to these smaller communities, where there is little to offer the younger generation . . . "

Elsewhere, Wasp was doing a sweep of the area, checking for any sort of device that might cause harm. Suddenly, her sensor beeped.

Uh oh, she thought. "Hawkeye," she spoke into her communication device atop her wrist. "We've got trouble. There's something behind the stage."

Hawkeye leaned over to the secret service agent on his left. "Check behind the stage. My partner says something's back there."

The agent broke form and motioned to the agent standing on the other side of Hawkeye. They walked around to the rear of the stage, picking up metal detectors.

In the back of the crowd, the LexCorp employees saw this and started sweating. They squeezed the control mechanism tighter. But then, they were hit in the back of the head, and fell down.

" . . . and so, I thank the government for allowing us to take over the complex here, and for this token of change," Tony Stark finished as he held up the fragment.

People started applauding. The news reporters began talking at the cameras again.

And then, the stage blew up. Alan Scott, Tony Stark, and Captain America ducked.

Guns starting firing from the back.

"Martians!" Hawkeye exclaimed, seeing the gunmen. He hopped on the stage, and began helping Stark and the president to safety.

Captain America stood up, and flung his shield out, hoping to knock out the Martians. His shield made contact with one, but another was able to use quick reflexes and grab it, flinging it back at Captain America.

Already, civilians and news crews began fleeing the scene. Naturally, the cameramen tried to keep filming, and the anchors kept talking, stating the obvious, assuming that the audience was incapable of interpreting a picture.

Captain America jumped down to fight the Martians. Wasp joined him. However, one managed to slip past.

Clint Barton, Tony Stark, and Alan Scott were just coming off of the stage when the Martian began rushing towards them. "Hawkeye, look out!" Cap shouted.

The Martian aimed a gun at Tony Stark. Just as he fired, Hawkeye jumped out in front of Stark, leaping for the Martian. The bullet went through his chest, and he landed on top of the Martian.

Just then, the Iron Man armor swooped down, and picked up the president in its arms. Tony Stark grabbed the neck. He would land in a better concealed area to step into the armor.

With no other course of action, the Martians disappeared.

"I guess Z'Onn called them back," Cap commented as Iron Man landed.

"How's Hawkeye?" Iron Man asked.

"Oh my! Hawkeye!" Cap exclaimed. The trio rushed over. A couple of secret service agents were beside him. One looked up at the three Avengers League members.

"Is he okay?" Wasp asked.

"His breathing is shallow. We've already called an ambulance."

"Is there anything we can do?" Captain America asked.

"Don't worry. We'll take care of it."