Steve Rogers looked sadly at the grave while the minister spoke. As Captain America, he had fought alongside Wildcat as a member of the Justice Society of America sixty years ago. When Wildcat quit the JSA, he and Cap lost touch. Then Cap had his . . . incident after the war when he was frozen. Since he was revived, he hadn't seen Ted. And now it was too late.

Cap looked over and saw that Alan Scott, Jay Garrick and the blind psychiatrist Dr. Charles McNider were also in attendance. Years ago, they had been known respectively as Sentinel, Flash, and Dr. Mid-Nite. They had also fought along with Cap and Wildcat on the JSA.

Steve moved alongside his three old colleagues. They nodded in acknowledgment of him and the whole group of them listened to the rest of the service. Steve felt very strange, since he was still young, and his three old friends were now so old. Alan didn't age as fast as most people. His ring slowed his aging. But he was still looked much older than Steve did.

"Another one of us gone," Jay Garrick said. "And so soon after Chuck Lane."

"Chuck Lane?" Steve asked.

"Remember the Jester?" Alan asked. "His name was Chuck Lane. He died a few days ago."

"I hadn't heard," Steve said sadly.

Dr. McNider looked thoughtful. "I heard he died of sudden heart failure too."

"Yeah, he did," Jay answered.

"Strange," McNider said. "They were both so healthy. Fitness obsessed. No history of heart problems. It's a strange coincidence that two men who were in such good shape for their age, both former masked adventurers, should die of sudden massive heart failure within a week of each other. "

"You were a super-hero too long," Jay said. "You're still finding menaces in your own shadow."

"You know what they say," McNider said, "just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you."

"I wouldn't worry about it, Chuck," Alan said. "We're at that age where these things happen."

"Maybe," McNider said. "What do you think, Steve? You were our leader. If you think there's something to this, we'll check it out."

Steve was feeling very strange. He was feeling guilty for not being old. The rest of them were "at that age where these things happen." But Captain America had cheated time as he had so often cheated death. But Wildcat had not. It was inevitable. We all have to go someday. Still, Dr. Charles McNider--Dr. Mid-Nite--was the most logical, level headed person Cap had ever met. He wasn't the type to create rationalizations to help him feel better about his mortality. Emotions never altered his judgement. When he thought that there was something strange going on, there usually was.

"If your instincts tell you that something's fishy," Steve said, "you should follow them. Let me know if you come up with anything."

"I'll do that," McNider said. "Thanks."

It was harder for Dr. McNider to get permission to examine Chuck Lane's files but he had enough clout to finally get a hold of them. He wasn't surprised to learn that the Jester had also died from a burst heart. This was no coincidence. This was murder!

He immediately phoned Steve Rogers.

"I'm at the Holy Heart hospital, examining the files on Chuck Lane. I already looked at Ted's. Someone killed them, Steve," McNider said.

"What?!" Steve answered shocked. "Are you sure?"

"It has to be," McNider said. "By my estimation . . . "

Steve heard a crash over the phone. "Doc, are you okay?"

"It's the murderer!" Dr. McNider yelled.

Steve heard a strange sound, something like Iron-Man's repulsor rays. Dr. McNider screamed, and then all went silent.

"Doc!" Steve yelled, "Chuck! Are you there?! Are you all right?!"

"Glad you're here, Cap," a cop said, "Looks like we got a super villain perp here. Broke in through the wall, three floors up, and burned this poor guy. Did it all in a few seconds. The staff heard the sounds and got here in about ten seconds, but our killer was gone already."

Cap kneeled down next to the body. He felt a wave of incredible sadness as he looked at his old friend. He had so often relied on the advice of Dr. Mid-Nite, and he was never let down. He should have listened this time. Maybe Charles would still be alive.

"You know this guy, Cap?" the cop asked.

Cap nodded. "Yes, I do. I did. He was a good man."

Cap stood up and composed himself--outwardly at least. He watched as the body was removed. I'll never have Dr. Mid-Nite to advise me again, he thought.

He thought about his beloved wife, who had died many years ago. She used to be Miss America, his partner in crime fighting. They had belonged to the Seven Soldiers of Victory together. Those days were long since behind him now. His days of excitement were over.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw something. He turned to get a better look and saw the strange being floating in the air, staring menacingly at him. He got up and ran. Ran with amazing speed for such an old man. He tried to evade the laser blasts that were firing at him. His heart was pounding in his chest. He couldn't keep this up. He headed for the door.

The attacker had incredible aim. Even at the speed Frank was moving, the attacker caught him in the back with a laser blast. Robert Frank screamed and fell to the ground. He couldn't move his legs. He looked up and saw the creature floating towards him.

"Who are you?" Frank asked. "Why are you doing this?"

"I am doing what I must," the creature said with no emotion, "and you must die."

The attacker reached down for the former Whizzer and snapped his neck.

He looked over the old records. He felt that the killer was someone from the past. Some old enemy out for revenge, not against any one hero of that old days but against all of them. He needed to find a likely suspect. Someone who was around back then and is still around now. Someone who fires laser blasts. Someone strong enough to break though a wall and still silent and stealthy enough to get the drop on the Whizzer. Someone who could cause a human heart to burst. There couldn't be too many people who fit that description. Cap searched through the files with determination. It seemed like an eternity ago that he and Dr. Mid-Nite made these files. Another life.

He reached over and turned on the radio.

Namor had received a signal, one he hadn't heard in many a year. The JSA emergency signal. It was been transmitted under the sea and picked up by the advanced receivers of the Atlantean communications network. The Atlantean technicians had brought the news of the mysterious signal to their King's attention. Namor recognized the signal and told his people that he'd be gone for a day or so. Leaving his loyal aid Vashti in charge, Namor headed for the surface.

As he approached the coast, he saw someone hovering in the air, apparently waiting for him. The strange being was humanoid in shape. He was mostly green except for his face which was red. He had golden boots, gloves, belt, trunks and cloak. On his chest was a gold diamond emblem. On his forehead was a crystal of some sort.

Namor looked at him curiously and tried to go around him. But the creature moved to block his path. Namor hovered, studying the being. The creature stared at him with no emotion.

"Who are you?" Namor asked. "What do you want?"

The being just stared coldly.

"Be warned," Namor said. "You are risking the ire of Namor the Second, the true Sub-Mariner! My wrath is the stuff of nightmares! Move aside!"

"You will not pass," the being said.

"How dare you!" Namor roared. "This is intolerable!" Namor realized that this creature had obviously been waiting for him. But how did he know Namor would be coming? Had he intercepted the JSA signal? Or worse, had he gotten hold of the old JSA frequency and sent this message as bait for Namor? And then placed himself between the source of the signal and the approximate position of Atlantis to await Namor's arrival. Whatever the reason, Namor knew that this was an enemy. He lunged forward.

"Defend yourself, fool!" Namor roared.

To his amazement, Namor past right through his foe. Namor looked back. "What are you? An illusion? A hologram?"

"I am the Vision," the being said, "and I must kill you." Namor saw the gem on the Vision's head glow and suddenly a beam of solar energy shot out striking Namor. Namor convulsed in pain from the heat, and fell into the water.

The Vision looked down, without reaction. He waited patiently to see if Namor would re-emerge from the sea. After a few seconds, Namor did just that with a vengeance!

"For the honor of Atlantis, I will destroy you," Namor yelled, streaking like a missile at the Vision.

"You will lose," The Vision said. "You will die."

"I do not fear death! I do not fear anything! I am the greatest warrior of the seven seas! I am the king of glorious Atlantis! I fight for the honor of my people! Imperious Rex!"

Namor evaded the laser bursts of the Vision. At least for a little while. One of them finally hit the mark. Namor gritted his teeth from the pain but kept going, ignoring the burns. He reached his foe. He swung mighty blows at the Vision but his fists past harmlessly though. "Coward!" Namor yelled.

The Vision reached forward and placed his hand through Namor's chest and into his heart. Then the Vision returned his hand to solid form . . . inside Namor's heart!

Namor screamed. He had never felt such pain. His chest felt like it was on fire. He felt like his heart was about to explode.

"And now, you die!" the Vision said.