Doctor Octavius - now going simply by Doc Oc (much catchier right?) to the Ultimates - is usually a fairly easy opponent to beat. A medium level, not quite the boss yet. The key word being 'usually'. This time, luck seems to be on his side as everything - everything - that can possibly go wrong, goes down in the worst way possible. Spider Man's webbings? They detach from the ceilings and posts, sending him to the ground and crashing into dumpsters. Rips in his suit showcase the red gashes along his torso, not even the red of his suit is able to absorb the color. White Tiger's hair gets caught on the firescape, pulling her back as she tries to attack. Her head hits the metal, a sharp clang rising above the battle noise. Nova slams right into her where they are trapped by Spider Man's missed shot. Power Man and Iron Fist aren't doing any better. They stumble, their balance upset. A black cat was caught in the crossfire weaves beneath their feet, using them as shields against Doc Oc's tentacles. Whatever it is, it just isn't working.
It's a disaster.
In the end, Doc gets away with his confiscated animal serums while the team is left on the floor of a shabby alley in Queens. Cuts and bruises litter their bodies, much more prominent and deep than other times. The black cat with golden eyes stares at them from its perch on the firescape, seemingly intrigued by their squirming. As Iron Fist glances at the creature, it lets out a soft mew and flees the scene. Fury arrives minutes later, the irritation of being up at dead-of-the-night-o'clock evident in his one eye. It's not their first scolding, but it turns to be one of the harsher ones in a while.
Five days later, Doc Oc is captured, his serums and information destroyed for good. The fight is over as quickly and easily as it usually is: a medium level in a video game. Iron Fist notes that there is no black cat in sight.
The Frightful Four attack on a Friday. Doc Oc at least had the decency to escape from S.H.I.E.L.D. on a day they weren't supposed to be teenagers having fun. The team's luck runs short that 13th, as the convicts escape on account of their less than spectacular performance. Their battle ends with them in a dumpster of a back alley, much like the last one. Iron Fist is almost certain that the black cat sitting on the fence is the same one from five days ago. White Tiger seems to read his thoughts, and they both agree that it has to be a dark omen of some sort. The others call it a coincidence and blame the bad luck on the date. There are many black cats and many alleys in New York. They leave it be, but their wounds make them consider their superstitious partner's words.
When Fury scolds them yet again they get a strange feeling of deja vu. He doesn't ease up on them - it doesn't matter that they'd just taken down Doctor Octopus only hours before.
Their next fight is against Scorpion - a sore spot for Spider Man and Iron Fist. He was confident in previous battles, when it was only him against a few of the Ultimates or he had the Sinister Six to back him up. Tonight he is downright cocky, almost reckless in his euphoric state, as if he knows of their previous failures - and is certain it will be repeating itself again. He even left behind his Scorpion armour, and wears the robes he used to train with. The marks around his arms contrast with his skin, seemingly alive. Muscles rip with movement, sharp and strong. It pains Iron Fist to fight him like this. Scorpion looks too much like the brother he used to be. They seem to go back, to when they were just two boys training together. Scorpion would always be ahead of him, watch out for him and point his flaws and weaknesses, offering guidance. Now, they fought as enemies.
The battle terminated in Brooklyn Bridge, where Scorpion leapt into the water, a sub awaiting him. The black cat sitting on the ledge is suspicious - Iron Fist has had enough.
"I think the Universe is sending us a sign. The same black cat in three of the fights that we lose in has to mean something." No one in the team has the conviction to deny it.
"I think you might be right this time. Maybe talk it with Dr. Strange?" Ever since the episode with Nightmare, Spider Man has learned to listen to Danny's 'Fortune Cookie' ramblings. Dr. Strange - as strange as he is - knows about things like these, so it figures the two should get together and have a nice little chat with tea coming from the many mystical objects surrounding them, perhaps with the company of one of those squids in a box. Who knows, maybe they could find something to give them good luck for a change.
Iron Fist nods and leaves. The other team members head back to the Tri- Carrier to report another failure to Fury. And as if he wasn't already angry, someone had broken into the construction site of the Triskelion, stealing a copy of the blueprints.
As for the black cat, after a week of good work, it finally got the cream.