Dark Illuminati Chamber, Avengers Tower, New York - 09:33AM, 24th August
"So Gentlemen that is the plan." Osborne announced, "I plan to crush the Asgradian Terrorists and safeguard this country from Loki's forces once and for all. The only thing I lack is the insurance from you all that aid will be offered if I need it in this campaign."
The Hood looked around the chamber, the line-up of the big names in Osborne's Inner Circle seemed to be constantly in flux. The former new comers Hera and Attuma had been joined by Scourge and the male form of Osborne's mad god Kephi. Ever since the Taskmaster left Osborne's side Parker was beginning to fell more and more like a disposable power source, Osborne was milking him for everything he was worth, taking money, property and men. He'd had Parker sever ties with large parts of his network such as the Quintos Rohas Cartel in Mexico and the Snakeheads in China. It was no obvious, if Osborne controlled the crime eventually it would dry up, Parker had to admit it was clever but that didn't sell the idea to him.
"So what do you have to contribute in this campaign?" Osborne asked.
"The Initiative is once again under you control sir." Scourge barked, "Only a few rebels remain and we're sending a hit team to deal with the Taskmaster."
"Good, how about you Hera?" Osborne asked
"I will not move against Asgard but Olympus will open it's forges, as you speak we are currently in the process of recovering a weapon that will boost our manufacturing capability." Hera replied her bitterness in serving a mortal was only barley masked by a fake smile.
"That will be useful." Osborne replied ignoring her tone, "And you Attuma, what can you bring to this siege."
"As you know Osborne, I have neither the man power or the manufacturing capability of the others, I can give you this." he croaked handing Osborne a map, "We recently discovered some kind of Super Weapon in the Mid Atlantic Rift, as we speak my warriors are digging a channel to free the structure. We estimate the device will be free in a few days, once we know what it does we will allow you use of it as long as it doesn't put my people or land in harms way."
"A fair enough price," Osborne agreed, "As we all know Kephi will be coming into battle with me, but what of you Parker my old friend what can you contribute to my battles."
"I have already contributed, I've given you men, materials and money in the pursuit of your dreams, I alone in this room save you paid any price in the last battle, my revenue and my contacts have been burned so you can save a few aces." Parker angrily spat, "I won't follow you this time Osborne, I still support you but this endeavour is dangerous."
"Your right you won't follow me, I have a more pressing task for you." Osborne sneered, "You and your gang just became my Home Guard, while I am leaving Victoria Hand and a small contingent of agents to protect New York, I'm placing you in charge of defending this city."
"This is not wise," Kephi said a pair of tiny black beetles crawling across the ornate crown he wore, "I foresee a kingdom burning as death stalks the streets."
"Are you a seer?" Osborne asked the god
"No but my insight into the hearts of men tell me how this city will end if placed in the hands of this thief and his demon master." Kephi said
"But your not a seer?" Osborne asked again
"No." Kephi replied as one of the tiny scarabs crawled up his left nostril. "I have never processed the ability of true foresight save for one day."
"Then shut up." Osborne growled, "Parker I'm giving you great power, and with it comes great responsibility. Slip up once and not even the powers of Dormammu will be able to save you."
"What do I get out of this arrangement?" Parker asked, "I presume that you want me to temporarily cease my criminal pastimes while I sit in your chair and keep your city safe."
"Plunder from Asgard, as soon as resistance has been broken I'm allowing you to take the things that I disallowed, your master will be mightily pleased." Osborne bribed
"And what if I refuse?" Parker asked, "Will the fate of Tony befall me as well?"
"No my friend." Osborne answered his voice becoming a goblinesque cackle followed by a hiss, "I have much worse things in store for traitors and enemies of mine, hope that you never find yourself on my bad side."
"Fine I'll keep your city safe." Parker replied, for some reason he believed Osborne's threats even through his own powers were strong, perhaps stronger then the head of HAMMER. Looking around the room he saw that the others all appeared to be similarly phased even Hera and Kephi despite the fact they were powerful deities. "What would you have me do first?" Parker asked hoping that the nervousness didn't show in his voice.
"Stop all your illegal imports and exports for the time being." Osborne instructed, "Tell your men that they are to shut down any schemes or plans they are working on. You Mr. Robbins will be moving into Avengers Tower with a select few of your closest circle, from there you take Ms. Hands orders as if she were me. Do I make myself clear because I don't feel like repeating myself."
"Crystal." Parker replied.
"Good you're dismissed." Osborne told the Cabal. Parker left with the others but before he could leave the building he was stopped by Hera and Kephi who were talking among themselves.
"Demon." Hera called, "Did you see it?" she asked
"Yeah I saw it; Osborne seems to be renting out some of his brain." Parker replied, "He's shacked up with someone in the mental area."
"Osborne's crusade will decide how this world ends; already another threat begins to stir, to move against us. Something old, something searching for the last final pieces that would stand against it's rule." Kephi told them, "That is the shadow we saw today, remember it as even beings as powerful as us."
"What I want to know is why you think this city will burn under my control?" Parker asked.
"The fires are not caused by you, but you will fan their fires, death himself will take the innocent and guilty to there graves until she has got what she wants."
"Who is this she?" Parker asked
"I don't know her name, all I know is that she brings something old and evil from the south. Something looking for revenge, for a crime you committed."
"You know that's a lot of people," Parker commented, Kephi smiled and disappeared into a cloud of gold fog that covered the hallway until Parker felt the floor jolt beneath him. Stepping out of the cloud he saw that he was back in his own headquarters standing in the middle of the main hall. Heading towards him he saw the mottle skin of the Purple Man as well as a few lesser villains following behind him.
"I want the monthly cut." the Purple faced villain growled, "Some of us haven't been paid this week."
"I'm afraid nobody's getting paid until Osborne returns from Asgard." Parker told him, "Worse then that we're shutting down for the same period, Osborne wants us to keep the city intact and repel any threats."
"Sod the city, we want to be paid or we're going to take out business elsewhere." the thug Razorfist growled
"Fisk and the Hand are looking for new blood, what's to stop us joining up with them." Bloodblister added
"How about the entire treasury of Asgard." the Hood asked, "Because if we keep the city safe that's what Osborne will give me, and by extension you, after I've subtracted the items I require everything else is yours."
"How can we trust you?" Shockwave asked, "You're a criminal just like us."
"Because if you don't stay under my control Osborne will find you and torture you until you wish you were dead, and then he'll torture you some more." Parker explained, "He wasn't really specific about the details but I got the idea that it was nasty. I'd rather take the carrot then the stick how about you Killgrave?"
"Fine we'll follow you, but be warned Robbins you won't always have Osborne to hide behind." the Purple Man warned.
"And you remember," Parker replied calmly as he pressed a finger against the Purple Man's cheek, "that I'm just as bad as Osborne." the place he was touching began to steam but his victim stoically didn't react, "and that I don't like traitors." he pushed the Purple Man to the floor and walked off to his office. The assorted villains didn't help their comrade up, they simply gawped at what the Hood had just done. Where he had touched the Purple Man's cheek, was a hole cauterized down to the villains skull where a charred finger print was melted into the bone.
Santana's Occult Shop, New York - 23:59PM, 24th August
Satana sat on the stool skimming over the list of ingredients she was waiting for. All were rare and dangerous to obtain but all were necessary to strengthen her mistress when she emerged onto the Earth's surface. Each of the circle had been given a material to gather, only a few had obtained what they were actually after. On the desk was a pint of Lindwyrm Venom and the skull of an ancient Scythian Princess named Magdalene, a good start but there were five more ingredients from the former members of the Seven Pointed Star to obtain. Some like the Mark of Tangaroa and the Colossuss Pin were easy to find but through one thing or another had been destroyed or moved away from the Earth. The other items the tears of Quetzocoatal, the Kepher Amulet and the Ganges Spear were guarded by formidable warriors and would require great skill to obtain.
Fortunately for the circle Satana had found legitimate tears from a black market source and the phial containing them would be arriving in a few days, or they would have been if the Hood hadn't ordered the ship to be turned round. It was for that reason that the figure in the grey hoody and green combats had arrived at her shop. Satana had invited the individual in without her guest saying a word and not accepting the freshly brewed herbal tea that she had created for her visitor.
"So you can get the item I require." Satana asked the figure
"Yes." the figure replied, it's voice masked with an electronic synthesizer. "I already have an acquaintance picking up the tears as we speak."
"And what would I owe you for this job?" Satana asked cautiously.
"My contact, the one picking up your item wants revenge on the Hood. I'm getting him into the city, after Robbins is dead I want the item that connects him to Dormammu." the figure announced, "I know that you have contact with the demon and that he wishes to join the circle in the hope of shelter from the coming storm."
"How did you know that?" Satana asked
"I have my ways, let's just say I have a past connection with Dormammu. All I require is the assistance for a single resurrection spell and then I will give you the hood to do with as you will." the figure announced.
"And who are you resurrecting?" Satana asked, "If this individual is a danger to the mistress plans I can't go foreword with this deal."
"He won't be I'll make sure of it." the individual replied, "You needn't have to know any more until later."
"And you know that if I'm going to have to resurrect somebody that I have to prepare the right ingredients and tributes for the underworld gods. It's your choice tell me now or no deal other people will have access to the items I require." Satana lied. The statement caused the figure to chuckle, a sound distorted by the synthesizer.
"Very well I want my husband back, Dormammu made a deal with him to keep his family safe at the price of our love but because of his death the deal was broken and now I remember everything. In the spirit of the deal he made I'm willing to do anything to get him back." the figure announced, "Here's my card, I'll give you some time to consider my offer, but be warned my contact is coming and as soon as the Hood is dead the window closes."
"I'll discuss this with the other members of the circle." Satana announced, her contact bowed its head and vanished in a flash of light, "Actors." Satana spat, "Always so damm theatrical." she added as she dipped her finger in the Lyndwyrm Venom and stirred it causing the purple fluid to glow lighter then the candles.