EXCEPTIONALS
Story Arc #1
"Exposure"
(A Civil War Tie-In)
Part 2 of 4
written by
Ken Lehman
ISSUE #2
NOTE: The following issue takes place during Civil War #3 and Civil War #4.
Flashback: EXT. WASHINGTON, D.C. - NIGHT
In front of dozens of REPORTERS and CAMERAS with his mask off, PETER PARKER (a.k.a. SPIDER-MAN) has revealed his secret identity to the entire world, on live television.
CRYOS (VO)
After reading Fury's file on Spider-Man, I wouldn't think the web-head would do something like this…
SPIDER-MAN
My name is Peter Parker, and I've been Spider-Man since I was fifteen years old.
CRYOS (VO)
Now with him being up Stark's $$, and me being one of Cap's Secret Avengers, we're most likely going to fight soon.
Flashback: EXT. NEW YORK CITY - NIGHT
The SECRET AVENGERS (Captain America, Falcon, Daredevil, Cryos, Essence, and Requiem) battle the SINISTER SIX (Doc Ock, Lizard, Shocker, Vulture, Trapster, and Grim Reaper).
CRYOS (VO)
It's a shame because I'm used to fighting the bad guys like the Sinister Six here.
Falcon pounds on Lizard while Daredevil pounds on Shocker.
Captain America's shield hits Doctor Octopus.
CRYOS (VO)
Doctor Octopus thought he could take advantage of the Civil War by reforming the team to kill Spidey.
With her KATANA, Essence easily defeats Trapster.
Requiem whips Grim Reaper around with several unleashed CHAINS from her supernatural armor.
Cryos unleashes a COLD SNAP on Vulture, making the flying villain flightless.
CRYOS (VO)
We made sure that didn't happen.
Flashback: INT. SECRET AVENGERS HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT
All the Secret Avengers sit around the table, where Captain America shows everyone the front page of a newspaper saying "TONY STARK PROMISES TO TACKLE SUPER-REBELS".
CRYOS (VO)
But we were still wanted renegades.
Flashback: EXT. COMMISSION ON SUPERHUMAN ACTIVITIES - NIGHT
An invisible Stealth watches Maria Hill, Iron Man, and BARON HELMUT ZEMO stare at something.
CRYOS (VO)
Recently, Stealth did some covert recon on the Pro-registration Movement.
That something reveals to be Hill's entire squad of the Exceptionals' supervillains in the Thunderbolts Army.
So staring back are the members we've seen-JASON DEL TORO, WILDFIRE, ECSTASY, MIRROR, and SMOKE-and the members we've not seen-TERRAIN (think Adam Scott), RAPID (think Wilmer Valderrama), BRUTALITY (think Kevin Durand as a young Italian mobster who is built like the Hulk), REVENANT (think Chris Owen as a demon with black hair and red eyes), FLOOD (think Adam LaVorgna as a vampire), and MALWARE (think a very thin, male, cybernetic psycho-killer with a rat-like face, early twenties, brown hair, and brown eyes). Their names are subtitled accordingly.
CRYOS (VO)
Turns out they've recruited our supervillains to join their side.
Hill shows the villains an item: the Exceptionals' disk.
CRYOS (VO)
But that was the least of our problems…
Present: INT. ABANDON APARTMENT, MANHATTAN - DAY
While drinking and eating, the Exceptionals stakeout Captain America, Hercules, Daredevil, and Goliath (who are disguised in a diner) from across the street.
STEALTH
Jason Del Toro was the one who exposed us to Hill.
The others look at Stealth speechless.
STEALTH
He gave her a disk, which he claims contains all of Fury's data on us.
PARAGON
That information is inaccessible to computer hackers. So, if anything, that disk has falsified accounts.
STEALTH
True, but whatever is on that disk, it was credible enough to get us exposed.
PARAGON
Then we need to find out what is really on that disk and what Del Toro's grudge is with us.
A sad revelation falls upon Bruiser.
BRUISER
It's because of me.
The others curiously look at Bruiser.
REQUIEM
What are you talking about, big guy?
Flashback images of what Bruiser says are shown behind him.
BRUISER
Any guy who was around J.D.'s girlfriend Lauren was considered a threat, even me-an old friend.
Flashback images of what Bruiser says are shown behind him.
BRUISER
But instead of confronting whatever guy, he would takeout his aggression out on her.
Flashback images of what Bruiser says are shown behind him.
BRUISER
Once I found out, I took immediate action.
The others are taking this all in.
BRUISER
Now he's gone to extreme lengths in retaliation.
Bruiser looks ashamed.
BRUISER
It's my fault that we're exposed.
PARAGON
No, it's not, son. You didn't do anything wrong.
Bruiser looks somewhat grateful and relieved.
PARAGON
But you should know that Fury never trusted Del Toro, even when he was still your friend and his employee.
The others look skeptical.
PARAGON
So he gathered intel on him and recently gave the intel to Hill on one of his "visits" to S.H.I.E.L.D.
The others are speechless, especially Bruiser.
PARAGON
She hasn't read it yet. Thus, making our mission-
With his superhuman vision, Paragon sees Captain America, Hercules, Daredevil, and Goliath getting up to go.
PARAGON
Time to go, troops. I'll debrief you more on the way.
EXT. GEFFEN-MEYER CHEMICALS - NIGHT
Subtitle: GEFFEN-MEYER CHEMICALS - LATER
The Secret Avengers checkout the scene, especially CABLE.
Split up from the other Secret Avengers, the Exceptionals are elsewhere on the scene but still keep RADIO CONTACT.
The Exceptionals are taken aback by what they're hearing.
CABLE
(over the Exceptionals' comm-links)
Get the hell out of here, boys! It's a trap!
The Exceptionals rush to aid the other Secret Avengers.
IRON MAN
(over the Exceptionals' comm-links)
Of course it's a trap. How else were we going to get you all in one place?
GRAVITON
Those government lapdogs obviously didn't learn their lesson from last time.
JASON DEL TORO (OS)
Oh, but they did learn…
Suddenly, the Exceptionals' supervillains appear, standing in our heroes' way.
JASON DEL TORO
That's why we're here.
INT. S.H.I.E.L.D. HELICARRIER - NIGHT
Subtitle: S.H.I.E.L.D. HELICARRIER
Monitoring the battles from above, MARIA HILL commands not only the airborne S.H.I.E.L.D. agents but also her T-bolts.
MARIA HILL
Maria Hill to the Exceptionals' supervillains: You're there to make sure that they don't regroup with the other anti-registration rebels without killing them.
EXT. GEFFEN-MEYER CHEMICALS - NIGHT
Stopped in their tracks, the Exceptionals glare at their supervillains.
BRUISER
We know that you're the one who exposed us, J.D.
Tight shot of Del Toro's CLAN AKKABA TATTOO on the back of his neck.
BRUISER (OS)
We know how you suddenly became a "mutant."
INT. S.H.I.E.L.D. HELICARRIER - NIGHT
MARIA HILL
What is he talking about?
EXT. GEFFEN-MEYER CHEMICALS - NIGHT
Del Toro's hands transform into metallic talons.
BRUISER
We even know why you betrayed us in the first place.
INT. S.H.I.E.L.D. HELICARRIER - NIGHT
MARIA HILL
Someone get me my Del Toro file now!
S.H.I.E.L.D. agents run all about, looking for the files.
EXT. GEFFEN-MEYER CHEMICALS - NIGHT
Enraged by the revelations, the childish Del Toro yells-
JASON DEL TORO
You stole my girlfriend! You turned her against me!
BRUISER
J.D., how long have you known me?
With a cocky smile and his teammates ready at his side, Bruiser is about to "spark the powder keg."
BRUISER
Y'know I don't do things that provide no challenge.
Del Toro leads the Thunderbolts in a charge, roaring with utter animosity.
JASON DEL TORO
Kill 'em! Kill 'em all!
Although outnumbered, the Exceptionals power-up and boldly counter their rivals' charge.
Both sides clash in ultimate superpowered mayhem.
Wildfire in fiery flight and Cryos quickly creating ice bridges to slide on, unleash fire and ice at each other.
CRYOS
Vanessa is the mother of your daughter, Terry!
WILDFIRE
After what she did to me, she had it coming, Ken!
Graviton deflects the attacks from the twins Smoke and Mirror while the android Stealth battles the vampire Flood.
Essence and Ecstasy clash in a samurai sword fight.
Revenant cunningly watches all the combatants while spawning living metal snake-like entities from his body.
REQUIEM (OS)
This isn't a spectator sport!
Requiem forms long blades from the forearms of her armor and fights the demon.
REQUIEM
Get in the game!
Paragon battles Malware, who shoots energy blasts at him with his reshaped nanotech arms, Terrain, who manipulates the ground below him, and the super-speedster Rapid.
PARAGON
Let's wrap it up, troops!
Crashing through multiple floors, Bruiser battles both his doppelganger Brutality and his former friend Del Toro.
MARIA HILL (VO)
Clan Akkaba?
INT. S.H.I.E.L.D. HELICARRIER - NIGHT
After looking over the file, Hill looks up and says-
MARIA HILL
What the hell is Clan Akkaba?
Suddenly, GENOCIDE (think a 6'2" Michael Rosenbaum with short blonde hair, wearing a less bulky version of Genesis' costume) enters the fray, appearing on all the monitors.
S.H.I.E.L.D. AGENT
Ma'am, we've got a problem.
Hill glares at Genocide on all the monitors.
EXT. GEFFEN-MEYER CHEMICALS – NIGHT
As Bruiser battles Del Toro and Brutality, a beam of energy crashes down and vaporizes Del Toro, which also sends Bruiser and Brutality off the ground and into the air.
Taken aback, everyone looks up to source in the sky.
Up above, Genocide descends from the sky, his hands and eyes radiating energy.
GENOCIDE
I am Genocide, son of Apocalypse.
No longer radiating energy, Genocide lands on the ground.
GENOCIDE
I come because all of you, like me, have been wronged by my treacherous servant Jason Del Toro.
INT. S.H.I.E.L.D. HELICARRIER - NIGHT
All the agents are horrified, except Hill, who remains determined as ever.
GENOCIDE
(on a large monitor)
Although his punishment has been dealt, I feel as if I should make further amends to you.
EXT. GEFFEN-MEYER CHEMICALS – NIGHT
GENOCIDE
In doing so, I declare all of you as potentials for my father's newest cadre of Horsemen.
INT. S.H.I.E.L.D. HELICARRIER - NIGHT
GENOCIDE
(on a large monitor)
But in order to achieve this honor, you must compete.
MARIA HILL
No way in hell I'm allowing that…
EXT. GEFFEN-MEYER CHEMICALS – NIGHT
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning explodes in the background, where the other Secret Avengers are fighting.
Now raining, the Exceptionals and their rivals stop dead in their tracks in confusion while Genocide looks prepared.
GENOCIDE
The weak and corrupt dare to rise up against me!
Suddenly, the powerful Genocide wields the barrage of lightning bolts into his body, absorbing the energy.
GENOCIDE
I shall show them the error of their ways!
INT. S.H.I.E.L.D. HELICARRIER - NIGHT
MARIA HILL
Activate those Thunderbolts' nanochain inhibitors!
EXT. GEFFEN-MEYER CHEMICALS - NIGHT
The Exceptionals' supervillains are severely electrocuted by their nanochain inhibitors.
Afterwards, they hit to the ground steaming.
INT. S.H.I.E.L.D. HELICARRIER - NIGHT
MARIA HILL
Send in the Capekillers to take down the rest!
EXT. GEFFEN-MEYER CHEMICALS – NIGHT
An army of Capekillers surround the lifeless villains while the Exceptionals go back to back, ready to fight.
GENOCIDE
They fear you because you are the strong.
With their laser pointer mounted machine guns aimed, the Capekillers tighten the circle.
GENOCIDE
And in survival of the fittest, only the strong shall survive.
Genocide ENERGY BLASTS the Capekillers into oblivion.
Just as the Exceptionals are about to attack him, Genocide gets away by rocketing into the sky with a trail of energy.
GENOCIDE
This is only the beginning, Exceptionals!
With the unconscious villains lying all around on the ground, the Exceptionals are left speechless until-
HERCULES
(over the Exceptionals' comm-links)
Falcon! See to Captain America! We need to get him out of here!
The Exceptionals rush to aid the other Secret Avengers.
FALCON
(over the Exceptionals' comm-links)
Cable, I need you to interface with Cloak's mind and activate a teleport. Everybody can gather around and hitch a ride back home.
The Exceptionals join the other Secret Avengers in fiercely battling Iron Man's side.
Iron Man's side is surprised by their sudden appearance.
SPIDER-MAN
Who are these guys?
Coming in fast on his ICE BRIDGE, Cryos unleashes COLD BLASTS at an agile Spider-Man, who dodges the blasts.
CRYOS
Guys who are fighting on the right side!
Bruiser CHOKESLAMS both Doc Samson and the Thing.
SHE-HULK
Up for round two, big boy?
Bruiser powerfully CLOTHESLINES She-Hulk.
BRUISER
You bet, gorgeous!
Even with Ms. Marvel putting him in a HEAD-LOCK from behind, Paragon still slams Wonder Man into the ground.
MS. MARVEL
Don't do this, Curtis! Think of your country!
But Paragon does a SUPER JUDO TOSS on Ms. Marvel, which sends her crashing through a concrete wall and metal pipes.
PARAGON
I am, Carol… I am.
In the BACKGROUND, Essence, Graviton, and Stealth battle the Thunderbolts Atlas, Radioactive Man, and Mach IV.
In the FOREGROUND, Requiem battles a stretching Mr. Fantastic with an array of abilities, i.e. flight, energy blasts, and edged weapons via her supernatural armor.
MR. FANTASTIC
I read about your armor. It's remarkable.
Requiem powerfully punches Mr. Fantastic into the ground.
REQUIEM
You should see it up close then.
Suddenly, all the fighting stops as the Thor clone unleashes a lightning bolt into Goliath's chest, which shoots out his back, killing the towering hero.
Speechless, the Exceptionals and the other Secret Avengers watch in horror their giant teammate fall backwards, chest cavity smoking from the blast.
DAGGER
(over the Exceptionals' comm-links)
My God! Thor just killed Goliath!
FALCON
(over the Exceptionals' comm-links)
Fall back and regroup! We've got to get out of here or we're all going down!
As all the Secret Avengers regroup and are about to retreat, "Thor" unleashes another lightning bolt.
CRYOS (VO)
War is hell, regardless of what you're fighting for. If anyone tells you differently, they're nuts.
Although Graviton could have created a gravity shield by now, he's scarred.
CRYOS (VO)
One of ours just died and it seems we were next. Even the bravest of us get scared.
Suddenly, Invisible Woman protects the Secret Avengers with an INVISIBLE SHIELD she created and is still holding.
CRYOS (VO)
But here we are, still alive by the grace of God, retreating.
As the other Secret Avengers look at Susan with stunned gratitude, Cryos sadly looks at a brutally beaten Cap.
CRYOS (VO)
You think things would end here.
Cable interfaces with Cloak's mind and activates a teleport, which has all the Secret Avengers return home.
CRYOS (VO)
But they don't.
INT. SECRET AVENGERS HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT
Subtitle: SECRET AVENGERS HEADQUARTERS – LATER
All the Secret Avengers, especially Captain America, are getting medical attention by the medical staff.
CRYOS (VO)
Because our fallen and captured remain behind.
Cable, Stature, and Nighthawk leave the Secret Avengers.
CRYOS (VO)
So the war continues.
Cryos silently looks upon a bandaged Captain America.
CAPTAIN AMERICA
Let them go if their freedom means so little to them. It's time we ditched this base anyway.
Captain America tiredly looks at Cryos watching him.
CAPTAIN AMERICA
Ken? What kept you and the other Exceptionals?
CRYOS
Nine of our supervillains, Cap.
CAPTAIN AMERICA
Oh my God.
CRYOS
It seems that Director Hill had assembled a regular who's who of our rogues gallery to take us down.
CAPTAIN AMERICA
I should've known she would stoop that low.
CRYOS
But there were also two who were-
CAPTAIN AMERICA
Former friends?
With a sigh, Cryos tiredly looks at Cap as if to say "yes".
INT. CRIMINAL REHAB UNIT, C.S.A. – NIGHT
Subtitle: C.S.A. CRIMINAL REHAB UNIT.
Wearing POWER NULLIFIERS, Wildfire, Ecstasy, Mirror, Smoke, Terrain, Rapid, Brutality, Revenant, Flood, and Malware are being escorted by armed Capekillers led by DAN SULLIVAN (think John Belushi as a 6'3" tall soldier with a shaved head and hazel blue eyes).
WILDFIRE
#$%in' restraints? I'm a licensed superhero, Sullivan! I registered! What the #$%?
Agent Sullivan walks forward, not looking at anyone, just directly looking forward.
DAN SULLIVAN
After you and your teammates here disobeyed orders and tried to kill your assigned targets, your license was immediately revoked.
While in their modified cells, the Capekillers deactivate and take off the power nullifiers of Terrain, Mirror, Smoke, Rapid, Brutality, Revenant, Flood, and Malware.
DAN SULLIVAN
Besides, you were never trusted in the first place, hence the background checks, secret injections of microscopic nanobots, and "shock therapy" you got.
After the Capekillers leave those villains' cells and activate the cells' force field, the escort keeps moving until Wildfire and Ecstasy enter their cells.
DAN SULLIVAN
You're officially a federal criminal now, hothead.
While in their modified cells, the Capekillers deactivate and take off Wildfire and Ecstasy's power nullifiers.
DAN SULLIVAN
But this doesn't mean that your services are no longer required for the final battle.
After the Capekillers activate the force fields, Wildfire is left to brood in his modified cell.
TO BE CONTINUED