The Ultimates In…
ULTIMATE H.Y.D.R.A
Chapter 5: Triskelion Under Attack
In the Ultimates' common room, the team sat in a somewhat depressed mood. Cap was silently reading a passage from the bible, while Jan just sat beside him, also in total silence. Tony was slumped lazily in an armchair, drinking from a glass of martini, while clutching his third bottle close to his chest, frowning sadly.
"Where have Wanda and Pietro got to?" Asked Stark finally, draining his glass and refilling it generously, while splashing his tie.
"Wanda went out for a walk, but she was on her own," Muttered Janet, "Quicksilver left this morning without any explanation."
"Ah…" Tony sighed, "That's odd. Those two are so attached…"
"Too attached, if you ask me, Stark," Sighed Cap, closing his bible. He had strong Catholic views on many things, and sodomy was most certainly one of them.
"Now, now, cap," Tony winked at him boyishly, "It's the twentieth century, old boy. Be liberal and all that…"
"Hm," Steve wasn't in the mood for talking. He rarely spoke anyone, short of his old friend James Buchanan 'Bucky' Barnes and Gail, Bucky's wife and Steve's fiancée before he was almost killed and left frozen, in suspended animation, in the sea off Iceland for nearly sixty years. To them… and when he was in the heat of battle, when his fury was directed in the form of resilience, strength and great speeches, lines that had passed almost into legend. There had been a talk by the Pope after the Chitauri invasion discussing bravery and quoting the now infamous line. Surrender? SURRENDER? You think this letter on my head stands for France!?
Of course, that had led to many complaints, especially from the French, but few would dare challenge the man himself. Despite his dated views, despite his lack of polite correctness, despite the fact that he was the most dangerous man in America (according to a poll the previous year by Wizard magazine), despite all this, Captain America was still the idol of millions. He was the symbol of hope, truth, justice, honour, liberty and heroism, and no one could hold a gaze against the man, especially now. Now he was so distant… since Janet had chosen to leave him, despite their success against the Liberators. That was six months ago, and Cap was still in the same poor mood.
Suddenly, alarms screeched a warning across the Triskelion. The headquarters was under attack. Steve was in his feet in seconds, ripping his shirt open in a moment worthy of any Superman film. He shed his outer clothes rapidly, revealing the armoured costume of Captain America, and he slipped on his helmet, which sat on the arm of the chair, alongside his shield.
Moments later, the team were Captain America, the Wasp and Iron Man, racing towards the source of the chaos: the holding bay, a prison detaining many villains, including the mutants Forge, Mystique and Blob and other genetically enhanced 'super-villains', such as Norman Osborne, the Green Goblin; Flint Marko, the Sandman; Doctor Otto Octavius, alias Doctor Octopus; Edward Brock, Junior- the host of The Suit, which formed the cannibal monster Venom… and now, of course, Clint Barton; Hawkeye.
Nick ran in with Danny Samson, backed by two squads of agents.
"What's the status, Nick?" Barked Cap.
"Intruders, Steve," Replied Fury, "Lots of the fuckers... in the ventilation system!"
A vent cover crashed to the ground. Cao spun around, shield raised. A cat dropped from the air vent.
"What the Hell…?" He gasped. More and more of the creatures wandered through and plunged from the vent.
"Diversion!" Shouted Fury. Every high tech cell door slid up, "Dammit! They're in the control room!"
Inmates poured out, swarming the Ultimates and S.H.I.E.L.D agents, despite their power inhibiting collars. Benjamin 'Bullseye' Pondexter was one of the greatest dangers, a lethal shot with anything, on the level of Hawkeye- or so some said. Along with Pondexter were all the baseline humans who had never used any kind of 'upgrade' and were merely terrible threats in their own rights: Elektra Natchios, Natasha Romanov- the treacherous former Ultimate Black Widow and various others.
Cap was battling furiously, back to back with Iron Man, while Wasp flew rapidly, zapping criminals with her 'sting'. Steve punched Pondexter across the face and the criminal fell, only to spit his tooth with pinpoint accuracy, knocking Janet to the ground. She lay, helpless, an inch in height, as feet crashed down around her, bodies falling too.
The captain was bellowing for her. Bullets were flying. The Ultimates were losing! Cap felt a tooth, spat deep into his leg from the unnatural form of Pondexter and fell. He was struck down… down… and Pondexter was gone. Iron Man suddenly erupted into fury, blasting enemies aside. And then inhibitor collars shut down… and Venom rose. The metahumans were at full force and they smashed into Iron Man 6.5.
And then it all ended. Suddenly, the Scarlet Witch stood before them, eyes closed with the strain as the roof erupted. She had done it again. Thor had returned!
TO BE CONTINUED!