Chapter 7
Smoke and Cracked Mirrors
The three members of the Night Brigade had gotten back. Having to lay low and not wanting to put up with Elsa's nagging, all three decided to part on their own terms. Clint and Maarku decided to go to the break room, need to burn off their frustrations. They decided on ping pong, and Clint wanted a rematch with the muscular Hawaiian.
It was an intense match between Clint and Maarku in the break room, the two looking fiercely at each other. Clint let out a 'battle-like cry' raising his fist. Although that fist became open as a ball was tossed in mid-air. Using the paddle in his hand, he hit it on Maarku's side.
Maarku just smirked, yelling as he used his own paddle to hit the ball fast. "You can't beat me kid." He said, watching the small white ball fly past the silver-haired zoanthrope. "I'm the undefeated king of ping pong."
Clint growled in frustration, his temper starting to show. Yes, he and his partner were playing a game of ping pong. It wasn't serious, but the forty-five year old male sure loved to rub it in. "I can never beat you in ping pong. Why is that again?"
Maarku watched Clint pick up the ball again, hitting it to his side and countered it. "Back when I was a child, my older brother and I used to play it. Our dad taught us how to play, and we became naturals at it. Of course, I was the better player but that didn't damper my love for the sport."
Obviously not showing the slightest bit of interest, Clint didn't care. However, it was interesting to see Maarku opening up to him. Maybe it was something where they could find common ground in. "I know you hate humans, but do you hate your family?" He asked, counting the ball.
Maarku was surprised by that question, hitting the ball hard. A sensitive nerve hit him that his partner would ask such a thing. "They are human, but I do not hate them. I may have reasons to hate the species itself, but if anything I want my family to remain unharmed."
Clint was caught off guard by Maarku's sensitive spot, countering the ball back and sighed with relief. "Look, I get now you love your… family. Yet what if they found out you were alive, what they think, or if you were to die that you'd never get to see them again."
"That'll never happen." Maarku said firmly, countering the ball and sent it flying past Clint. "When I first joined the Tylon Corporation, I asked them to erase everything about me and fake my own death."
Clint remained unfazed by the ball flying past him, his lavender eyes on the older male. "What if we're being played by Slade? We're both killers to the core, and he doesn't trust us. Obviously he wants to snuff us out the first chance he gets when he discovers we used to be part of the Tylon Corporation."
Maarku let a confident smile plaster onto his lips, running a hand through his dark hair. "Sure, like the rich brat has a chance to go up against us." He said, his eyes moving to the spider zoanthrope. "What about you and Cathy? Would she accept you?"
Clint showed a dark scowl at that question, glaring daggers at the male. Walking up close to him, he brought his gun out and brought it to his chin. "Ever say her name again… I'll blow your brains out." His words covered in icy venom, remembering the exact words of her disgust towards him.
Maarku could feel the cool metal pressed against his chin, still smiling at the young male. Seeing him pull the weapon away, he watched him leave. Once his young partner was out of ear range, he let a dark chuckle escape. Walking over to where the ball was, he looked at it and his large hand covered it. "And that's why I always win." He said, crushing the ball with his immense strength. "Because I get inside my opponent's head and see what makes them tick.
"This is your beloved leader Slade speaking, and I have an important message for you all. Since you're all a bounce of loose wild cards, I've decided to end your pathetic lives by setting the base to self-destruct. Good luck finding the nearest exist, and have a nice day!"
Hearing the blaring sirens, the room started to flash red. The large Hawaiian's eyes widened, gritting his teeth in anger. "I guess the stupid spider was right." He muttered under his breathe, immediately leaving the room. The others could get out on their own, and he was about to make sure he didn't go down with the ship.
…
Obadiah was by himself within his main base of operations, his laboratory. He was working on another project of his. It appeared to be a robot, being modeled after Bakuryu. Remembering the enhancements the old ninja put himself through, his body could not take it. While he didn't care for the mole zoanthrope's arrogant ambitions, he saw an excellent asset to his army of assassins.
Staying in his lab helped him be isolated by the noise. He enjoyed his solitude, being able to concentrate on his various projects. Wearing a metal mask, he took one the tools from the side of his table. Sparks started to spray out from the device he was using, making sure the gears in his creation were properly connected.
Pulling himself away from his work, he walked into another room and called the door. As he took off the mask, he took a recorder from the table. "Attempt number thirty-two." He said, pressing some buttons and activated the machine. "Outside of the interest of zoanthropes, I make attempts to study other fields as well. Cybernetics is a unique form, building a machine with intelligence."
As he continued to watch the machine walk, he showed a satisfied smirk. "I've only programmed the robot I am working on with basic commands. The current lesson is walking. Similar to an infant, the parents teach the baby how to walk, crawl, and various activities for them to learn and adapt. The machine I have built, I am getting the basics down so that it may one move freely on it's on free will. For now, it must be able to take in small commands before advancing to the next phases."
Pressing the button again, he stopped the red robot. Ending his recording session, he walked out of the other room and looked at his creation with pride. Pressing his finger to his ear piece, Obadiah contacted his team of scientists from the outside world. "This is Obadiah Tylon. Have a team work on my prototype to the YUN CHI Manufacturing INC. I am sending you the data immediately."
"Yes sir, we should have a team assembled ready to work on the project." The head scientist spoke up. "We've also started to create the battle data based on Bakuryu's style of Ninjitsu and the goo from his original body."
"Excellent, I want you to take over and finish my battle robot for me." Obadiah instructed, hearing a long period of silence.
"May I ask why Mr. Tylon? You usually want to finish something and Project: Iron Mole has been your very own pet project since the fall of your base."
Obadiah let a low growl escape, remembering what happened to his main headquarters. The lion zoanthrope and his friends would pay for what they did that day. "That's none of your concern." He said in an angry tone, pounding his fist onto the metal table. Looking at the dent he made, he smirked and shifted his mindset elsewhere.
Upon hearing the sirens blaze, he smirked and pressed a button on his computer. He had just sent the data to his team of scientists, before smashing his computer. Finally, he started to set his lab on fire. Walking over to a panel, he placed his hand on it and the walls opened to show a hidden elevator, stepping into it. It was only a matter of time before Busuzima showed his true colors, and he had planned this event for such an occasion. The Night Brigade had outlived their usefulness, and it was time to tie up loose ends. His intuition told him Gado was in New York, and he looked forward to settling the score.
Thinking back to a time before he was the industrial captain of his own company, he was a mere boy who grew up on the streets of Harlem, New York. In the streets, he knew the only way to not show weakness was to fight back. In some twisted way, he liked getting into fights but always got scolded by his parents for getting into trouble.
In order to make himself better, he went to the gym for physical fitness in order to maintain any athletic prowess. While physical strength through offense and defense was important, he needed to be mentally sharp as well. Putting himself through school, he studied hard and got good grades. Knowledge was power, if one had a plan to use that information. To further expand his power, he joined a gang and quickly rose up in the ranks. He soon became a leader, having overthrown the previous one and claimed dominance. Some gangs were looking to take him down, but they soon fell and the spoils went to the victor.
After graduating high school, he joined the army at the age of eighteen. From there he met people such as Alan Gado, Yuji Ohgami, and Maarku Krueger. While he was a rookie, he showed ample knowledge of physical combat, firearms, and planning out strategies on how to defeat enemy nations. During his six months on his tour, he noticed the twenty-eight year old Gado transform into a lion zoanthrope. He was captivated by that power, seeing the veteran mercenary plow through enemy lines without breaking a sweat.
A year later his unit was stationed in England, he had met a British nineteen-year old woman named Jenny Burtory. While he wasn't smitten by her, he admired the blonde-haired student's intellect. Taking her out and allowing her to meet his comrade-in-arms. Noticing that she and Gado were smitten by each other, he did not stop them. It was from there the two were in a relationship, and out of that a baby girl was born into the form of Jane Gado. Unfortunately that happiness was short lived as Jenny couldn't let her parents know she gave birth to a baby and Gado was about to leave England. Overhearing him to offer to take the baby, he had followed the blonde man to a hidden village. That village was one of the places Obadiah and his friends had stayed in one of their travels. He knew where the location of where Jane was, and he saw the potential of a young girl he could control.
Soon another year passed, as Obadiah became obsessed with the power of zoanthropes. He had asked Gado about it, but the man was withdrawn about wanting to share that knowledge. The twenty-year old mercenary was determined to get him to open up, only getting an answer that power corrupts people and to walk away from the path he was on. Obadiah became bitter at those words, and decided to convince others to join him in his cause for the zoanthrope power.
Obadiah caused a ruckus, along with the others who pretended they were under fire. The prodigal soldier and his followers were determined to go AWOL and head back to the United States. However, he had ditched them and escaped his military duties. Going so far as to lay low, he decided to attend college. During those four years, he finally earned a business degree. Using the money he had earned, he started the Tylon Corporation at the age of twenty-four.
As four years passed, Obadiah's company became a booming success world wide. However, there were rumors of his dirty deals with shady people. Knowing he would be brought in for abandoning his comrade-in-arms, he had a team of specialists to hack their system and erase everything. Even though people couldn't pin anything on him with evidence, the powerful businessman could not be touched. He continued to have a secret team of scientists research the history of zoanthropes, and he had people kidnapped so they he could see what triggered the transformation itself. Having kidnapped Jenny by his former comrade-in-arms, Maarku Krueger, he experimented on her and wondered if she had the ability to turn into one. Through a freak accident, her ability to age was halted and this instantly caught the twenty-eight year old Obadiah's attention. Even though it cost Jenny her humanity, she would never grow old.
He wanted to replicate the process, but Jenny escaped. However, he was able to retain that data and had a team of scientists ready for a special project. Thinking it was time to gain the power of a zoanthrope, his body was pumped full of chemicals and the procedure artificially enhanced his body. Becoming a creature of unknown species, he was labeled as a 'gargoyle'. Finding the name suitable, he accepted it because the appearance and strength gave him power.
Then he remembered Jane, and figured she'd be an interesting specimen to study. Giving orders to Maarku to attack the village, the Hawaiian soldier led a unit to find the child and killed anyone who stood in their way. Gado was able to save the last remaining survivor before Maarku and his unit escaped. Being thwarted again, this annoyed Obadiah. Maarku's status as an undercover agent needed to be maintained no matter what the cost.
As another four years passed, Obadiah had listened to Maarku's progress reports on Shina. Instantly becoming how capable she was to wield a weapon and show the capacity to wipe out a single platoon, he ordered his top soldier to kidnap her. However, Gado was in the way again and battled Maarku in a bloody death match. Once again, the veteran mercenary got in his way of obtaining the ultimate soldier. One of his old business associates, Jason Atlas, discovered Obadiah's plan to create brainwashed beast soldiers and sell them to military nations. The malicious businessman had tricked Jason into taking out a loan, and used that money to buy off the technology Jason had. Thus his corporations' and his own needs for the cybernetics were finally his and Atlas International was looking to go into bankruptcy. He ordered his company to have Clint and Maarku rig the car with an explosive, with both Jason and his wife were killed in a car accident. Then Yuji's combat unit stumbled upon his secret as well, having Maarku and Clint bring him to a private location. He dealt with the man himself, using his 'gargoyle' form to crush the man without any effort.
Soon a year passed, as one of his elite-assassins named Fox kidnapped a nine-year old girl named Uriko Nonomura. She was put through vigorous experiments by his top scientist, Hajime Busuzima, and had turned into a humanoid woman. While her power was immense, her true form was that of a were-chimera and held even more power. Hearing rumors that Gado was apart of a small group of zoanthropes that rebelled against his organization. They had put a stop to his plans, losing his base of operations in South America and everything about his company was exposed to the world.
The thirty-three year old man evaded the media, police, and the public eye. Forced to fake his death, he took to the streets and was forced to blend in. It infuriated him because everything he had built from the bottom was ruined because of a mercenary and his rag-team team of rebels. Remembering a certain eighteen-year old male owed him a favor, he had dropped in on Slade. Hearing the news of the terrible things he did, Slade was ready to end his life. However, Obadiah blackmailed him and reminding him of his debt to the fallen CEO. Giving Slade a list to eliminate the 'dirty rats' from Tylon, he created a group and used his off-shore accounts to fund the Night Brigade. He wanted to weed out anyone who looked to expose him.
Slade would be the front man, leading a group of zoanthropes that acted as vigilantes. They were to kill every single one of his ex-employees, those that have outlived their usefulness off the map. It was a dirty job, and he could take advantage of Slade's disdain for crime. He had Busuzima be the group's scientist, and gave the operative that were core members zoanthrope forms.
Having operating for three years, Obadiah was forced to stay in a room. He didn't like the idea of being in one place, but he invented gadgets and equipment for the team. Slade would present it to the group, helping them track down and kill the bad guys. Knowing the time for his presence to be shown was coming soon, his gold eyes were filled with fiery rage and determination. It was inevitable that he would face Gado, this time ready to take down the lion zoanthrope.
Soon the elevator reached the top, the doors opened and he stepped out in front of an abandoned shipyard. He was informed that Slade was told by Fox that he had encountered his former friend, and it was only in due time Gado would arrive in New York. Feeling the fresh air brush against his dark skin, he sighed with content. "Ah, it feels good to feel the air again."
…
Elsewhere, Elsa had her back up against the wall. Fox starting to sure his seductive side, placing both hands on the wall. Jade green eyes looking at the twenty-five year old male, she began to sweat and was nervous. She was the Queen of the Streets, fiercely independent and hard-as-nails. Showing signs that her life might end, a large lump into her throat formed and breathed heavy.
His face an inch away from the young Afro-Brazilian's, Fox was determined to get her to break. Hating what he did to Elsa made him feel guilty, but he wanted answers and wanted them now. Seeing the lump in her throat, he leaned forward and licked it playfully. "Tell me, who else is in the group?"
Feeling herself be touched by his tongue, she shuddered under his touch. Slade's suspicion of the British fox was true, that he had some secret agenda. "I don't like where this is going."
"I'll stop if you give me answers." Fox said, using a sing-song voice. Pressing his slender-athletic frame into Elsa's voluptuous physique, he started rubbing against her. He couldn't help himself, teasing the young girl was amusing but in a playful torturous way.
Gaining some leverage, Elsa kept her serious gaze on Fox. Putting her sharp nails against his abdomen, she looked at him seriously. "Keep this up, and I'll gut you."
Seeing the seriousness in her expression, he dropped the flirting façade. Putting his mouth to her neck again, he opened it and showed his sharp canine teeth. "You don't have the stomach for it. I can see it in your eyes."
Fox was right and she didn't have the guts to kill. All she did was beat the tar out of criminals, and left them there to feel their own pain. Plus her hand was shaky, lowering it to the side of her body. "The operatives are Clint Marcus and Maarku Krueger."
He pulled back and looked at her, remembering those three in the Tylon Corporation. If memory served right, he only saw the older Hawaiian male doing drills with the lower level grunts. Also he remembered Clint all too well, the silver-haired twenty-seven year old back then was a grunt as well who did 'clean-up' jobs.
"… Elsa, you have to leave… Those people you mentioned, they use to be apart of the Tylon Corporation" Fox said, seeing the young woman slum her shoulders.
"I know about the Tylon Corporation all too well." Elsa narrowed her eyes at him, her jade green eyes filled with bitterness. She was taken off the streets of Brazil by people from the corporation, and had taken her when she was fifteen-years old.
Fox placed a hand on her shoulder, looking at her with a serious expression on his face and compassion in his eyes. "Honey, I can tell by your body language you've been hurt."
Elsa looked at him sharply, hissing at him and slowly backed away. "Like you care?! I've gotten a chance to read about you 'Fox', or do you prefer Hans?" She started to talk in an angry tone in her voice. "You're supposed to be this narcissistic psychopath, the most ruthless assassin who doesn't care about anyone but himself! So why take an interest in me? Am I some 'sap' you can easily manipulate like the others?!"
Fox placed both hands on Elsa's shoulders, taking a firm hold of her. "Fine, I'll admit that I did plan on manipulating you." He confessed, his blue eyes meeting the fiery jade ones. "I think when Slade found you, he saw a young girl who he could manipulate and exploit for his own gain. He isn't a 'benevolent man'. He's an amoral sociopath who wants revenge! The people he's having you kill are from Tylon! You're a good kid Elsa, and I think what Slade is selling you is complete bull!"
Elsa grits her teeth, taking Fox's hands and pushed him to the wall. "I don't care!" She yelled, tears in her eyes. The raven-blonde streaked scorpion had known about Obadiah's plan. It was wrong to take out people she hardly knew. How could she turn back and pretend this never happen?! "I can't just 'turn around' like you did. Slade treated me like family the day he found me. My 'family' back where I came from, back in Brazil… They don't care. I wasn't going to let them see me the way I was, this 'freak' that Tylon turned me into. Yet Slade found me, and gave me a fresh start. And I bet you never cared about the 'woman' you killed, the same one Alfred mentioned. You're… half-brother, the one that you were tempted to kill."
Fox remembered that moment where he broke down on the inside, similar to how he killed his mother. However, the frost-haired youth was able to get through to him. "When I killed my mother, I was overcome with guilt." He explained as he closed his eyes, fighting back his tears. "I guess you can say 'Fox' died that night, and Hans was 'reborn' to be given a second chance. When I laid low it wasn't a picnic. I always had to keep my guard up, wondering who to trust or if I'd fit in. Those three years were my own personal hell. Then you and Alfred came along in my lives. When both you presented opportunities to me… I wanted to take my brother's offer, but in order to gain your trust I needed to join Night Brigade so I could figure you guys out."
"What did you figure out?" The Afro-Brazilian asked and she had her fists clenched when she heard Fox spoke about his true intentions.
"That this 'zoanthrope vigilante' operation is just a sham, as you and your 'friends' are blindly following a man who makes false promises." Fox spoke the cold hard facts to Elsa, seeing the tense look in her face. "In the end you'll all be taken down when he shows his true colors; a petty man who wants revenge. Leaving his followers in the dust, and maybe might just kill them to tie up loose ends. The only reason I 'joined' was because something in my mind doesn't want me to see the world suffer from the wrath of justice-obsessed brat."
Elsa's grip on Fox tightened, that tense look on her face was now filled with tears. The fox zoanthrope had spoken the truth, and she almost wanted to believe him. Her heart ached badly, and started to feel her knees go weak. "And you planned on using me? Because of my crush on you, so you could get me to tell you everything and cut the cord when you stopped finding me useful?" She asked. A hint of being hurt in her tone, feeling betrayed all over again. However, she felt two arms wrap around her and felt her cheek pressed to his slim body.
Fox held Elsa tightly, not wanting her to cry. "Listen, I didn't plan on exploiting your crush on me. I already knew you had feelings for me." The older man said, lifting her chin and could feel tears of his own form in his eyes. "For many years I've been alone. Then when you and Alfred came, I wanted to revert back to my old ways to kill you two and keep the life I had so badly."
Elsa looked at Fox, seeing the façade that belonged to the older zoanthrope break piece by piece.
"But I saw in his eyes that he cared about me, and in appearance I smacked that offer away. I felt horrible for what I did." The blonde pretty boy continued on, feeling tears form in his eyes. "And when you kissed me… I never felt anyone feel that way about me. I'll admit, I told myself I never wanted to have relationships because I was afraid of being hurt or harm the people around me. However, I'm tired of missing those chances and taking a dive…"
Feeling her lips being claimed, the scorpion zoanthrope was taken by surprised. She had every urge to push him off of her, but she gave in. Whatever hold Fox had on her, she melted into his kiss and returned it. "When I saw you transform into a fox, you looked beautiful."
Fox gasped lightly, was surprised by the young girl's sudden compliment. He had always considered the canine form he took to be ugly. His blue eyes were staring straight into Elsa's eyes. "What did you say?" He asked, knowing he wasn't deaf but wanting to hear it from her lips.
"Your fox form, it has a form of grace to it and it brings out your own inner beauty." Elsa took both of the older man's hands and held them into her own.
His eyes softened as tears formed, showing a genuine smile and wiped them away. "Thank you and I've never heard anyone say that to me." He said, feeling himself open up for the first time and felt like he started to trust someone other than him.
"I want to make this work between us." Elsa said, not wanting to let go. "It's still new to me, being in a relationship. But I want you to make things right between you and your brother along the way as well."
Elsa knew she'd be taken a huge risk, keeping Fox's secret from everyone. However, the more she thought about it, she wanted to start over. It would mean betraying the Night Brigade, but it was for all a good cause.
Upon hearing the alarms were going off, both of them were shocked by the sound of Slade's voice. Shocked that he would say such things, and that the base would self-destruct didn't give them much time.
Elsa's jade eyes were filled with anger and hurt that Slade would say such things. It was like she couldn't have nice things in her life, and her trust in him was shattered. "Why is he saying these things…? It's like he lost his mind!"
Seeing her eyes well up with tears, Fox figured Slade was a good person deep down. To hear him say he would take them down, those were words to break Elsa's guard down, and now it seemed that it was becoming a reality. Taking her hand, they made a mad dash out of the training room and looked for any escape routes. 'If he's within the area, I'm going to find that jerk and kill him!' He thought with a serious intent on ripping the blonde American to pieces.
…
Busuzima was not just only in his laboratory, but sitting at his desk in front of a computer. Having placed hidden spy cameras all over the Night Brigade's base, New York City, and every where around the world gave him secrets. Juicy secrets with forbidden details, to which he could use, manipulate, and bend to his own will.
'Oh Hansy, you are such a naughty fox. I shall keep your betrayal a secret.' He thought in his mind, his beady eyes shifting over to Jet's apartment. Seeing Slade being there, he snickered in amusement. 'Yet this is my favorite 'soap opera'. Slade is debating whether to join his best friend and those annoying rebels, or continue to stick with my boss' ever oh so 'false promise' of a zoanthrope utopia. I'd say have him join the winning team, as I originally intended, and it seems to be working for the little birdy.'
Hearing the doors to his lab he opened, the chameleon zoanthrope didn't care who saw his secrets. In fact, he would need one of the Night Brigade operatives for his cause. Spinning his chair around, his eyes met the angry look upon Clint's face. "What troubles you Clint?"
"What troubles me? I'll tell you what troubles me! Maarku somehow found out I killed Cathy!" Clint snapped in annoyance, about to rant on about his troubles but noticed the computer screen and what it displayed. "What is that?! And don't play stupid with me!"
Busuzima let a sinister chuckle escape, licking his lips with amusement. "I think it's time I let you in a dark secret." He explained as his eyes focused on the spider zoanthrope. "I'm not loyal to our leader, for I have my own agenda in mind."
Clint dangerously walked over to Busuzima, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and forced him to look at him. "Tell me why I shouldn't report you?" He asked, wanting to have a good reason to cut loose. Ever since he was given that assignment to rough up Stun, his life began to spiral out of control and he wanted any way to make it stop.
"Because I plan on creating my own group… one that involves zoanthrope supremacy." Busuzima explained with pride, going to the keyboard and pressed a key on the pad to show Slade was with Gado and his resistance group. For the first time, Slade felt happy and enjoyed being around the others.
Clint watched the recording, shocked that this whole operation was just a scheme. His face was left dry with shock, similar to how Cathy said those mean words to him.
"I also needed to convince 'Cathy' to break up with you." Busuzima added, seeing the lavender eyes on him. "She's one of my many operatives who act as my eyes and ears, to look upon the outside world while I tinker around the lab with my experiments. Also I showed Maarku a private camera that showed you killing Cathy."
"You're a manipulative coward who is afraid to get his hands dirty." Clint said, putting his hands around the reptilian scientist's neck and began to squeeze the life out of him. "I had something I wanted, something that some people have… Not a 'happy ending', but devotion and compassion. You and your 'science' can take a swan dive off the Brooklyn Bridge and drown for all I care."
The alarms in his lab were flashing red, sirens blazing and the sound of Slade's voice popped up. This left Clint to be unfazed, and Busuzima struggled to get out of the spider's grip. As much as he wanted to play along, he needed to get out.
Busuzima could feel Clint put pressure onto his neck, knowing he'd need a good reason to have the arachnid join his cause. "What if I said my goal for zoanthrope dominance was for real?" He managed to squeak out, seeing the lavender eyes still glare death at him. "Think about it, Slade is going to take us down if he finds out who we truly are. The ship is already starting to show signs of cracks, everyone is making secret allegiances, and before you know it we'll be sinking down the ocean similar to the Titanic… If you join me and Maarku, we won't have to sink in said ship."
Clint loosened his grip, remembering the words Cathy said were still fresh in his mind. "Are you sure about this?
Busuzima felt the strong grip loosened, rubbing his neck. "Yes, I'm for real about. I swear I'll let you commit as many violent acts as you want." He managed to breathe and looked at Clint.
"So if I stick with you… I won't get burnt from our boss' obsession with 'revenge'?" Clint asked.
"You have my word." Busuzima said, glaring slightly at the silver-haired young man and smirked. "Oh, Clint, one more thing," He grabbed the other man by the collar of his shirt. Tossing him to the other side of his lab, his strength was immense.
Clint was surprised by the sudden grab, his back hitting the wall and looked at Busuzima. Watching the scientist transform into a humanoid chameleon up close, it sent shivers down his spine. All those sharp teeth, and those moving eyes made the spider zoanthrope fight for his life.
Busuzima bit down onto Clint's shoulder, causing him to scream. When he decided it was enough, he pulled back and turned back into a human. "If you ever threaten me like that again," He spoke in a deathly serious tone, placing a foot onto the arachnid operative's shoulder. "I promise I will add spiders to my diet." He began to make his point clear, opening his eyes with a crazed predator-like glare and a sadistic grin wide and long.
"Alright, alright, you made your point doc! I'll do whatever you say!" Clint shouted, feeling the pressure on his injured shoulder loosen up. He was shocked at how powerful the green-haired zoanthrope really was. Obviously he and the chameleon zoanthrope were out of Obadiah's league of pure strength, but when pushed came to shove Busuzima showed he had the strength to play dirty. Also, he got to see the mad scientist's eccentric and comical mask slip away, to see the deranged sadistic monster that enjoyed bringing pain to others.
Busuzima used his long tongue to lips the blood off his lips, a satisfied grin on his face. "Now clean yourself up and get out."
Clint scattered out of Busuzima's lab as quickly as he could. Clutching his shoulder, he transformed into his zoanthrope form once outside. Feeling the healing factor kick in, he leaned against the wall. 'I need to get out fast... And when I do, I'm going to eat Slade alive.' He concluded in his mind. All of the things Busuzima said started to sink into his head. If what he said was true, then he needed to be on the right side and that meant siding with a deranged scientist who had the right goals in mind.
When Clint was out of sight, Busuzima made a run for it with a briefcase in his hand. It contained his laptop, blood work, and data he collected would be useful in his upcoming project to create an army of his own. 'It wasn't easy, but mimicking Slade's voice and setting the bomb on a recorded time was worth it.' He thought in his mind, making it to an escape pod. As soon he was in and it took off, he watched the underwater base explode. Breathing a sigh of relief, he leaned back into the seat and cackling with glee like the maniacal genius he was. The pay off was well worth it, and the 'unfortunate death' he had planned was going to bear fruit. Slade's team of operatives would come after him with vengeance and destroy him where he stood.
…
Now this was a very good start of the third arc, focusing on the villains. I had fun opening up people like Fox, Elsa, Clint, Busuzima, and Obadiah. It really shows how far their emotional mask begins to slip, and we get to see the real person behind the façade. ^^