After Pietro and Wanda's chapter, this chapter emotionally does nothing for me. Mack's still awesome though.
Later, at Magneto's palace, Hunter, Cyclops, and Venom were all seated or kneeling while Magneto paced in front of them. "Callisto? And the Earthrealmers?" Magneto asked. "She stole the amulet. Then helped them escape." Hunter said. "Betrayed us to the Thunder Goddess." Venom hissed. Magneto shook his head in disappointment, "You wound me Callisto." He said. He then turned to his lieutenants. "Prepare the legions. We go to Earthrealm. We will wrest back the amulet from that devil Storm." Magneto declared.
Back at the Kutan Jungle, Team SHIELD were resting while Pietro and Wanda spoke to Bucky through their communicator. "We're all in one piece. No one seems to be tailing us." Wanda said. "Have you been able to determine where Callisto is heading?" Bucky asked. "We think she's headed for the Sea of Blood." Pietro answered. Just then, another voice was heard over the communicator, "Damn." Mack swore.
"Dad?" Bobbi asked in shock. "She's coming here. To Strucker. There's a secret portal near the Sea of Blood. Strucker built it when we were getting ready to invade the Outworld." Mack said. "Great." James muttered sarcastically. "Dad, what are you doing? Why are you in the Netherrealm?" Bobbi asked. In the Netherrealm, Mack was walking along the Krossroads with Bucky, a team of SHIELD soldiers with him. "Well now who's being overprotective." Mack asked.
"I know you think you have things to make up for but-" Bobbi began. "I'm doing this for Natasha. She's family." Mack interrupted. "That's why I'm worried." Bobbi replied. "I'll be fine. You stay safe y'here?" Mack said. "You stay safe too." Bobbi replied, "I love you. Mackenzie out." "I love you too." Mack replied before hanging up. "Feeling better? Or worse?" Bucky asked. "Not sure. Maybe both." Mack admitted. Bucky chuckled and placed his hand on Mack's shoulder. "They'll be fine." Bucky said. "Question is, will I be." Mack replied.
They walked over to the Krossroads Bridge, several soldiers having already taken up their positions. "We have crossfire position. But why is it that Strucker travels by conventional means." Bucky mused. They walked over to another person, one of Netherrealm's known denizens for their answer.
"He seems unable to fully use his magic. He's weaker than when I was...in his service." Skye said. "Skye's dead on. He doesn't have Apocalypse's amulet. He's still Strucker though." Mack said. Bucky nodded at this and they took cover behind some rocks. "I know you agreed to come and watch. But feel free to fill any role you wish." Bucky said. "I'm too rusty. Don't want to jeopardize the mission." Mack replied. Skye peered out from their hiding spot, "He approaches." Soon, Strucker and his army of revenants approached on their hellhorses. Bucky waited a few moments before giving his order, "Now!" The soldiers began to fire at the mounts, spooking them. One of the bullets hit Coulson's mount and sent him bucking off. Seeing this, Kara and Jamie both jumped off their mounts and took cover.
Mack saw this and looked concerned as Kara sent off a blast of her purple magic. It hit a solider near Mack and the soldier collapsed, unconscious or dead. Meanwhile, Joey shot another soldier in the head from atop his mount. A bullet fired from another solider hit Strucker's mount and it dropped dead, falling onto Strucker. Piotr leapt off his mount to help his master as Stark pulled out his hookswords and began to attack the soldiers as they fired at his mount.
Bucky came out to help and Mack realized the skirmish would end badly. "S***..." He muttered. As Stark sliced the head off another soldier, Bucky pulled out Sento and barked out a challenge in Japanese while telekinetically pushing Stark off his mount. As Bucky rushed to fight Stark, Piotr was finally able to free his master from under his mount and spun to face the soldiers. Piotr shot fireballs at them, roasting them and killing them instantly.
With the way cleared, Piotr began to pull Strucker off with Coulson covering them. As they passed where Mack was hiding, he realized he was the only one able to do anything. Mack began to approach them when Coulson turned around. "Do not interfere Alphonso Mackenzke. Go back into hiding." Coulson commanded. "Hiding. I guess I have been." Mack mused. They fought. And though Coulson is powerful, Mack's strength and cybernetic enhancements prove to be the turning point as he won.
"That knocked some of my rust off." Mack breathed. On the other side of the Krossroads, Strucker and Piotr had taken cover behind some rocks. More SHIELD soldiers fired at them, only to be killed by Piotr's fireballs. With the path clear, Piotr motioned to his master and they made a break for it. Meanwhile, Mack picked up and assault rifle and began to fire, only to be knocked back by Kara. Mack fell towards the bridge and grabbed on just before he fell off. Kara walked towards him, grinning with glee.
Kara stomped down on his hand, trying to make him let go. Mack held on, though his fingers were straining from the action. Kara goes to stomp again when Mack grabbed her ankle, forcing her off the bridge with him. Kara instantly whipped her hair out and around a rock, keeping them from falling. Mack held on tightly to Kara, not letting go and not letting her kick him off. Kara had no choice to pull them up into the bridge, and when they were both there, they faced each other. Mack took up a fighting stance while Kara opened her arms as if to hug her. "Welcome home Alphonso Mackenzie." Kara said warmly.
"This hell is not my home." Mack spat. "Then why be foolish enough to return?" Kara questioned. "I got a family to protect." Mack replied. "Strucker reunited me with my family. He will do the same to you." Kara said as they began to fight. Although Kara was once powerful, whatever power she had was gone and Mack was shortly able to defeat her. "Strucker's not gonna be helping you." He said. Meanwhile, Bucky was still fighting against Stark while Skye fought against Jamie.
Skye threw a few punches as Jamie blocked them with her fans. "It is possible to escape Strucker, Jamie. Let me aid you like Simmons aided me." Skye said. "You became too familiar with Simmons. Allowed emotion to corrupt you." Jamie replied. "Emotion freed me!" Skye shouted. Skye then punched Jamie in the face and the two began to exchange blows. In the end, Jamie kicked Skye in the chest, knocking her down and out. Jamie stood over Skye as Mack approached. "I don't get it Jamie. I hate what I did, but it seems you enjoy being a revenant." He said.
"It suits me. I am a victim no longer." Jamie replied. She charged at Mack and jumped over him but Mack spun around and decked her with a right hook. "Yeah. I know what you mean. But this ain't the way to assert yourself." Mack said as the two began to fight. The fight was long and hard, but Mack is able to pull off a win and leave Jamie in the same condition as Coulson and Kara. "I gotta believe there is still hope for ya." Mack said sadly.
Mack then turned around to assess the damage. Many soldiers were dead or dying, Bucky was crouched by a rock with Skye near him. "Mother o'God." Mack breathed. "We lost many. The rest are wounded." Bucky said. "And our 'friends'?" Mack asked. "The tides turned against them. They fled." Skye answered. "How you two doin'?" Mack asked. "I'm fine." Bucky said before staggering back from a gaping hole in his leg. "Thought as much." Mack muttered, half to himself.
Mack turned back towards the Krossroads. "What are you doing?" Skye asked. "I'm going to bag be a sorcerer." Mack replied. "Alone?" Bucky questioned. "You'll be killed!" Skye exclaimed. "Wont be the first time." Mack quipped. Mack walked down the bridge and headed off.
Meanwhile, in Strucker's fortress, he was sitting on his throne with Piotr looking over him. "In your weakened state, are you sure it is possible to unleash Apocalypse?" Piotr asked. "I am more than capable!" Strucker snapped. "And Callisto? Are you sure she is capable?" Piotr questioned. "She WILL bring the amulet to me!" Strucker said. "And I'll be waiting for her." Mack said. Piotr quickly turned to look at the new arrival. "Alphonso Mackenize. A pleasant surprise." Strucker said. "Nothin' pleasant about it." Mack replied. Mack approached and Piotr slid into his fighting stance. "So you return to Storm. The fools follow fools." Piotr said as he threw a fireball. Mack sidestepped the fireball, "Storm did her best. She saved Earthrealm!""SHE KILLED ME!" Piotr yelled as he threw another fireball. Mack dodged it again. "That isn't true." He said. "You were not there! SHE STOLE EVERYTHING FROM ME!" Piotr threw another fireball. Mack didn't bother to dodge it, just battered it away with one of his mechanical hands.
Mack had now reached Piotr and Strucker. "You do not deserve to rejoin us." Piotr spat. Mack chuckled as Piotr threw two more fireballs, both battered down. "Instead you will learn...there are worse things than death." Piotr said. They began to fight. The fight proved to be one of the hardest Mack has ever faced. The skill, strength, and stamina of the former champion proved to be quite a challenge for Mack, but his own determination allowed him to pull away with a narrow win. "I wish I could help you, Piotr Rasputin." Mack said sadly. With no more bodies to help him, Strucker rose as Mack approached him.
"Mack. There is no need for hosti-" Strucker began to say before Mack spoke. "Just shut up." He said and uppercut Strucker, knocking him out. "S'good to be back." Mack muttered as he turned on his communicator. "Bucky. I got him." Mack said into the communicator. "Excellent work." Bucky congratulated. "I'm going to stay here. Callisto's on her way. You need to get Strucker to Natsha, she'll make him spill his guts." Mack said.
Insert goodbye here.
