Escape from Stark Tower
"How's Mr. Kung-fu Action grip doing down stairs, JARVIS?" Tony then asks as he and Barton finish playing video games.
"I'm not for sure, Sir." JARVIS replies and Tony is baffled by this.
"Not for sure? JARVIS, you can link into the other floors." Tony then says.
"I've been shut out and can't gain access." JARVIS then replies.
"Oh boy." Tony says as he just stops suddenly and looks to Barton. "Time to suit up and see what's going down, Hawk. Get Cap while you're at it." Tony then says. Barton nods and runs off. Tony does his two handed 'parting' gesture which opens the door to his Iron Man suit depo. He then makes a 'pulling' gesture… and nothing happens… "What the hell?" Tony says perplexed. "JARVIS? Talk to me."
"I'm afraid you're A.I. butler is on lock down, Herr Stark." A new voice says.
"Is that so? And just who the hell are you?" Tony then asks as he stalls for time.
"I am your downfall, Herr Stark… plain and simple… zough your hubris has provided ze foundation and construction of said downfall… I am merely ze straw zat breaks ze camel's back." Zola says coolly and soon the security protocols start activating and small guns appear on the outside of the building. They turn and point inside at Tony as they lock on to him.
"Thanks for the heads up then… Swiss roll. JARVIS, now!" Tony says and the exposed suit breaks into several pieces which fly to Tony and assemble upon him. The faceplate is last and lands on top of the helmet. It slides down and closes revealing the Heads Up Display just in time as the tinking of multiple bullets hitting the suit sounds dully within and Tony feels the various impacts.
"Sorry for the delay, Sir… this hacker keeps trying to break through and take me over but I'm a tough nut to crack." JARVIS says.
"Just how I made you." Tony says. He then notices the grenade launcher. His eyebrows shoot up. "Time to move." Tony says and then Iron Man crouches low. The grenade is launched and races towards him and Iron Man spins to the right in a corkscrew as his thrusters activate and he flips away from the explosive. The blast comes from behind as the bar takes a hit. He then raises his hands and blasts the two guns firing at him in front with well placed repulsor blasts. He then fires several more shots with repulsors to the guns at his sides and his shoulder mini-rockets pop out and zoom after the guns behind him. In seconds the firing stops and all is clear. Iron Man stands up straight and looks around at his damaged living room area.
"Dammit… I just had it all looking so nice too." Tony says as his faceplate goes up and he scowls at the damage. "Good thing Pepper isn't here. She is so gonna kill me when she sees this mess."
"Did you hear that?" Steve says as he stops running and shuts his treadmill off. He then walks around the equipment to stand before Sam who had stopped five minutes ago and is toweling off. His breathing is starting to normalize again.
"Yeah. What was that?" Sam asks as he lowers his towel from his face. He then notices the four guns mounted outside that have turned and are pointed at them. "Look out!" Sam shouts as he pushes Steve down and the guns go off. They hide behind a waist high wall that has dumb bells on the other side which are pinging loudly as the bullets hit. "What is going on?" Sam says puzzled as they are pinned down by the gunfire.
"Something bad." Steve says and looks around. They can't stay where they are… eventually those bullets are going to jeopardize the integrity of this concrete wall and metal weights. He sees a flat weight on the floor from one of the bench presses. "When I say 'run'… dart for the door right there." Steve says and points to the nearby door. Sam nods his head.
"Okay. I'm ready, Cap." Sam then says as he gets into a crouched position. Steve nods at him and picks up the disk shaped weight.
"Go!" Steve shouts as soon as he tosses the weight and the gunfire follows it instead of Sam. Steve then grabs a larger flat weight and holds it like his shield over his back as he too hurries to the door. He gets hit in the right thigh and on his left side as he goes. "Son of a bitch." Steve swears as he drops the weight and ducks behind the hallway wall. The guns stop firing.
"You're hit." Sam says and looks at the wound on Steve's left flank. "It's a graze. You'll live."
"My right thigh took a hit as well. Man, it hurts to get shot." Steve hisses through the pain. "We've got to get upstairs."
"Well, that's easier said than done considering he have to dash across a hundred feet of open glass to get to the elevator and the stairwell." Sam says.
"Don't be a Debbie Downer… we can do it." Steve says then winches as he stands. "I just a need a minute first."
"I think you need five minutes." Sam says and watches the wound on Steve's side slowly close shut. Steve checks his thigh and notices that it is a graze as well and it is on the mend. After about five minutes the wounds are sealed shut and Steve stands.
"You wait here. I'll get Tony and see just what in the hell is going on around here." Steve says and stretches.
"Alright… I'll hangout down here then." Sam says. Steve gets ready to run the curved hallway. He dashes out moving like a blur and the guns are just behind… then arrows whiz out… two on the right and then two more to the left. The mini explosions take out the security guns and Hawkeye stands there casually as Steve slows and comes to a stop next to him.
"Well, this is exciting." Hawkeye says with a smirk as he lowers his bow and looks at Steve. "Seems we've got a hacker problem."
"What?" Steve inquires.
"A hacker… a computer techie who creates programs to manipulate programs to achieve certain results… usually the 'stealing of info' kind." Hawkeye says to explain. Steve rolls his eyes.
"I know what a hacker is… I've read up on them. What I mean is… I thought Tony had safeguards in place to prevent this." Steve then says annoyed. Sam comes running up then.
"Do you know what's going on?" Sam asks Hawkeye.
"Hacker." Hawkeye answers then the three make for the stairwell.
"I need to suit up but I don't have it on hand." Steve then says.
"Tony's got ya covered." Hawkeye then veers off before they reach the stairwell. "Your suit awaits… yours too, Birdie."
"Seriously? He finished it already?" Sam asks amazed that Tony has already made his wing suit.
"He finished it yesterday and was super eager for you to use it when he took Hulk out for a trip upstate… but then it started raining cats and dogs outside." Hawkeye says as they enter the large room and Steve hurriedly dons his Captain America suit… it looks very much like the one he wore while working for S.H.I.E.L.D. only a touch more vibrant. Sam quickly puts his underarmor bodysuit on and then straps the jet pack to his back and as he steps into the boots the plating goes around his legs until his entire torso and lower body is covered. He then puts his hands into the gloves of the exoskeleton and the plates cover his arms. He grabs the helmet and puts it on and the light yellow-tinted visor comes down.
"Red Wing online, Brother." Comes the smooth street voice and Sam can't help but grin stupidly.
"Oh this is so friggin' sweet!" Sam then says excitedly.
"Okay… Falcon, go get Tony. Hawkeye, you're with me." Captain America says as he grips his shield's handle as it rests on his arm. The trio make the stairs and Falcon's wings unfurl and he zooms up the open center of the stair well. Hawkeye fires a grapple arrow at the adjacent rail and then repels down with Cap following on the line right behind. They make the Security level and run into Clay Quartermain.
"What happened?" Cap asks.
"The Winter Soldier went rogue and rabbited. Logan's in pursuit. They've probably made the ground level by now." Quartermain replies. He then turns and shouts commands at the workers at the computer stations. "Get those security systems on lock down. Rewrite the codes and keep ahead of this hacker!"
"This hacker is a step ahead of us, sir. It's going to take a miracle to stop them." One of the security personnel says.
"Then shut the whole building down!" Quartermain says to that person. He turns back to Cap. "Logan went that way. Good luck, Cap." And with that, Captain America and Hawkeye rush away towards the stairwell. They use another grapple line to repel down to the main floor and hurry outside before the building is shut down. The rain pelts the pair and they quickly become soaked.
"Logan! Do you have your comlink on?" Captain America says into his right wrist. He says a quick prayer hoping that Logan remembered to put it on earlier.
"This thing is working now?" Logan answers. Steve silently thanks God for the reply from his old friend.
"What's your location?" Cap asks as he uses his shield to stave off the rain.
"East… three blocks. I see him but if I lose him now the rain will wash away the scent before I find him again." Logan replies and Captain America holsters his shield then hurries down the street behind Grand Central Station. He runs so fast that he out distances Hawkeye immediately. Steve finds himself wishing Thor was here to stop this damned storm. He's read the file on the Prince of Asgard… reading files is his hobby. The Captain quickly catches up to Logan and he can see Bucky ahead running in the rain.
"I wish… Storm… was here!" Logan starts as he and Steve run side by side. "She'd stop… this rain… instantly!"
"Funny! I was… thinking the same! Only… wishing that… Thor was here!" Captain America says and they both smile as they push harder to catch up to the fleeing Winter Soldier. Logan gives a primal scream and he surges forward in a frenzy. He reaches out and swipes at the metal shoulder. The impact of metal on metal causes the Winter Soldier to spin but as he goes, he whips his leg out and kicks Logan in the face. The Mutant is knocked away and Bucky completes the spin to land on his feet and hands. He then quickly stands and dashes away with Steve right on his heels.
"Dammit!" Logan yells and gets up. He rushes on again. They get five blocks from the tower and suddenly Bucky darts into a building. Captain America is close behind. It's an eatery of some kind. People move quickly out of the way as Bucky darts through to the kitchen area. Captain America rushes past offering apologies and manages to keep up. The Winter Soldier bursts through the back door and then so does Steve, but Bucky is gone! Captain America halts looks around and just barely hears the creak of the metal fire escape. He quickly notices a twelve foot wall along the side of the back lot which is close to the fire escape. He rushes it, runs up a few steps, turns in midair, and catches the landing just below Bucky.
"Wait! Bucky, stop! I want to talk to you! Please!" Steve shouts as he pulls himself up quickly then hurries up by jumping to the next landing then the next and so on.
"I'm done talking to you." Bucky says and darts into a door at the topmost landing. Captain America bursts through and is immediately hit in the chest so hard… he is knocked back out onto the rail. He slumps onto the rail for support and looks up to see a figure emerge from the darkened interior.
"Rumlow?" Captain America asks as he notices the scarred skin, the metal arms and legs that are lit up like Christmas, and the one glowing red eye.
"That's not my name anymore." The man says coldly as he swipes a fist down. Steve darts to the left and the metal arm bends the metal rail easily. The scarred man looks at Captain America with a scowl. "It's Deathlok now." Deathlok punches and Cap blocks with his shield.
"Christ's sake! What did they do to you?" Captain America asks as he rushes forward and pushes Deathlok back and pins him to the side of the rail.
"Hydra made me better… stronger… harder to kill!" Deathlok says as his metal fist comes under the shield and impacts with Steve's right flank. He is then pushed back hard and pinned again the other side of the rail behind his shield. A quinjet comes in and hovers over the roof of the building. Steve fears that Bucky is being taken away… again. Deathlok uses the moment's distraction to flip Captain America over the rail. Steve catches the rail a landing down but drops his shield which clatters with a ring on the paved ground below.
"Bucky!" Steve cries out and looks up to see a lowered rope take Deathlok away as well as a feral looking blonde man… and Bucky. The pained eyes look down sadly at Captain America and then they zoom off. "NO!" Steve shouts and smacks his helmeted head against the metal of the fire escape. He leaves a dent in the railing.
"What happened?" Logan asks as he approaches Captain America who is standing just inside the back door of the restaurant.
"They got away." Steve says forlorn. Logan hums as he looks away frowning then looks back at Steve.
"I know someone who can help." Logan offers.
"First though… I need you to go to the top of this fire escape and sniff around inside the door up there. I ran into someone I thought was dead and I don't want to be surprised by him again." Captain America then says.
"On it." Logan says with a gruff nod and hurries up the fire escape. The rain has lightened up and the clouds don't seem so oppressively close in the sky above as Steve just watches the scenery and lets the memories play out over and over in his mind. Soon Logan returns.
"Well, I got the scent of the new guy… and someone else besides him and Bucky." Logan says with a scowl.
"The blonde guy." Steve says and nods his head.
"Yeah, and you should be lucky you didn't go toe-to-toe with him… cause he is vicious and he's like me. Healing Factor, heightened senses, claws instead of fingernails." Logan says naming off the traits of the blonde man.
"Sounds like you know him really well." Steve then says.
"I should… he's my brother." Logan replies and Steve's eyes flash with recognition. "Calls himself Sabertooth now."
"Great. Yet another factor to worry about." Steve says a bit discouraged and they head back out through the main entrance. People smile and cheer at Captain America and police sirens sound in the distance. Steve apologies to the managers and people there before he sends Logan away so he can deal with the police.
"Well that was a royal shifeast of a disaster." Tony says as he drinks heavily from the one bottle of whiskey that managed to miraculously survive the blast… it's a bottle of Jameson he had squirreled away in the fridge when Pepper tried to get him to stop drinking so much a couple of months back… that was a losing battle though Tony doesn't drink nearly as much as he used to.
"You're tellin' me." Sam says as he sits next to Tony. The pair are both still suited up and the building is dark since Quartermain cut the power. The rain and wind come in through the blown out windows and it just furthers the dour mood Tony is in currently.
"I'm going to scour the Internet and erase every pocket of that Lawnmowerman-wanna-be. Mark my words cuz I'm gonna do it!" Tony says and takes another pull from the large green bottle. Sam reaches for it and Tony passes it. Sam takes a drink and makes a face at the burn traveling down his throat.
"That's smooth stuff. Burns like a bitch going down though." Sam comments on the liquor.
"After a few sips you won't notice it." Tony then says and drinks then offers it to Sam once more.
"So what now?" Sam asks after he takes a second sip.
"Do what I always do… rebuild. I'm going to call my contractor… as soon as the power comes back on!" Tony says shouting the last part then scowls. "Fuckin' Swiss bastard." He then cusses and sips from his bottle. "I'm going to increase my firewalls and work a specific program to counter any further hacking attempts, too."
"What the hell happened up here?" Bruce asks as he gingerly walks through the scattered debris strewn about on the floor. The two look up at the meek scientist.
"Glad to see you didn't go green and mean on us, Brucey." Tony says then takes another pull from the bottle.
"I was in my lab and then I heard a muffled boom so I took cover thinking the rest of you guys could handle it while I waited it out. As soon as everything went silent… I came out to investigate." Bruce then says.
"The Tower's security systems got hacked and the weapons were turned against us…" Sam says as he looks around at the damage. "So maybe you sitting this one out was a good idea."
"Care to join us in drinking?" Tony offers as he holds the bottle out. Bruce frowns at Tony then takes the bottle away from him.
"One's not going to hurt." Bruce says and takes a small sip. He makes a face as the burn goes down his throat.
"It gets better the more you drink." Sam says with a smile.
"One's enough. The last thing we need is a drunk Hulk running around in lower Manhattan during a storm." Bruce then says as he hands the bottle to Sam who takes another sip then keeps the bottle away from Tony.
"You are cut off because we don't need a drunk Iron Man flying around down lower Manhattan either." Sam then says and gives Tony a look.
"Come on! Don't hold out on me now! Look around you! I deserve to get drunk right now." Tony then says and scowls.
"Sam has a point, Tony." Bruce says and Tony relents since the pair are ganging up on him over this.
"Fine!" Tony says as he crosses his arms and scowls some more.
"You really are a big kid, you know that." Sam says as he chuckles at Tony's behavior.
"And this is the thanks I get for making you that suit?" Tony snaps.
"Oh, this suit is hella sweet. It's just we don't need a drunk Iron Man on the news right now." Sam says.
"Pepper would agree." Bruce says then as if on queue… Tony's helmet buzzes.
"Shit! It's Pepper." Tony says and the faceplate slides down. He then says in a sweet voice, "Hey, sweetheart how's the West Coast treating you?"
"What's happening there, Tony? I'm watching the news and they're saying some sort of terrorist attack happened inside the Tower. Are you okay? Please tell me you're okay." Pepper says a bit frantically.
"It's fine now, Pepper… everything is fine now. I'm okay and so is everyone else. I'll tell you more as soon as you get into New York, okay? Love ya, sugarpants." Tony says sweetly.
"Okay… and you better not hide anything from me like you usually do." Pepper says firmly. "I love you, you silly man… though sometimes I want to slap you around. I'll be arriving in two days."
"And I'll be here. Love ya more." Tony then says and makes a kissy face with audible noise to accompany it.
"Love you too, Tony." Pepper says sultry and then hangs up. The faceplate pops open.
"Okay… I've two days to get this place cleaned up and looking like nothing ever happened." Tony says with some panic in his brown eyes.
"Sugarpants?" Sam says with a giggle then makes a kissy face. Bruce chuckles at the display though he tries to hide it.
"Shut up." Tony snaps half-heartedly as he looks around. The faceplate comes down again. "JARVIS, get me my contractor." He then says as he ignores Sam's jabs and Bruce's concealed chuckles as the call goes through.
Natasha falls flat on the plush bed in the lavish room curtsey of Stark. She is wore out from the day's events having spent a good four hours enduring the relentless asinine questions as well as all the posturing and preening of the Senate committee over what happened to cause the downfall of the world's top intel agency of S.H.I.E.L.D.
They spent the first hour just griping about Steve not being there then they tore into her and her nefarious past as they peppered actual questions about what took place in every so often. Hell, they even wanted to yammer on about the Battle of New York for a good thirty minutes! She wanted to jump over the table and kick them all in their faces when one of them commented about how she 'flirted with betrayal' before with the War Criminal, Loki, and that it wouldn't have been surprising if she had done the same this go around as well.
She huffs out a heavy sigh that turns into a groan then sits up on the bed and grabs her stuff. She has to stay over in D.C. for the night because all flights to New York have been delayed due to the severe weather… but she isn't going to stay in a room with a target painted on it, so to speak. She steps out onto the balcony and then uses a grappling hook to swing over to the next one. She does this one more time then enters that room and sets her stuff down. Tony had managed to get the entire floor for her so if someone hits the one she was in to start with then she'll know trouble is up and slip out before they can find her.
She takes a hot bath and then reads a book… A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin… She is at the point where Samwell Tarly takes Maester Ammon and the Wildling girl, Gilly and her baby, on a ship to Braavos when she feels the pull of sleep take her. She marks her page before sitting it on the nightstand beside the bed and makes sure her Glock 26 is under the pillow next to her and that the two knives are under her own pillow before she lets sleep take her. She soon finds herself dreaming… which is odd because she has rarely ever dreamed for as long as she can remember…
She finds herself walking through a surreal landscape of snow and ice. She sees Tony dressed in a Lord's leathers with thick wolf furs, a dark red cape, and his arc reactor glowing on the breastplate.
"The Winter Soldier is coming!" He shouts and points behind her. Natasha turns around and sees the Winter Soldier standing amid a field of the slain. The red blood paints a gruesome scene as it contrasts brightly with the stark white snow all around then the winds whip the snow up and everything goes white… when it clears she sees Loki sitting in the circular Hulk cage grinning merrily as he holds a chain like a leash that is around Barton's neck. The archer stares blankly at her.
"I know something you don't know." The God of Mischief says then he tugs hard on the chain dragging Barton to press against Loki knee. Soon he and Barton vanish from inside the cage.
"Natalia!" Steve says as he grabs her from behind and she starts. Natasha actually wakes up and blinks sleepily into the dark. She frowns at the odd dreams and then slips back into slumber once more. Again she sees Tony, Bucky, Loki, Barton, and Steve only now they are all standing around and chatting about something she can't hear.
"Well, this is an awkward gathering… considering I've slept with all but two of you." Natasha starts but her voice echoes and doesn't seem to reach the group of five men. She then starts for them wondering why her teammates aren't subduing Loki or Bucky right this second but a hand from behind stops her… a cold hand.
"Why do you dream of these men?" Mikel asks her pointedly as she is spun around to face the vampire. "Is it true you have gone to bed with three of them? I know that one there…" Mikel starts and points to Steve. "Is your lover. So why do you dream of the other four? I recognize Tony Stark and the archer who accompanied you when last we met in the physical… did you sleep with either of them? And who are the other two? The one with the metal arm is unknown to me as is that one there who is dressed oddly… he has the look of royalty about him." Mikel then says and on queue, Loki looks her way and smiles slyly at her with a hint of mischief in his icy blue eyes.
"The one with the metal arm is the Winter Soldier." Natasha says and Bucky looks at her and smiles… it's odd to see the otherwise cold man smile with amicable warmth and affection.
"So the rumors have proven true." Mikel starts and nods his head as he smiles. "I have had plans for that one… and now I know what he looks like. Now what of this other one… I don't like the look of him. He looks more like a rival to me than any of the others, even more so than your precious Captain." Natasha rolls her eyes.
"Well, I certainly haven't slept with him." Natasha starts deadpan. "His name is Loki. He is from a world on the other side of the Universe known as Asgard-"
"A Norse god!" Mikel says shocked. "So the gods of old are real as well? Such strange times we live in."
"You should meet his brother, Thor." Natasha says and as if on queue, the Thunder God drops from the sky in his full armor with red cape bellowing in a breeze and hammer in hand. Natasha smirks as she feels Mikel tense next to her. "He saved me from getting pummeled by the Hulk." Natasha adds and the scene changes… The Hulk is standing huge over the pair ready to swat with a backhand when Thor comes charging through tackling the green giant.
"It comes as no surprise that you would surround yourself with such… intriguing men, my sweet Natalia." Mikel says as everything fades away, save for him and her standing in the only light amid darkness. "And it is a good thing for me that none of them are near you right now." Mikel then adds darkly as he smiles wickedly at Natasha. Worry paints her face at those words.
"Wake up, Natalia… to your future." Mikel then says smoothly into her ear as he pulls her close.
Natasha wakes up and tries to sit up but she is pinned to the bed. A pale figure straddles her over the cover and sheets. Long white hair falls down over his left shoulder to brush against her cheek as she looks up in horror at the man above her… Mikel.
"I could take you so easily now, my sweet Natalia." He whispers out with his deep, smooth voice. His lips brush the side of her neck below her ear and her breath hitches as a shiver runs down her spine. "You still respond so beautifully to my attentions." He whispers out. His larger hands trap her wrists as he nuzzles at her neck. If she could just get her hands under her pillow…
"I missed you… your touch that is. No other man could ever touch me the way you have." Natasha then says letting the seduction drip from her words as she arcs her back to press her body closer to his. Mikel pauses for a moment then she can feel the smile pull at his lips as they ghost over her neck.
"I have thought of nothing more than you under me, naked, and wanton with desire." Mikel starts and Natasha can feel his weight leave her. The only contact being his hands upon her wrists and his lips upon her jaw as he moves his mouth to hers. The blankets and cover slide away revealing the dark red silk negligee she is wearing. Mikel's weight resettles upon her and she can feel how aroused he is through his clothing. She closes her eyes and thinks of Steve as Mikel's lips find hers and they kiss. The vampire's kiss is needy and more than eager.
"Touch me." Natasha whispers out breathy as the kiss breaks and Mikel kisses her again and his hands slide from her wrists to her side. The right hand fondles a breast and Natasha moans at the contact as her hands fist the pillow. Now she has to wait for the right moment.
"I am too eager to be overly attentive to you tonight." Mikel says low as his hand moves from her breast to her thigh. His right hand then trails up and moves the negligee up as well until he finds she isn't wearing any underwear. Natasha moans as he slides two fingers into her and explores her core with quick probing strokes. "It seems you are too eager as well… Natalia." He whispers out and kisses her as he quickens his pace further to bring her to her release swiftly so he can move on to finding his within her soon enough.
Natasha moans and arcs her back at the sensations. Her right hand grabs at the back of his head as her left goes under the pillow. She flicks the blade from its sheath with her thumb and then in one quicksilver movement of precision… She rams the blade into Mikel's throat as she yanks his head to the side. She then kicks him off of her and he is thrown from the bed roughly. Natasha quickly grabs the other dagger and her gun as she rolls over the bed to fall off the other side onto her knees. She trains her gun on the spot where Mikel should be… but the vampire is gone… just gone.
Panic fills her. Mikel is more dangerous now than he ever was before… and he was pretty dangerous to begin with, too. She moves to where her phone is and scrolls through her contacts. She finds the number she is looking for and quickly hits the 'call' button. It rings five times before it is answered.
"I need your expertise… we've got a big problem named Mikel… He's alive and he's different… and he just paid me a visit." Natasha says quickly before the person on the other line can answer. There is a pause and Natasha's eyes dart about the room though as she has turned all of the lights on, she still feels more than fairly shook up over the whole affair.
"Where are you at?" The smooth depth of a man's voice is heard. He sounds street in his accent but colder, harder.
"I'm in D.C." Natasha answers.
"What a coincidence… so am I." The man says. Natasha then quickly tells him the name and location of her hotel and what room she is in before hanging up. She takes a deep breath to steady her nerves as she clutches the phone to her chest. If anyone can help her out in dealing with a vampire… it's Blade, the Hunter.
A/N: More intrigue to come! And get ready for more feels!
