"I thought you said security wasn't as tight at night?" Natasha sighed as she lowered the binoculars.
"It shouldn't be," Red replied. "It's never been like this before and I check in with my contacts pretty regularly. I wonder who's watching the casino. It looks like most of Moran's men are here."
"The question is why tonight? Did you tip anyone off?" Natasha asked. She knew her own distrust of Ross was well-placed. Even before becoming Red Hulk, he was no fan of Bruce or others like him.
"Are you accusing me of betraying my own planet, Widow? Of course, I was careful when I got my intel. Something has changed since this morning. We need a closer look."
"On it," Carol replied before levitating off the ground and proceeding to fly toward the building under the cover of night.
"I don't like this," Bucky whispered. "I wish we had back up."
"I don't know," Red Hulk replied. "I'm a hulk, she flies," he said, pointing toward the direction Carol had gone, "you were the most successful assassin Hydra ever had and she's the Black Widow. I think they're going to be wishing for reinforcements soon enough. We'll get your friend back."
Natasha sighed. They were so close. She was ready to get inside. When Carol returned a few minutes later, everyone was anxious to hear what she'd seen.
"I was able to get close to an upstairs window. It's not locked and the room was empty. I could fly someone up with me and we can take a look around, but they are definitely loading something in those three trucks. Someone needs to stay on them."
"I'll go with you," Natasha quickly replied.
"Negative, Widow," Red argued. "I know this facility. You and Winter Soldier stay with those trucks. We can stay in touch on the comms."
"He's not wrong," Bucky admitted.
"I agree," Carol nodded.
"You sure you're strong enough to take me up," Red asked Carol.
"Super strength, remember?" Carol smirked. "We'll let you know what we see and I can always come back for you. It's the best play."
Natasha nodded and she and Bucky moved closer to the trucks. Not content to sit on the sidelines, they decided to get a look in one of the trucks. Bucky found a good position to sit up cover fire if they were discovered, while Natasha slipped into the back of the truck. Once she'd pulled the door down behind her, she flipped on her flashlight. There was a cryogenic chamber inside.
"I know what they are transporting," she said into the comms. "How do I open the chamber, Ross?"
"Crap, they moved up their plans. Button on the right side, green one. Do not touch any others," Red replied.
Natasha had to pull the chamber out a little from the side of the truck wall before she could push the button. As soon as she pushed it, the chamber glowed then slowly opened. The man inside coughed as his eyes opened. "T'Challa?"
"Do I know you?"
"Apparently not," Natasha sighed, "but I know who you are. My name is Natasha Romanoff. I'm from Earth and I'm here to rescue you." She smiled at just how cheesy her words sounded coming out of her lips then helped T'Challa out of the chamber. "Can you walk?" He nodded. "Let's sneak you out. I don't suppose your up to being the Black Panther and helping me empty the other trucks, are you?"
"How do you-"
"Not important until we have you and the others off this planet. Any idea how many of you are here?"
"I am not sure. They knew what I could do. I was with others like me. There were several in the other rooms, but I never saw them together. And, yes, I think I can fight."
"Let's go."
Bucky's voice came over the comms, "One truck is already moving. No way I can reach it on time, but I think I can follow on Sonny's bike."
"T'Challa and I will get inside the other truck," Natasha replied. "Do not lose that truck."
Natasha and T'Challa slipped unnoticed into the second truck. Opening the second cryogenic chamber, they found a man whose entire left side was purple. "Jack, are you okay?" T'Challa asked.
"I have been better, but I am okay. I have hunch this isn't our destination."
Natasha's heart sank. "How many were with you in the room?"
"There were three of us. Jack Hart, Steve Rogers, and myself."
Natasha immediately spoke into her comms, "Bucky, Steve is in that truck."
"On it."
"We have the others. Clear us a path," Carol said.
Soon, Natasha, T'Challa, and Jack found themselves in a battle with the guards. Natasha vaguely remembered the warning about hand-to-hand combat with a skrull as she attacked one of them from behind, but she didn't see much choice. They were holding their own nicely when Carol and Ross hit the doors.
The five of them held their own against the skrulls and managed to take them out before anyone could call Moran for reinforcements. After tying up the remaining guards and securing the second space craft, Natasha finally got the chance to look at the rescued people. She recognized the president immediately.
"Ms. Romanoff, I see you've continued fighting aliens. Good to see a familiar face," he said as he walked toward her.
"Mr. President, happy to help. Let's get you to safety," Natasha replied before turning to Carol. "I won't leave without Steve, but you need to get these people home. We have a president and two prime ministers that no one knows are missing."
"I know," Carol replied. "General Ross, are you sure you can get them home?"
"I can do it. She's not wrong. You shouldn't wait for us."
"I will help you get Captain Rogers. Before we were put in those pods, one of the guards said he was taking us to a buyer. Steve is my friend. I want to help."
Natasha shook her head. "No, you have a kingdom to run. You have to go with the others."
"My father runs the country. I should go with you."
"T'Challa, things have changed since you were taken. I hate to be the one to give you bad news-"
"But, my father is gone," T'Challa finished, a stricken look on his face.
"I'm so sorry. You need to get back and remove the imposter from your throne," Natasha sadly replied.
"I can go with you. Nobody is waiting for me," replied Jack. Putting out his hand to shake Natasha's, he added, "Jack Hart, or Jack of Harts if you prefer. You've seen me fight. I can help you."
Natasha nodded and looked at Ross who nodded in agreement. "We could use the help. I'm Natasha Romanoff." Hopping on her comms, Natasha checked Bucky's progress. "What have you got, Bucky?"
"Looks like they are pulling into Bugs Malone's casino. Get here as fast as you can. Looks like you and I will be gambling tonight. Wear something pretty and bring me a suit."
"On our way. Keep your eyes on that truck. He cannot be moved again."
"Tonight, we get him back, Nat. He won't go anywhere without me."
Natasha quickly changed, while Carol got the others settled. "We won't be far behind you," she said, hugging her friend.
"You better not make me come rescue you," Carol replied. "I wish I could stay."
"Not an option. I'll be back soon. Get them home," pausing, she looked at Carol, "the other T'Challa is with Clint and Scott. Don't let anything happen to them, okay? I try to be there to watch Barton's back but-"
"Don't worry. Go save your man. I'll help your friends," Carol smiled.
"He probably isn't, I mean, after finding T'Challa, I'm not feeling very confident that Steve and I were ever together that way."
Carol laughed. "It's a long trip home. If he wasn't yours before, you have plenty of time to fix it."
"If your ready," Red interrupted, "it's time to crash the party. Hart and T'Challa said they were being sold, and that has been bothering me the last few minutes. It goes against my intel. I think Bugs is going to double cross his bosses in the higher up skrull hierarchy. That is the only reason I can think of for him moving them early. Hart and I will stand out like a sore thumb, so you and Barnes are going to be on your own in the building. My bet is Steve will be kept in the chamber until Bugs has the money from the buyer. The likely place to keep the chamber is in a secret room behind his office. You need to get in there without arousing suspicions. Good thing Bugs has a thing for pretty ladies."
Natasha nodded. "I think I can handle this one. Just be ready to help if we need a quick extraction."
"You got it. I can smash. Hart can fly. Just get Rogers and head for the top floor. Leave the exit strategy to me."
I know this is a cruel place to end the chapter, but I couldn't take them to a 1930's gangster haven and not send them to a casino. That would have been a waste.