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Marvel Universe: Heroism

Chapter 11: The Heroes react part 2: Shang-Chi and Echo

Tokyo the capital of Japan, and also the home of Shang-Chi and Maya Lopez. After the battle in New York the two lovers moved to Japan in order to get away from super heroics and to also work on their relationship. Over the last few months they lived peaceful, normal lives in a first class hotel. Shang did what he usually did in the morning, train in the dojo while Maya put on her dressing gown and sat on the coach watching the giant wide screen TV. Maya yawned as she saw the usual programmes that she had grown bored with in the first week. A minute passed and Shang walked into the room shirtless with a towel across his neck. He looked towards Maya and saw her watching Digimon repeats with subtitles.

'She's likes her anime, just like Sven' he thought back to the friends he still kept in touch with.

Though he hadn't heard from his friend in a while Shang wasn't worried, he had learned during the battle in New York that Sven wasn't Naïve or weak, but was more than capable of defeating even the strongest of villains. Shang decided to check his email for any new letters from Sven. When he logged onto the page Shang-Chi widened his eyes in shock. There wasn't one message or two, but ten!

S.H.I.E.L.D. has declared Sven a fugitive, they've kept stuff secret but it might be related to the Aeon project!

Strange

Sven broke into the Avengers mansion and stole something from the computer, his power seemed to have evolved as well, did your powers develop in anyway? S.H.I.E.L.D. left the situation in the hands of some agency called SSA; we could really use your help here.

John

Have you watched the news recently, Aeon's been named a fugitive and Sven's missing, do you know anything about this?

Tito

They were all messages from school friends and Shang's allies in the Defenders concerning Aeon. Shang rubbed his face and blinked when another message came through.

As you know things aren't what they appear to be in S.H.I.E.L.D. the SSA is the Squadron Supreme, beware Hyperion, Aeon will need help

Silly Read

Shang looked at the message in confusion; he didn't know anyone who would put something like Silly Read on his or her computer. Entering one of the search sites Shang-Chi typed in the word Hyperion and found several links connected to rumoured sightings of an apparent super soldier during the Wakandan war. Then he searched for anything about the Squadron Supreme but found again sites about a rumoured black ops unit in the Wakandan war.

"The remains of Wakandan tribes were found with either their necks broken or melted!" Shang-Chi read out load.

"Gruesome!" Maya said and Shang-Chi only just noticed that his girlfriend was standing beside him.

Shang-chi stood up and faced Maya who read his lips as he spoke "Sven's been called a fugitive by S.H.I.E.L.D. and this Squadron Supreme has been sent to bring him in, or judging by these reports I'd say they're going to kill him" Shang said and Maya gasped. "I know we came here to get away from this but I cant just let Sven face this alone"

"I know Shang!" Maya said smiling "We'd better get going, we've got a lot to pack!"

Maya walked over to the wardrobe and opened it to reveal her Ronin costume, the costume she wore with Moon knights permission in order to conceal her identity and gender when she fought against the Kingpin. She smiled as she threw the costume to Shang who looked at the mask curiously.

"I don't think Spector will mind a third person wearing it" Maya said.

"And whose that gonna be?" Shang-Chi asked with a smile on his face.

Days later in New York a common group of criminals working for the Kingpin gathered in a warehouse.

"With all this business with Aeon the police have put less effort into their sting operations and raids, the Kingpin sees this as the perfect opportunity for us to resume our dealings on the west side" One of the thugs explained to the group.

Suddenly a black figure dropped down onto the table. Before the eleven thugs could react the figure took out two Nanchaku and began swinging them around hitting some of the thugs across the head. One of the thugs removed a taser from his pocket. Before he could fire it the figure threw Kunai's at the man pinning him to the wall. The other thugs took out knives and crowbars and charged at their attacker. Thugs were thrown out of windows and bones were broken. At the end of it all the only conscious thug, the one that had been pinned to the wall looked at the attacker. He recognized the black suit, the green and gold armour and the black mask. Ronin picked the man up off the floor and whispered into his ear.

"Tell the Kingpin that his business isn't going to be speeding up anytime soon"

Hours later in the abandoned theatre that was the occasional base of the Defenders, the old members started to gather. Dr Strange, Ben Reilly the last surviving Scarlet Spider brother, Tarantula, Spider-woman, The Punisher, Moon Knight and finally Ronin.

"Maya told us about your plan, the way I see it we should be doing everything we can to help Aeon, and doing what we've always done isn't one of them" Punisher said before beginning his walk towards the exit.

"The worlds been quiet lately so I'll definitely help beat down the Kingpins thugs" Jessica said and Miguel nodded his head in agreement.

"But surely there is more we can do than just lessening the load of thugs on Aeon so he can concentrate on finding out what the government is up to" Strange said.

"When the time comes we support him in his fight against this Squadron Supreme" Ronin said in a monotone.

The Defenders each nodded their heads and separated, the plan was simple, beat up the Kingpins thugs so that Aeon could concentrate on his plans for S.H.I.E.L.D.

Next Chapter 12: The Heroes React Part 3: US Agent