The Thunder-Hawk plummeted into the side of Asgard, the tail on fire and the cabin filled with smoke. Watching from the summit of the ruins Karla smiled as Bullseye man-handled Sif down the roughly hewn steps, a suicide vest strapped to her chest. Almost immediately as the two Avengers had taken even a few steps into the dark halls, the torches providing barley any light they were swarmed by Thralls crawling out of the ante chambers and hidden doors surrounding the Avengers and the their captives.
"What are you mortals doing with the Queen of Asgard?" a massive dark skinned man clad in furs asked Karla. It took her for a while to realize that the man had been Luke Cage, but like the other heros it was a sure bet that he didn't remember his former status.
"We've come for a prisoner exchange." Karla told Cage, "Sif for Spiderman." she announced.
"We don't have Spiderman." Cage replied, "Only the foul creature that he's pretending to be. We are not willing to release that monster and have imprisoned it in the depths of the city with the other fell creatures that lurk their."
"Well get him up here and we will trade him for her." Karla announced pointing at Sif, "We even promise no tricks, at least not for us."
"Nay Vali." a powerful voice called as a one armed well built Asgardian with a patch over his eye snarled, "That creature tried to kill me it's too dangerous to release so it can be used against us."
"Lord Tyr I did not know you had recovered." Vali said in surprise, "Though I'm glad you are indeed well."
"Enough with the pleasantries." Bullseye snarled, "Either do what we want or Ms. Queen of Asgard looses her head." he hissed as he dug the knife he held at her throat deeper.
"We will not release the creature but we are willing to offer another service in return for our queen." Tyr announced, "As long as that service is within reason. Lord Van take our guests to the high chamber, there we will deliberate what we are to do with them." On his command the thralls lined up in two rows around the Avengers with Tyr in the front and Vali in the back and the entire weird precision marched off through countless halls and galleries until they arrived at a tall tower whose walls sparkled with crystals.
"Stand in the centre." Tyr instructed as Vali and a large number of the Thralls left leaving only a skeleton guard of former soldiers and Asgardians in the room. Nodding to the Thralls, Tyr left the room as the crystals begun to glow and sparkle.
"Why does this not look good?" Bullseye asked trying to move his feet. "Fuck we're glued to the floor." he added indicating the crystal forming around the Avengers and their Captive's feet.
"What the hell is going on?" Karla asked slapping Sif.
"This is the prime Thrall Control Node." Sif replied, "In seconds you will be soldiers in the army of Asgard." she added sneering at Karla. Looking out to the door Tyr and his entourage had left through Karla saw one of the guard thralls crumple before the first crystal melted as a blob of acid flew through the air, the energy exploding causing the other crystals to lose power. Flying across the room with a massive bound Daken cut through the rest of the skeleton guard, his bone claws as his back-up fired chemical rounds into the remainder of the crystals.
"Daken thank god." Karla sighed, "We thought you were AWOL."
"I am, my father is running around here like a mad dog. I'm here to put him down just like I have always wanted." Daken growled, "This is Chemistro we hooked up to look for the Task Force HAMMER basterds and do other things." he sneered as looked over at Carr.
"Yeah you tell yourself that Daken." Carr announced as he melted the last crystal, "Okay you two you should be able to move." he added. Stepping out of the circle Bullseye and Karla dragged Sif before standing surveying the odd couple standing before them.
"So did Osborne send you to get me back?" Daken growled
"Nah Osborne barley cares about you now." Bullseye grunted, "We're just here to get Mac and leave this filthy place a little parting gift."
"Ah so it's Venom you want. I could hear his screams for the last couple of hours, there holding the retard in Karnilla's chamber." Daken told them.
"You knew this and you did nothing?" Karla spat, "Where the hell is you team spirit?"
"Listen Cheer Leader I ain't here to play with the Asgardians I am after one man. Your War no longer interests me, but for the sake of our former camaraderie I'll help you get Venom loose. You get me bub."
"Yeah I get you." Karla replied darkly. "Lead the way." she announced. For the next hour the four mortals and one god walked through the halls silently. For what-ever reason the Thralls ignored them and the living Asgardian forces simply didn't seem to care. Karla wasn't sure if this was some silent agreement the Asgardians had with Daken and Carr, or if it was simply because they thought Karla and Bullseye were now just like them, unthinking foot soldiers. Whatever the case they arrived at the door to a glowing chamber with little incident other then Bullseye accidently dropping a 50 cent coin, the ringing sound causing the slave army to glare at them before moving on.
"This is the place." Daken snarled, "Karnilla is inside, she's the main spell-caster in this dump and is in control of the en-thralling process. From here your all by your lonesome. We ain't sticking around when all Hel breaks loose."
"Fine." Karla snarled, "Get lost you coward." she added as Daken and Carr stalked away. "Come on Bullseye let's deliver the package." she added as she power kicked the door open revealing Venom, his skin embedded with crystals, their arcane energy flowing into a pot clad in iron flakes. Sitting in the corner a dark haired regal woman holding a mystical crystal blade sneered at them, a cruel callous look on her face as she waved her hand.
"I wondered when you would arrive." Karnilla said, "When you escaped from the thrall centre I knew you would head here." Clicking her fingers the American Eagle stepped forward clutching his Crossbow. "As first of the new Enhijehr, your orders are clear." Karnilla hissed, "Kill them." Opening fire the Eagle shot a bolt that slammed into Karla's wrist before leaping at Bullseye slamming a fist into his face as he threw Sif aside. Getting to her feet the Goddess turned and slipped her fingers under Karla's eyes smiling cruelly as she kissed the Avenger on the lips.
"I have waited so long for your execution Usurper." Sif told Karla as Karnilla threw her sword to the woman. "Now it ends here."
"I beg to differ." Karla said as she fired a pulse of energy with her free hand, the beam striking the bomb causing the suicide pack to begin count backwards from 120 seconds. "Oh Crap." she whispered as Sif recovered bringing the sword into an overhead slash attack as Bullseye kicked the American Eagle in the shin before dodging the follow up blow as the Eagle slashed with a three bladed knife. Flipping towards where Karnilla was sitting Bullseye grabbed the flakes of iron on the urn before throwing them at the American Eagle, the razor sharp projectiles causing deep gashes to appear on the man's skin, his opponent not even pausing to wince in pain as he charged Bullseye slamming him into Venom.
With every blow Karla felt the crystal blades energy course through her intangible form, the discharge causing her to retch as the energy levels increased until she popped out of intangibility with an audible pop. With a desperate punch to the face she knocked Sif onto the floor as the bomb reached 90 seconds. "Bullseye we need to hurry this up, the bomb is ticking." she yelled as Karnilla sent a surge of energy rushing through the crystals as the American Eagle turned from Bullseye to Karla tackling her to the floor as Sif fired a burst of lightning pining her to the floor.
"A little busy." Bullseye replied as Venom shook and oozed around Bullseye as he bit into the Avenger's neck. "Mac you idiot we came to rescue you."
"Oh he won't here you." Karnilla told Bullseye, "Soon you will be my creature like him." she said as Bullseye elbowed Mac in the chin before grabbing one of the crystals and pulling the gem out before throwing it at the American Eagle, the large projectile slashing through his body.
"Knew I could beat you." Bullseye sneered, "You only won last time because of Songbird." he added grabbing a second crystal and throwing it at Sif who intercepted the gem as the bomb reached 60 Seconds as Bullseye removed the final large crystal as Sif punched him before being constricted by a tentacle from Venom.
"He you brought me a meal Lester how kind." Venom hissed as Bullseye slipped away from the Symbiote.
"Mac no the bomb." Karla called as Karnilla waved her arms in a spell casting motion slamming Ms. Marvel and Bullseye into the wall. Struggling against the magic Karla walked step by step as the bomb ticked past 45. "Karnilla you're an old fool." she moaned as Sif walked to intercept. Karla took a swing and found her target throwing the bomb at the Norn Queen, the energy stream hitting the device as it reached thirty seconds. "Time to go." Karla ordered as she threw Sif back against Karnilla before flying through the wall as Bullseye and Venom slipped out through the door. Sif glanced at the bomb as it reached 15 Seconds and ran smashing through the closed door before chasing after the fleeing Avengers.
Turning the corner the three Avengers headed through a crowd of Thralls who stood between them and the steps up to a plaza. Scything through the enemy Karla stopped and turned to look back as Sif came charging towards them. "Did the bomb go off?" she asked as Bullseye stopped Mac from plotting an intercept course.
"Your bomb has been enhanced with magic." Sif called as she muscled past the Avengers, "Keep moving the blast will be more powerful." she added as she jumped up the stairs followed by the others. As they hit the next corridor Dark Elves and Asgardian Thralls formed a Phalanx blocking off the path as Tyr arrived behind them and narrowing his eyes.
"Sif why are you doing this?" he asked, "These mortals are the enemy."
"Go." Sif commanded, "I'll hold them here." she announced as Karla and the others ran past Tyr as she spun an elegant long-sword as Tyr slammed his mace against the wall before the two God's met, electricity and golden flame meeting as the enchanted weapons clashed.
Kicking the final door Bullseye emerged into the dark night as the whole of Asgard shook and green light shot up the spires and towers. "Where the hell is that ride?" he cursed as energy arched across the surface biting at the feet of the Avengers. With a scream Dark Elves and Thralls came scuttling out of the halls heading for the invaders as Vali stalked out carrying a pair of flails spinning them both as above him green fire burst from the entrances frying fleeing Thralls and Elves.
"End of the road." Vali roared as he slashed through his own allies to reach the Avengers. Suddenly bright light stunned him as from down below the team's second Thunder Hawk raised from the ground, the door gunners opening fire shredding through the remains of the foot soldiers as Vali spun up his flails again throwing one of the weapons causing the helicopter to rock as it was struck. Jumping onto the Thunder Hawk Karla motioned for the pilot to lift off as a burst of flame erupted from the corridor, killing any of the survivors as Vali screamed and cursed as the Avengers escaped Asgard.
"What about Sif did she make it?" the pilot asked.
"There she is." Bullseye yelled as Sif shot out of one of the entrances the blast propelling her like a rocket up-towards the Thunder Hawk, insectile wings propelling her the last couple of meters as she grabbed the Thunder Hawks troop bay. Venom walked to the edge and sneered down as Karla pulled her up.
"So we have some in-flight snacks." he hissed.
"Quiet Fell Carnivore." Sif snapped as her form transformed into the male visage of Kephi. "You have a lot to answer for." he added as Bullseye jabbed a syringe into the Symbiote's back. Mac slumped to the floor as Asgard begun to collapse and the surface ran with flame.
"Thanks for agreeing to this." Karla told Kephi
"I owe Iron Clad for saving me. Consider this a matter of honour." Kephi replied as several of the spires toppled over. "This fight is nearing the end and I fear what comes next. Hemindell's warning should not be taken lightly."
"Whatever let's just get back to camp before Osborne finds out what we did." Bullseye snorted as he pushed the door close button on the Thunder Hawk's shutting the burning ruins out of the fleeing helicopter.
