DNA Catastrophe ch 12

3 days until Christmas! I'm so excited. Classes are done and I have more time now. Wahoo! So as an early present to my fans here's not one but two new chapters! Merry Christmas! Happy holidays! And a happy new year to all of you!

Chapter 12: puzzling puzzles

The team was gathered in the briefing room on the Tricarrier, trying to narrow down where Alice might be.

"I think we need to divide and search the sewers, that's where Doc Oct was last time." Nova said.

"That loon probably has bases all over the city, and who says it was him that had Deadpool take her?" Power Man pointed out.

"We should just find Deadpool and make him tell us where he took her." Iron Fist growled. He had been in a very un-zen mood since they'd discovered Alice was gone and everyone was keeping their distance from him.

"Like Deadpool would ever help us bust someone who paid him." Spider-Man said.

"True but he does anything for money." Deadpool said, landing on the table.

"Deadpool!" White Tiger growled, un sheathing her claws.

"Calm down kitty cat, I'm here to help. For a price." Deadpool said, his voice changing from playful to serious on the last part.

"How about you tell us where Alice is and you get to keep your head." Power Man said, cracking his knuckles.

"Tempting but I was thinking you guys could hook me up with a sweet ride in exchange for information about your little friend." Deadpool said as he flipped into a chair and settled in as though he owned the place. Spider-Man instantly shot webbing at him, but Deadpool flipped out of the chair before it could get him.

"Temper now, no need to cause a scene." Deadpool said, looking eagerly at Tiger as he spoke. She aimed a kick at his head. "Ok, what was the word again?" A swipe from Tiger's claws caused him to backflip away, "sight, see, show." Deadpool said as he kept dodging Tiger's attacks. She had been about to land a blow on him when she suddenly froze.

"Cool it works!" Deadpool cheered.

"What works?" Nova asked, pausing his energy blast.

"Oct's hypno-thingy. I heard him talking about it while I was snooping around his lab." Deadpool shrugged.

"Hypnosis? Wait, Tiger's been hypnotized?" Spidey asked.

"Looks like it." Power man said, snapping his fingers in front of her face. She had no reaction, she just stood frozen in place.

"How do we get her un-hypnotized?" Nova asked.

"By the one who hypnotized her, Mesmero." Iron Fist said.

"Oh look who's so smart." Deadpool nudged Iron Fist in the ribs. Iron Fist grabbed Deadpool's hand and span it around so it was pinned behind his back in a very painful position, Deadpool may have had a healing factor but he was still felt pain.

"Yes, now while Nova and Power Man help Tiger, you, Spider-Man and I will go save Alice." He growled.

"Ow ow ow. And don't you mean Apex?" Deadpool asked.

"How do you know her name?" Nova asked.

"Cause I came up with it. I even recommended some costume designs but she figured it out, I think she should've added pouches but it looked good. Really fine, Ya know what I'm saying." Deadpool said, causing Iron Fist to tighten his grip.

"How'd she meet you?" Spidey asked.

"I was here, getting Doc Oct's notes for him" Deadpool started to explain.

"His notes?" Asked Nova.

"Don't interrupt. As I said I was getting his notes, messed with some DNA thing on accident, and while avoiding a shield agent, I happened to duck into the weird kiddy room she happened to be in. She was looking at some drawings when I decided she needed to get out and have some fun. We went to the amusement park and after one particularly awesome roller coaster ride I came up with her super hero name. We hung out a few more times after that because the Doc wanted me to snatch her and bring her to his lab in the sewers, but it was way more fun hanging out with her and messing around with you're minds. After a while Doc said either I deliver or no cash so I snatched her and got my pay. I'm done now." Deadpool said.

"You sold out Alice!" Power man said enraged.

"If you'd seen the green he was offering you would've done the same." Deadpool said as if he'd sold a baseball card or bike at a garage sale. Iron Fist was getting ready to rip Deadpool's arm from its socket.

"Your toast!" Nova said, re-charging his previously paused energy blast.

"Wait we need him to take us to Doc's lab. Deadpool, you said you messed with a DNA thing, would that be a DNA cure?" Spidey asked.

"That's it." Deadpool nodded.

"Change of plans. Nova, you and Iron Fist go after Doc. I'll work on Alice's cure, see if I can find what Deadpool did to mess with it. Power Man get Mesmero to undo what he did to Tiger." Spidey ordered.

"And me?" Deadpool asked.

"Your leading Nova and Iron Fist to Doc." Spidey deadpanned.

"Mmm no. Ya see I don't want mister eight arms to invoke the return policy for my services." Deadpool said. Iron Fist twisted his arm harder behind his back. "Ok ok ok! I'll do it!" Deadpool said, "geez, what's got you all mad. Oh I've got it, you like Alice. Iron Fist and Alice sitting in a tricarrier, um what rhymes with tricarrier?"

"Deadpool." Fury snarled as he came in.

"No I don't think that rhymes with Tricarrier, Fury, but thanks for trying." Deadpool laughed.

"I just have one more question. What is Doc planning to do with Apex?" Power Man asked.

"I think it had something to do with breaking into Oscorp and tearing someone to pieces." Deadpool said

"What the heck is he doing here and were is Alice?" Fury demanded.

"No time to explain Fury, we've got a plan. Deadpool your with me now. Everyone else stick to the old plan.

"On it." Nova said. Everyone set off on their tasks.

"Hold on Alice, help is on the way." Iron Fist said as he and Nova raced out the Tricarrier.

"That's right pet, we're almost there." Doc Oct said. It hadn't taken long to find the right sewer system that lead to underneath Oscorp. Apex walked behind him, as lifeless as a puppet. Otto Octavius grinned triumphantly as he ordered Apex to open the hatch above them. He was so close, if only those who had doubted him could see him now. His father, those Neanderthal bullies from his schooling days, his tunnel-visioned colleagues, but he would have to simply live with the destruction of everything Norman Osborn cared for. Yes the complete obliteration of everything that had to do with Osborn would suffice. For now.

"Come on Deadpool, what exactly did you do?" Spidey asked again.

"I told you, I don't remember." Deadpool griped. The insane mercenary was not happy. His plan on scoring some SHEILD tech had completely backfired.

"Well you've got to remember. If you don't, and we can't figure out a cure for Alice then…" Spidey stopped, slamming his fist on the computer desk in frustration. He held back, but only just, and left a good sized dent in the metal.

"What? What's the big deal?" Deadpool asked.

"The big deal! Alice could die! The more she transforms the more her own DNA unravels until she's dead." Spidey whipped around and shouted at Deadpool.

"Whoa! What?! But she seemed just fine?" Deadpool said, honestly confused.

"Well she's not. Every time she uses her power she's kills herself a little more. Her healing factor is too minimal to repair any of it, it only prolongs the process." Spidey said, turning back to the computer. Deadpool was uncharacteristic lay silent, lost in thought. The k word. This really was serious, but why should he care? He was a mercenary, a ruthless assassin, why should he care what happens to one girl.

"What's this?" Spidey suddenly asked, bringing Deadpool back out of his mind. It was a file, all about Alice.

Alice Kington

Gender: female

Blood type: A positive.

Age: 16

Weight: 120 lb.

Height: 5' 3"

Medical history:…

"Wow, how is it possible to get that many broken bones in just three years?" Spidey asked.

"Depends on who kept giving them to her." Deadpool said, his voice dead serious. The history went on to report about her family life. Her abusive father, sent to jail for a collision with a semi that killed his wife and three other people. Alice had been placed in an orphanage after that. Everything after that seemed fine, besides the occasional bullying report. Deadpool was confused by this new feeling he was experiencing. He hadn't felt this emotion for year. He felt bad for Alice, he even wanted to help her. BLAH! What was he thinking?! Shaking his head Deadpool shoved Spider-Man aside and began typing on the keys.

"What are you doing?" Spidey asked.

"I just remembered what I messed up." Deadpool said. He had never accidentally messed it up, he had done it as part of Oct's plan.

Spidey saw what he was doing and began to help. After another few minutes he had a serum ready.

"As much as I hate to say this, thanks Deadpool." Spidey said, turning to look at the mercenary but finding nothing. Spider-Man rolled his eye. "Classic Deadpool." He said to himself, "ok Alice, cross your fingers and hope this works." And then he was out the door in time to run into Power Man and an un-hypnotized White Tiger.

"Show!" Spidey shouted at her.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Just checking. Come on, we need to find Iron Fist and Nova." Spidey said somewhat sheepishly.

"Let's go!" Power Man said, racing to the hangers.

"I really need to stop hanging out with Spidey and his band of goody two shoes. They're starting to make me, "shudders and gags, "feel." Deadpool said to himself as he flew off in the latest model of a SHEILD jet.