Chapter 11:

Third Person:

Gear ran a hand through her hair, a bit annoyed. The Guys In White knew about Gear helping Phantom- she wasn't exactly subtle when she showed up for battle, but they had no idea she as Quam Tu or the one hacking into their systems. Due to that, Phantom was concerned that they may attack Gear in order to get to him. So it's Double D's fault that I'm being body guarded by Axel and several SHIELD agents.

"I can take care of myself, thanks," Gear said as she spun around in her wheely chair.

She refused to go to the helicarrier, insisting that their tech was 'too weak' to do her job. Axel, however, insisted on watching over her, which Alex agreed to only because she knew of his feelings towards the techie. The techie in question was now typing wildly.

"I know you can, but we're cautious.." Axel commented, "...Wow you look so different- Like seeing you in your natural element. You're never so focused."

"When it's important, I'm focused," Gear said, "But there's only so focused I can be with ADHD, why do you think I have so many screens with different things."

"So you didn't think that Steve's surprise party was important?"

Of course he as inferring to the even when she showed up, gave a gift, and then decided that beating Tony in a battle of Hungry Hungry Hippo was more important.

"Well, I showed up and brought a gift, didn't I," Gear retorted with a snort, "And I don't know why you chose to guard me."

She turned around and jabbed a thumb at the other agents,

"These guys, I get, but you. You're more valuable protecting Phantom."

"Am I? He can take care of himself and he has the Avengers. I'd rather stay here and protect you."

Gear winked,

"I'm flattered, Winged Prince, but I can take care of myself just fine."

The nickname caught him off guard ever so slightly,

"Winged Prince?"

"You have the wings and in your human form you have the hair for it. Or would you rather still be called Wanna Tap That?"

A few of the agents snickered, but covered it quickly. Axel just smirked,

"How about I be Winged Prince while you are Wanna Tap That?"

"Why, Axel," Gear said, feigning surprise, "Are you flirting with me?"

"That's what is seems like doesn't it," Axel said a bit sheepishly.

"Now, don't turn sheepish on me, continue to flirt to your hearts fulfilled, it's... interesting," Gear said as she looked him up and down with a wink,

"But I still say you are Wanna Tap That, hotshot."


Alex stood near Phantom as he paced in mid-air, getting more annoyed by the second. It made sense that Axel was with Gear but did he really have to turn all horny and have porn running through his mind as well?

She sighed and shook her head, giving Axel some more gay porn, but instead of a 2 girls 1 Cup thing, it was she and Gear doing the frick-frack in front of him. That only made the thoughts much worse. Finally, she just sent thoughts and images of a naked grandma. After that, the porno thoughts from Axel stopped, and Alex couldn't help but feel the satisfaction from her silent victory.

All of a sudden, the air seemed off, and it wasn't just because Phantom was using some sort of ice breath to cool down. It was...Bad, and evil. Every hair on her body stood up, and she started to growl, crouching down in her attack stance. She preferred all fours instead of just two legs.

A second later, an explosion threw Alex and Phantom back against the wall. Phantom crashed to the floor while Alex went almost straight through the marble walls, embedding herself in it. She groaned and launched herself at the dude in a white suit who was advancing towards Phantom.

"Don't you touch him!" She yelled, literally grabbing him and throwing him across the room.

More filed in, and Alex really wished the other Avengers weren't on their short missions. But all she had to do was stall until they got here, so that made it a little better. But judging from their numbers, she had rising doubts about how long she could hold them off. She had immense strength, sure, but she had never gone against so many people before. There had to be at least a hundred now, all swarming in like mosquitoes.

She hissed, barring her fangs and extending her claws, stepping in front of the half conscious Phantom protectively. A low, deep growl escaped her throat as she slashed at the people trying to get closer. She had never seen so much white.

It wasn't long before she was under a dog pile of about half their men, being electrocuted repeatedly in the process. Her arms were pinned to the ground and her back at awkward angles so she couldn't move them. All she could do was watch helplessly as they dragged Phantom away as red creeped at the edges of her vision. She grit her teeth and clenched her fists.

Using her legs, she got onto her knees, raising the pile of people up a few inches.

"You're...Not...Gonna...Hurt him," she strained out. One of the agents that had dragged Phantom away smirked and walked over to her.

"We're gonna do every unimaginable thing in the name of science to that thing. He's a ghost, not a human. They're all out to kill you."

Then he pointed his glowing green and white gun at Alex's face and pulled the trigger.

As she was slowly sent into a wave of darkness, she became aware of two things. The weight lifting off of her now aching body, and the fact that she had failed Phantom.


Axel tensed- the thoughts from Alex were cut off. Her last thought being that she had failed. Gear looked over briefly,

"Axel? You okay?"

Her usual nonchalant voice was laced with so much concern, not to mention that she called him Axel instead of some nickname like she usually did.

"Something is wrong. I think they were attacked."

Gear jumped up from her seat, her purple hair going upwards with the motion before settling,

"What," she said, her voice hard as steel, "You said that the Avengers were there."

"The Avengers were on a short mission."

"What could be more important than protecting one of their own," Gear hissed.

Axel narrowed his eyes slightly. It was the first time he saw Gear more than annoyed- she was getting angry. She wasn't pissed, yet and according to Danny, when she was pissed she was scary. Though her voice was so cold, so hard that he barely recognized it as hers.

"Look," Gear continued, "We don't have time for this! We have to get back now."

Axel nodded. They went up to the roof as the agents took the vans. Axel spread out his wings. Despite the situation, he couldn't help it. He held out his hand, planning to carry Gear as he flew,

"So, do you trust me?"

"Yes, but I have my own ride."

She smirked, previous anger still there but fading, and pressed a button on her belt. A small cube fell out and it shifted into her hover board. She jumped on,

"But thanks for the offer!"


When they got there they found a very stressed Cap and Tony there, trying to wake Alex up. She just groaned as her head rolled to the side. Axel cursed under his breath as the rest of the heroes flew in.

"What happened?" Gear said as she jumped off of her board. The others shrugged.

"We don't know. The cameras were wiped out in the blast. The only footage there is is Alex getting ready for a fight," Iron Man explained. Gear fumed slightly.

"You were all supposed to be here protecting him!" She yelled.

Axel would have tried to comfort her, but she was scary enough as it is. She didn't need him butting in.

"I want to know where you all were because it's obvious this happened a few minutes ago!"

"We can't just drop everything for one kid that-fyi-has super powers," Hawkeye said. "We were off doing what we do best. We were saving lives and-"

"-I don't care! I mean, I do but I don't! He's like a brother to me, and some of the only family I have left. I can't lose him too."

"We're gonna get him back one way or the other. And it's going to involve lots of smashing," Axel said, trying to sooth things over.

Taking a risk, he put a hand on her shoulder and she relaxed into his touch slightly, showing just how much she trusted him- Gear didn't do the mushy, feely shit.

Just then Alex coughed and groaned, rolling over to her stomach. With great effort she managed to get on her hands and knees, refusing to look anyone but Gear in the eye.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't save him in time."

She looked completely torn up. Her clothes were ripped and some of her fur was singed. She had several cuts and bruises, and looked at Gear with so much pain she didn't even bother putting her bangs over her blind eye, which they could see was clearly swollen shut.

"It's not your fault. At least you were here."

Alex didn't say anything. She felt like crap. No...she felt worse than crap. She felt like nothing. She had made a promise, and she couldn't keep it. Now another innocent person might die because she was to slow. She coughed again as Ms. Marvel and the Vision helped her to her feet.

"How many were there?" Tony asked.

She sighed and rubbed the back of her throbbing head.

"A hundred, maybe more. It's a rough estimate. They obviously planned this through pretty carefully."

"Looks like they're stepping up their game," Gear said. "Well, I guess...Avengers Assemble."


When Phantom woke up, he found himself in some type of lab. He was strapped down to some sort of operation table. He struggled against the straps, ignoring the sharp pain that came from his torso. He couldn't get free, the straps were ectolaced and therefore, ghost proof. He was stuck.

"Good, you're awake," Agent O said with a sinister smile, "Now we can get started with the experiments..."