H.A.M.M.E.R HQ, New York 4:50pm
"What the hell happened here?" Bullseye gasped looking out of the planes windshield at the destruction below.
The plane touched down and the Dark Avengers single filed down the ramp a restrained Ronin in tow.
"Looks like a f***ing war zone" Daken stated surveying the damaged.
Osborn just stood seething.
"Who would have the nerve to attack me on my own turf" he growled through his teeth.
"Well, well looks like HYDRA finally grew some balls" Venom smirked as he picked up a bloodied HYDRA agent.
"HYDRA?" Osborn turned looking at the corpse in Venom's clawed hand.
"What where they after?" Bullseye asked looking at the other dead agents.
"We make purchase of a multimillion dollar weapon and HYDRA just happen to attack us? Seems to be a very big coincidence doesn't it?" Daken snarled.
"Well you won't be keeping that weapon for long bub!"
The Dark Avengers turned their heads towards the gruff voice and saw Ms Marvel and Spider-woman carrying the other Avengers land a few feet from them.
"Lunch is served!" Gargan growled green saliva dripping from his teeth.
"We don't want to fight, all we want is Ronin!" Carol said glaring at Osborn.
"And by the look of your HQ I'm guessing causing any more unnecessary damage would not be in your best interests either!"
Osborn considered her words he didn't like the idea of giving up the Avenger but he also knew that the situation at H.A.M.M.E.R required his attention.
Before he could reply 4 black S.U.V's pulled up.
Blackwatch soldiers descended from them, followed closely by Cross.
"What the hell happened here?" Cross asked as he approached them.
"That's what we are trying to establish" the Iron Patriot replied momentarily diverting his attention from the New Avengers to Cross.
"I see we have visitors" Cross stated looking at the other Avengers.
"We would have avoided being her if we could but Osborn has one of our men!" Iron Fist growled.
"It's been a long day Normy give Clint back and I'll promise to beat you up another day!" Spider-man said as he landed and placed Mockingbird on the floor.
"Oh great the rest of the happy days gang" Bullseye groaned.
"Spider you ok?" Carol asked as she saw him wince and place his hand on his side as he straightened up.
"I'm good" he replied "It's just a scratch."
"No jokes?" Carol said to herself "that's never a good sign."
"Daken untie Ronin" Osborn said irritated.
He'd decided he and his Avengers where in no condition to fight after the events of the past few hours.
"Clint are you alright?" Mockingbird asked looking at him worriedly.
"Don't worry about me the infected caused the most damage but it was infinitely more painful to listen to these guys prattle on."
"Looks like I'll make a comedian of you yet" Peter said jokily as Ronin walked over to join the other Avengers.
"Where the hell is Sofen? Surely a few HYDRA punks couldn't take that broad down!" Venom said looking around.
"Good question" Osborn said as he began to make his way to the remains of the reception room.
"Well I suppose our next move is to try and locate Deadpool we're gonna need his healing factor" Jessica said turning to her fellow Avengers.
"Easier said than done bub that lunatic could be anywhere!" Logan replied.
"AND BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE!"
Everyone's head snapped round as a deafening explosion came from the lab.
"Who the hell?" Ronin said looking for the source of the voice.
Just then a very worn and bloodied looking Deadpool climbed out of the ruins.
"Well that was cool and explody!" he stated looking at his handiwork.
"I know I should be happy we found this guy but I really, really am not" Wolverine sighed looking at the crimson mercenary.
"Logan buddy!" Deadpool shouted happily.
"It's been ages! You still got your pointy things?"
"What the hell did you do, you Psycho?" Osborn said flying at Deadpool and pinning him to the ground.
Deadpool stared up into the glowing eyes of the Iron Patriot.
"What the hell are you looking at?" Osborn growled at him.
"The piece of plastic explosive I just placed on your armor" he smirked.
"What?" Osborn looked down to his chest to see the small bomb stuck to him.
He released Deadpool and stepped back glaring at him as he tore off the explosive.
"Just get out of here before I have you executed!" he snarled at mercenary, he was too tired to deal with the buffoon at this moment in time.
"I don't think he likes us" Deadpool's inner voice said sadly.
"Don't worry I'm sure he'll come round" Deadpool replied cheerfully.
Suddenly Moonstone appeared, she got gingerly to her feet staggering slightly.
"Jesus" Carol gasped as she looked at her Dark doppelganger.
Moonstone's arm was hanging at a sickening angle as if some great force had ripped it from its socket.
"I believe that's my queue to leave" Deadpool piped up as he began to walk away.
"Not so fast Wilson" Logan said stepping in front of him.
"Look Logan, although I love our little reunions I've got places to go and people to blow up! So can we catch up later?" Deadpool groaned.
"Listen Wade we need your help" Carol said fixing him with a stern glare.
"Me?" Deadpool asked clearly surprised.
"It's redesigning your costumes isn't it? I knew eventually you'd get tired and ask a talented artist to help you" he replied joyously.
"Damn he really is insane isn't he?" Cage said turning to Wolverine.
"Your just jealous because the voices only talk to me and you haven't been in one of Marvels multimillion dollar films yet" Deadpool replied in a tone of mock
hurt.
"We need to try and recreate your healing factor" Spider-man said ignoring Deadpools previous ramblings.
"Whoa dude, you know that always ends badly right? Just ask the Skrulls!" the mercenary replied raising an eyebrow.
"I don't have time to explain now" Peter insisted irritably.
"But to sum it up there's a that plague has just been released and we believe your healing factor may be the key to stopping it."
"What kind of plague? The sort that makes you want to go to the toilet all the time?"
"No, it effects peoples brains making them increasingly violent."
"What like Zombies?" Deadpool answered suddenly interested.
"Don't be stupid they are just sick."
"Dude if they are very angry and try to eat people they are zombies! Do you ever go to cinema?" Deadpool insisted.
"Fine call them what you want but the point is I need your DNA to try and formulate a cure."
"Zombies?" his inner voice piped up joyfully
"Yeah it's like someone looked into my head and pulled out my favorite fantasy!" Deadpool replied with equal joy.
"What you do you think they'll be like?"
"huh?"
"As in do you think we are looking at Romero style or these new speedy zombies like in left 4 dead?"
"That was a good game" Deadpool mused.
The New Avengers stared at Deadpool who seemed to be deep in thought.
"What's he doing?" Clint asked turning to Wolverine.
"Probably talking to himself" Logan groaned.
"Dr Sofen would you please explain what the f*** happened here?"
Deadpool and the Avengers turned to look at Osborn who was interrogating Moonstone.
"Some HYDRA agents led by that red freak over there attacked us!" She said pointing an accusing finger at Deadpool.
"So your Deadpool?" Cross said turning to mercenary.
"That I am" Deadpool replied giving a small bow.
"You mean to tell me that crimson idiot put you in that state?" Osborn growled.
"No, someone else was here" Sofen replied propping herself against what was left of a wall.
"Someone else?" Carol questioned.
She had fought Moonstone on a lot of occasions but she'd never seen her in this kind of state before.
"Oh yeah the guy in black jacket!" Deadpool suddenly piped up.
"Yeah, Sargent Matthews was a shape shifter" Moonstone confirmed.
"What?" Cross said shocked.
The man he'd met hadn't rung any alarm bells in fact he was exactly as Taggart had described him.
"I was helpless he was so strong and so fast I couldn't even follow his movements" Moonstone groaned as she attempted to slide her arm back into its
socket.
"Did you recognize him?" Osborn asked staring at her.
"No but as he threw me to the ground he told me to tell Taggart that Alex Mercer is coming for him" she replied quoting the shape shifter.
The news hit Cross like a sledgehammer.
"Mercer was here all along?" he thought In shock "in fact he was only 1 f***ing meter away from me!"
Osborn turned to Cross remembering the name from the conversation Taggart had, had over the phone.
"Captain is there something you've neglected to tell me?" he said fixing the Blackwatch leader with a stern stare.
"Who or what is Alex Mercer?"
"A problem" Cross replied grimly.
"You others" Cross said turning his attention to the New Avengers.
"I propose we continue our feud later, neither of our teams are in any condition to fight."
"Speak for yourself!" Venom snarled through his pointed teeth.
"Agreed" Carol replied as she and the other Avengers began to leave.
"Wade your coming with us" Logan growled begrudgingly.
"But I haven't been paid yet!" Deadpool protested.
"Wilson all we need is your DNA and I'm severely tempted to just take your head rather than the full you" Wolverine said his claws sliding from his knuckles.
"We may as well go with them. There's 8 of them they'll make us come anyway" his inner voice stated.
"Ok I'll come with you. Does this mean I get to be an Avenger?" Deadpool asked excitedly.
"Wilson your lucky your still breathing don't push your luck!"
"Awww c'mon Wolvie it'll be like old times. You and me 2 best-friends on a whirlwind big city adventure!" he said putting an arm over Wolverines shoulder.
"Wilson take your arm off me before I f***ing cut it off!"