Avengers: Wreckage

Chapter Twenty Nine

"You know, it would be really nice if we could grill Morgan Stark about all this," Carol Danvers sighed as she reviewed the story she was writing on the rise and apparent fall of local crime lord Amora the Enchantress.

Monica Stewart was leaning over her shoulder, reading avidly. "Man this is cracky," she noted. "So another crime lord has moved in and bumped Amora out of a job," she asked.

"Hmm." Carol nodded, "And we don't know who it is."

"And this Morgan worked for Amora," Monica noted. "I thought the police transcripts of her interview with the cops was pretty complete?"

"It's not bad," Carol admitted, "but there's stuff that's not covered. How did he hook up with Amora? Why? All that. The cops are more interested in getting evidence against Amora."

"Assuming they can charge her," Monica noted. "Who has jurisdiction on Asgardians?" she asked jokingly.

"Damn if I know," Carol admitted. She sighed, "And the cops won't let the press interview her, of course."

"Why of course?" Monica asked.

"The current theory is that she was mind-wiped by the Master Planner and cut loose," Carol explained to her thoughtfully, "but what if they're wrong? So they're limiting access in case someone wants to off her."

"Sounds fun," Monica nodded. "Now, for the reason I came over..."

"Uh oh," Carol quipped.

Monica snickered. "You've begged off the last few nights out with the girls," she said "and feelings are starting to be hurt. What's up?"

Carol opened her mouth, then closed it. The truth was she was running ragged chasing down stories AND covering her Force Works duties. But she couldn't tell her coworkers that.

Monica looked amused, "Cat got your tounge?"

"I can't," Carol finally sighed, "I'm sorry. I'm chasing down something, and I can't drop it. Not right now."

Monica's expression was neutral but a bit disappointed as she answered, "Fair enough. Catch you later."

Carol rather thought that the invitations to the lady's nights were now over, but oh well. She watched Monica walk away a moment, then with a sigh went back to work. She wasn't just digging for the fun of it... she wanted to find the woman who beat her senseless. She wanted Delilah.

The phone rang, and Carol picked it up with one hand as she typed with the other. "Yeah?" she asked briskly.

"Hey, Ace," the gravelly voice said.

"Patch," Carol grinned, sitting back, "been awhile. How's being a Avenger treating you?"

Logan laughed, "I really don't think I fit in here. Any chance you can come back and keep me company with these yahoos?"

"Sorry, Logan," Carol smiled wryly, "I've got my own stuff to deal with out here. Not to mention my own bunch of yahoos."

Logan sounded amused as he said, "Fair enough. Talked to Spidey about your friend Delilah, but he doesn't know that much."

"I'll take what I can get," Carol sighed.

"She first appeared as a enforcer for a crime lord called The Rose," Logan said briskly, "who may have been Richard Fisk. She claims to be able to crush a tank in her hands. While being super strong and tough, she ain't THAT great a fighter, having gotten beat by Tarantula and Spidey."

"Spidey beating her doesn't mean she's weak," Carol noted as she added wryly, "Spidey's a tough customer, really."

Logan grunted. "Anyway, turns out Rose didn't have staying power and quit. Left Delilah at loose ends, she did some merc work, then headed west. Got involved with some Mutant Growth Hormone dealers, then dropped outta sight."

"Probably got bailed out of jail by her new boss," Carol speculated. "I could do some searches of bail bondsmen and such..."

"Haven't got anything on the Master Planner," Logan added, "been used by more than a few costumed nuts over the years."

"Well, we'll do some digging on this end," Carol said. She paused a second, "Honestly, please ask the rest of the Avengers to keep an eye on what's going on here too."

Logan sounded surprised, "It's that bad?"

"Not sure," Carol admitted, "but whoever this 'Master Planner' is, they apparently have the resources to deploy a small army of costumed villains, AND may have access to advanced weapons. That tends to worry me."

"Join the club," Logan agreed. "We'll keep our eyes open," he promised.

"Be careful out there," Carol said and they hung up.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"So, what do you think of Ultra Girl?" Olivia addressed the team thoughtfully.

The heroes were gathered for the daily meeting, though it was pretty informal. They mostly drank coffee or soda and caught up each other on what was going on. Each hero often patrolled on their own, as well as working together. They were also each working angles on the identity of the mysterious Master Planner.

"Well... she's enthusiastic," Carol offered mildly.

"Not seeing the point," Jackie shook her head, "her power set is the same as Carol's, except weaker." She looked at Carol, "No offence."

"None taken," Carol shrugged. "According to my sources she's part Kree too, somehow. So I suppose it makes sense."

Jennifer nodded too, "I wouldn't object to calling her if we need added muscle, but otherwise? Not seeing the point."

"Mean, but accurate," Olivia noted. "I've heard back from some of my ads for super hero recruits..."

"Yeah?" Jackie asked.

"Captain Ultra needs work..." Olivia offered.

"Pass," Carol winced as everyone else cringed at the rainbow costume.

"Is Wonder Man still active?" Jennifer asked.

"Mostly on the East Coast," Olivia noted, dissapointed. "He's trying to get a superhero reality TV thing going."

"That sucks," Jackie sighed.

"I'm seriously looking into just hiring and training our own allies," Olivia admitted with a sigh.

"Fight fire with fire?" Carol mused. "After all, that is kind of what Master Planner seems to be doing too."

"Point," Olivia nodded. She was about to say something else, when her pager rang. She checked the readout, then blinked, "Security says we have a unauthorized person at the gates, asking for Force Works."

"Who?" Jackie asked.

"Donna Blake," Jennifer noted as she read over Olivia's shoulder, "the stunt woman we fought in the Beetle armor."

"Send her in?" Olivia suggested and got nods of agreement as Jackie and Carol switched to their costumed modes.

Within a few minutes May Scott escorted the woman in, looking disapproving. "Would you like me to stay?" she asked, touching her side arm.

Olivia smiled faintly, "Oh, I think things will be fine." As May left she nodded to Donna, "Take a seat. What can we do for you?"

"Thank you," Donna said, the slightly older, athletic blond sitting down with a sigh. She was dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt, and seemed deeply tired somehow. "I appreciate your being willing to see me, considering what happened," she added.

Carol leaned forward, "Why did you want to see us?"

Donna took a deep breath, then puffed it out. "I think someone is trying to kill me," she admitted.

To be continued...