RogueNya, Freegirl, Cass of the East, evilspoofauthor, and Wanda W., thanks for reviewing.
Oh, and sorry for the late reply on that request. If I get a chance to smoothly let them make appearances, I'll see if I can include Matt Murdock (Daredevil) or Johnny Storm. (Human Torch.)
This chapter mark's Tony Stark's entry into this little story. (He'll be around for a few chapters, and we'll have dialogue and such, don't worry.) Some more Jubilee/Wolverine friendship building, and Wesley and the Punisher continue in their little battle.
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"Next time, we take the stairs." Wesley said, glancing back at the elevator shaft warily. The Punisher shrugged.
"Logically, security would have locked the elevators down. I would have." He replied, looking a little bit apologetic. "Good to go?" Wesley nodded, clicking the safety off his captured FN SCAR assault rifle. Frank looked around a few times, recalling which way to the park area that the helicopter had landed in. He settled on one direction.
"Let's move." He ordered, striding down the hallway, weapon up and ready. They passed through a set of double doors, then found themselves in a maze of offices and cubicles. Distant gunfire could be heard faintly over the quiet hum of computers and fluorescent lights. These people must've been evacuated in time, Wesley speculated, seeing no signs of combat or struggles. His hands felt like they were vibrating. He glanced at them quickly—the flesh under his fingernails had turned a dark purple from the extreme stress.
Castle walked confidently ahead of him, displaying no fear or hesitation. Wesley glanced into several of the cubicles as they walked by. They were identical but different, adorned by the occupant with photos and trinkets ranging from little bronze statues to tiny aquariums. The two chose a door and went through it. Outside was a wide, decorative hallway, lined with two foot wide square marble columns along each side.
"We're almost done here." A voice rang out up ahead. "The files are secured. Send the chopper back, it's clear." Booted feet clomped on a marble floor. Frank motioned Wesley to stay back. He flattened himself behind a column while Frank crept forward and out of sight. Several seconds passed.
"Get over here." Frank called quietly. Wesley rejoined him, noticing the dead body on the floor a few feet away. Frank was next to a door leading out. "We're clearing that landing zone." Wesley peeked out, noting where the rocks and trees were located, along with the Yakuza. Part of the area was paved with bricks and had several tables, roughly shaped like a triangle, with the longest point leading directly up to their doorway. Decorative boulders lined the paved area's perimeter, with trees scattered round. "I count six Yakuza, probably two more out of my line of sight. I'll take up a position at that boulder, first one to the left, and flank them from there, staying on the left side." Frank whispered, risking another look. They only had another ten seconds or so before the dead mobster's friends came looking for him. "You cover me from here. You should be safe enough, and still able to see half the field. Do you have enough ammo?"
Wesley rechecked the weapon and the spare magazines he had seized. "About a hundred and fifty rounds."
"All right. Remember, wait ten seconds after my first shot, or you'll loose your element of surprise." The Punisher directed. He tensed, about to move low and fast.
"Good luck." Wesley offered, adjusting the rifle's stock up to his shoulder. Castle nodded, then darted forward, using a hunched-over run to try to make it to the rock without being spotted.
"It's the Punisher!" One of the Yakuza shouted, seeing the white skull. Frank ducked behind the boulder as gunfire erupted.
"We've got him surrounded!" Another gangster yelled. The other Yakuza started fanning out, trying to flank him on both sides.
Wesley groaned, abandoning their little plan as he peered through the riflescope. The crosshairs settled over the Yakuza farthest to Castle's left and he squeezed the trigger. BLAM! The enemy collapsed, making the others scramble back. Frank stepped out from cover and shot another, taking him down before advancing. Several Yakuza managed to get to cover and start shooting at the Punisher, making him dive behind some trees. Wesley quickly aimed and fired rapidly, the barrage of rifle fire suppressing the attackers, keeping their heads down long enough for Castle to move up. The deep thumping of helicopter rotors was audible as a UH-1 Huey suddenly appeared from behind another tower, maybe eight hundred yards away.
"Please be Marines, please be Marines…" Wesley muttered to himself. He peered through the rifle's scope, watching as the side door opened, revealing a Yakuza—with rocket launcher. You gotta be kiddin me! Wesley protested silently. "CASTLE! WE GOTTA FALL BACK!" He bellowed, trying to be heard over the gunshots. Castle was still out of sight, fighting the group of Yakuza on the other side of the park. Wesley took a few steps away from cover, trying to spot him. No luck, he was hidden from sight by greenery. The bodyguard gave up trying to find his friend and swung the rifle back up, firing a burst at the chopper, aiming at the gunner. The Yakuza looked straight at him, his attention drawn by the weapon's flashes. "No, no no no no--" Wesley half-screamed in denial, knowing what was about to happen. The small warhead suddenly snaked through the air, leaving a trail of white smoke.
Wesley turned and bolted back down the hallway, slamming himself behind one of the columns ten feet from the door. BOOM! The ground trembled violently and the air suddenly became scorching. One hand went up reflexively, verifying that his hair was still intact. He waited three seconds, then backtracked to the wreckage where the doorway had been. The chopper was much closer, now only two hundred yards or so above them. Bursts of gunfire were still erupting on the ground as the Punisher mopped up the Yakuza foot soldiers. Wesley leaned around the corner and aimed for the pilot, hoping the bullets could shatter the protective bubble around the helicopter's cockpit. He squeezed off two shots, ready to duck out of sight again. BLAM!BLAM!
KA-BOOM!
The chopper exploded, turning into a miniature sun before the burning remains drifted to the ground. Wesley stumbled back and fell down, uncomprehending, his ears ringing despite the plugs in them. A series of smaller explosions followed, detonating several areas of the park. He staggered back to his feet, out into the park. Frank appeared from wherever he had been, looking upward, the white skull on his chest splashed with blood. Wesley's eyes followed, wincing as the sun glinted off the small gold and red shape a fifty yards above them.
Tony Stark. Iron man. He hovered over them for several long moments, then simply turned and flew off, heading elsewhere.
"You… okay?" Wesley asked, trying to steady his breathing. Castle glanced over, then down at himself, as if just noticing the stains.
"Not my blood. I'm fine." He replied evenly, dropping the magazine out of his rifle and slapping a fresh one in. "You good to go?"
"Yeah." Wesley said, sitting down for a moment. "Was that Iron Man? Why'd he leave?"
"It most likely was him." Castle commented, his tone not showing what he thought of the redundant question. "He's probably flying around the facilities, going from one hotspot to the next, wherever the situation is the most critical."
"Nice of him to drop in." Wesley said, slowly reloading his weapon. "He finished off the rest of the Yakuza?"
"There were only two left." Frank informed him. "The chopper could have been a major problem, though." He paused, looking around a few times, his eyes settling on the flaming debris. "Your effort to distract it was helpful."
Wesley's lips curved into a faint smile. The weak complement/thanks meant a fair amount to him, coming from the veteran soldier.
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"What exactly are you planning on doing when we get there? Logan asked loudly, turning his head so Jubilee could hear him. "It's a big place. Lots of buildings and stuff. Could take hours to find him, assuming he's there."
"Maybe you could smell him out or something." Jubilee hollered, her hands around Logan's chest, holding on tightly—going 70mph on a motorcycle was downright scary when you weren't used to it. Logan gave a barking laugh at her response, the vibrations shaking her.
"Smell him out?" Logan repeated, guffawing at the comment. "What am I, a hound dog?"
"You asked!" Jubilee said defensively. She looked around, at the buildings racing past them. And I used to think being stuck in a car was bad. At least I could move around a little! "How much longer 'till we get there?"
"It'll be another half hour." Logan said. "You do realize this is a bike, and not a jet or anything like that?"
"I noticed that, especially with the way you're driving!" Jubilee shot back. "I hope you remember that I don't heal! If we wreck, you'll live, but I'll be a stain on the asphalt!"
"Don't worry about my driving!" Logan said. "We'll both get there in one piece. Course, one or six of those cameras might send Cyke a few tickets!"
"Na-uh," She told him. "Cyke put that spray on his plates. He doesn't get tickets from cameras anymore."
"You had to spoil my fun." Logan groaned. "What next? You're gonna tell me this is an imitation Harley?"
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Hope you liked it, though I realize some would consider it a tiny update. Please review! I am sorry Tony Stark couldn't make a longer appearance, he will in the next chapter. Right now his abilities are needed at the critical hotspots, and he knows the Punisher can take care of himself.
And, for my long-time readers; I started this story over two years ago, and feel I've gotten a lot better since then. So, I'm rewriting the older chapters—for every new update, one of the old chapters will be rewritten, the same plot and actions, but hopefully more enjoyable, more polished and well done. So far chapters 1 and 2 have been rewritten. Go take a look, I think they're a lot better.
Oh, and a small poll. I'm toying with the idea of putting small monologues (sort of journal entries, if you will) by various characters at the beginning of chapters, having characters mulling over what's going on from their individual point of views. (If I did, I'd add monologues to older chapters as they are re-edited and polished.) What do you guys think?