One Year Later

Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to DC or Marvel. I own Farrah/Persiana, Leon/Crisis, and Bast.

Chapter 36: Deal Breaker

In an undisclosed location…

Crisis and Mirage were back at the Howling Commandos' base of operations, and the red-eyed commando was getting apprised of the situation that happened in Kasnia,

"So, the Red Skull really was making nerve gas."

Deadpool shook his head,

"Where have you been? Oh, wait; you've been captured by General Lane for the last few chapters. Now, we've got to reunite our psychic illusion making hottie with her daughter."

Miriam blinked,

"Yes, but how did you know that? We haven't told you what happened."

Deadpool smirked under his mask,

"Come on. Am I the only person that reads this thing? Speaking of which, Arsenal got a new arm."

Arsenal and Troia walked in, the red-headed archer having a new, metallic arm that replaced the one that Daken had cut off. Roy smirked,

"Hey, Leon."

Farrah walked in behind them, running as fast as she could with an enlarged stomach,

"Sweetie!"

Leon smiled,

"Farrah."

He hugged her, gently but strongly. The white-haired young woman said,

"In a few more weeks, I'll be a mother. I'm so happy."

A tear trailed down her cheek. This was the happiest she had been in a while, since being reunited with the man she loved.

Fury said,

"Well, now that we've gotten ourselves reacquainted, there's the matter to discuss about Mirage's kid."

Wade nodded,

"Right. And, we have nerve gas. Let's use it! Or, better yet, we can market it and sell it like cologne. Can you imagine the slogan? 'You'll be a real killer with this.' What do you think?"

Bast shook her head in disgust,

"You sicken me, mortal."

Deadpool grinned,

"Flattery will get you nowhere with me, my dear. Then again, it might."

Fire said,

"We still have not been able to locate Talia's child. Daken was incinerated before we had a chance to grab him."
Crisis added,

"Not to mention the flare up I had before I got captured. It's bad. I know who Daken's working for, and it's really bad."

Deadpool clasped his hands on the side of his face,

"Oh noes! We're not going to find out because the insane author of this story is going to have us focus on finding Mirage's child first. And, maybe get back at General Lane too."

There was an uncomfortable silence as everyone looked at the Merc-with-a-mouth. Leon said,

"And I thought I scare people."

Meanwhile…

General Lane was meeting with General Rock, Amanda Waller, and the president of the United States, Pete Ross.

Pete Ross was from Smallville and portrayed himself as what the American spirit was all about; hardworking, determined, accepting, and promoting freedom. His election was controversial to say the least, with many believing him to be too young and too inexperienced to handle the power of the presidency, but Ross was able to prove them and his critics wrong at every turn. This vexed his opponents and often tried to ridicule his up-bringing as out of date for the future.

Presently, the president, in his late fifties, still had his blonde hair, but was also starting to show some gray. He sat down with his three guests and said,

"What happened?"
Lane said,

"Crisis escaped, sir. He had help from my secretary."

Amanda added,

"Kasnia was also attacked by the Howling Commandos, sir. Several of our agents report Colonel Rajak was found dead in a laboratory we believe was making weaponized nerve gas."

Ross asked,

"Is there any way to determine whether or not the Howling Commandos have this nerve gas?"

Waller shook her head,

"Our agents are still working on that, sir."

She then said,

"If I may, Mr. President. Perhaps we should distance ourselves from the pursuit of the Howling Commandos. Technically, we can't prove they exist."

Lane looked at the head of Checkmate,

"Are you out of your mind? These terrorists are out there, possibly attacking the United States as we speak!"

Waller shook her head, saying,

"I realize what you are saying, but, it would be worse politically to go after ghosts. If we did anything to find them, a lot of other countries would think we are just using people as scapegoats for our own ends.

In the middle of the table was a speaker phone the president used to carry conference calls. It clicked on and a voice said,

"The woman has a point, Mr. President."

Everyone in the room blinked and Lane instantly recognized that voice,

"Crisis."

Crisis, on the other end of the line, chuckled,

"Hello, Lane. Tell me; how's the ear?"

Lane touched his bandaged ear and hissed,

"I will hunt you down to the ends of the Earth if I have to-."

Leon then said,

"You're looking for the nerve gas from Kasnia, aren't you?"

Ross narrowed his eyes,

"How did-?"

The red-eyed commando shook his head,

"Don't ask how I know these things, sir. Half the time, even I'm not sure how I know. The point is, I just do, and I want to make a deal."

Waller folded her arms,

"And, what makes you think we should be dealing with you?"

Crisis said,

"I may know something about the nerve gas you don't, but I want something out of it. A friend of mine lost a little girl and wants her back. The girl's name is Julienne Delgado."

Amanda maintained a stoic front as the president asked,

"That's it?"

Leon nodded,

"That's it. Oh, and, Mr. President, could you instruct everyone else to leave the room? I want to talk to you in private."

Lane stood up, slamming his fist on the table,

"What give you the right to make demands like this? I ought to-."

Ross said with authority,

"Lane, that's enough."

He nodded,

"Fine. They'll leave so we can talk."

Lane looked up, wanting to protest, but a stern gaze from the president prevented him from doing so.

Once the three were out, President Ross said,

"They're gone."

Crisis said,

"Thank you. Sir, I know that what you've heard of me and, to be honest, I don't like what I do either."

Ross was a but surprised by the statement,

"Then, why do you do it?"
Leon sighed as he leaned against a wall,

"Sir, someone once told me that, if you don't do everything in your power to stop terrorists, then you might as well help them plant the bomb. It's something that's stuck with me for a while, and I know how restrictive and politically sensitive the office of the executive branch is. I've read up on you, sir. You're controversial, but can be trusted."

Ross nodded,

"All right. It sounds to me like you want to do more for your country. Why not just join the military?"

Crisis shook his head,

"I'm sorry, sir. While that is an honorable decision, the real threats are not something the military could combat under normal circumstances. At least, with my way, you would be totally insulated from our activities, and that people would think we're just shadows; myths that are used to scare children in the night. Mr. President, I give you my word, my team and I will not attack any person on U.S. soil. That is a guarantee."

Ross said,

"You know, despite your honesty, and I believe you that you won't do this, but I need more than if I am to take you seriously."

Leon nodded,

"I understand, sir, and I expect to be no less different than with me. If I agree to give you one canister of nerve gas as a sign of faith, plus a second for Julienne's location, would you agree to that?"

Ross thought it over for a minute. This was teetering dangerously close to the line of negotiating with terrorists, but, from all the intelligence gathered, which was extremely little, this group had not targeted any American interests. In fact, Crisis had gone out of his way not to harm any American lives, or any innocent lives. He was not a terrorist against the United States, but a lot of other countries may feel differently, especially in Kasnia. He said,

"Let me speak with my staff on how to proceed."

Crisis said,

"Fine, I'll call back later."

With that, he hung up. Ross called the three back in and said,

"Waller, find out about whoever this Julienne Delgado is."

Lane was furious,

"You're actually going to negotiate with this man? A known terrorist?"

General Rock shook his head,

"Sir, what are you going to do?"

Ross sighed,

"I don't know. I just don't know."

General Lane could not believe what was happening. The president of the United States was making a deal with a known terrorist. He had to do something, something that would save his country…

Next Chapter:

Lane plans a dangerous gambit against the Howling Commandos. Stay tuned, fellow readers!