A Few moments earlier back at H.A.M.M.E.R
"Yes!"
"What is it?" Karla asked looking up from her microscope towards Spider-man.
"I've managed to isolate Deadpool's healing factor. Now all i need to do is to stabilize the anti-bodies it creates and the cure should be 100% effective" Peter replied.
"What would happen if we injected that into an infected now then?" Cross asked, momentarily diverting his attention from the radio.
"It would most likely tear the cells apart. The only reason this doesn't happen on Wade is because he has cancer. Thus all the cells that die are instantly replaced but if the body creates more than it can use, well you can imagine what happens. Now throw in infection as well it creates a very explosive combination" Spider-man replied as he switched slides.
Cross's head snapped back to the radio as it crackled into life.
"Captain Cross this is sector 3. Both Greene and Mercer are attacking us we can't hold out much lo.." the man was cut off before he could finish his sentence.
"Damn it both Mercer and Greene are attacking the Red Zone defenses" Cross said getting to his feet.
"Both of them?" Moonstone asked horrified.
"Sounds like they've put their differences aside" Cross replied as he pulled open a suitcase Callahan had left for him earlier. Opening it he found a strange wrist mounted device.
"What's that?" Moonstone asked curiously as he strapped it his arm.
"It's a compact grenade launcher" Cross replied as he checked the ammunition.
"Spider how much of that stuff can you make in 5 minutes?" the Specialist asked turning to Spider-man.
"Probably about enough for one dose but it's more likely to kill the person than cure them" Spider-man said as he began filling the syringe.
"When did I say I wanted to cure Mercer?" Cross replied darkly as he picked up the electric truncheon he'd used a few days earlier.
"How will we find them?" Moonstone asked, looking out the window of the jet as it sped towards the Red Zone.
"The team members wearing one of these remember" Cross replied tapping the scanner on his wrist. "Each one has a tracking becon."
"There's Greene!" Karla growled as they flew over the Red Zone.
"Go help the other's. Me and Spider-man will take care of Mercer" Cross said as he watched Greene throw Iron fist into a wall.
The Dark Ms Marvel leapt from the plane and began speeding towards the other Avengers. Just as she was about to engage Greene, fire erupted from the ground incinerating the infected and causing her to come to a complete halt.
"Whats going on? Did someone hit a gas main or something" she thought using her hands to shield herself from the heat intensity. It was then she noticed the motorbike and its rider.
"Blaze you in there?" Logan asked also shielding himself from the fire.
The Ghost Rider turned its flaming head towards the Avengers but didn't respond.
"This could be a problem" Iron Fist said looking at the spirit of vengeance. "I don't think Blaze is in control right now. From the power he's generating it looks like the Rider is."
Suddenly Greene threw herself at the Rider grabbing him by the head and throwing him into a wall. The bricks and mortar collapsed and part of the building caved in on top of him. Chains erupted from the rubble snaking out and attempted to ensnare Greene. She managed to deflect most of them with her own tendrils but one of the Riders chains managed to snag her round the neck. The chain pulled her sharply towards the falling building and the Rider burst from the rubble hellfire raging around him.
"Let them fight it out lets concentrate on getting the other bystanders to safety" Ronin said as Greene collided with the Rider causing what remained of the building to fall on top of them.
As the Avengers quickly took the civilians out of harm's way a rumbling sound emanated from what was left of the building and Greene came flying out, smashing into the building in the other side of the street. Ghost Rider emerged from the ruins again fire expanding in all directions.
"We need to go now!" Wolverine yelled to his team-mates as the fire burnt his skin. "Blaze isn't in control and Greene is calling in more and more infected."
"We can't just leave!" Mockingbird shouted back striking an infected in the head. "The infected will over-run the defenses and escape into the city."
"If we stay here we're dead! Greene will beat us down or the Rider will fry us" Logan growled as a hunter lept at him.
"Speak for yourself wolfboy" Deadpool replied decapitating a hunter with his katana.
"Incoming!"
Mockingbird turned at Iron Fist's warning but it was too late. The hunter landed on her and brought back its clawed hand preparing a decapitating swipe. The hunter was thrown off as one of the flaming wheels of Ghost Rider's bike struck it in the face. Barbara looked up at the flaming creature from the floor unsure of how to react.
"Its…It's ok I'm in control" Blaze managed to growl through gritted teeth. Reaching out he grabbed Mockingbird by the arm and pulled her onto the back of his bike. "Tell your team to fallback behind the defenses before that red-headed b**** comes too" Ghost Rider hissed as he kicked the motorbike into a higher gear he sped round the infected, lashing out with his chains causing multiple enemies to fall to the floor covered in flames.
"Guys fall back!" Mockingbird called from the back of the bike as Ghost Rider zigzagged round the infected at breakneck speed.
"Looks like we've got our powerhouse" Iron Fist said as he quickly felled two infected and made a break for the defenses. The Avengers quickly regrouped and Ghost Rider came to a halt with them allowing Mockingbird to descend.
"This is their main point of attack right?" Blaze asked in his ghostly voice.
"Yeah this is it. If they get past this blockade we're screwed" Ronin replied watching as the infected also regrouped.
"Good, hold them here I'll keep them from getting any further" Ghost Rider replied as he spun the bike round and sped back down the street leaving the familiar flaming trail behind him.
"He managed to take back control I see" Bullseye said, firing arrows into the approaching infected.
"Under these circumstances that's not such a good thing" Wolverine replied as the Rider cut a flaming swath through the enemy ranks. "When the Rider is in control he can use the full extent of his power. When Blaze is in control he's limited and with the likes of Greene and the rest of the infected I don't know if he can hold out" Logan finished.
"Let's just do what he said and hold them here" Ronin replied also firing arrows into the appraoching attackers.
"What the hell is he doing?" Luke asked watching as Ghost Rider's chains lashed out tearing into the buildings on both sides of the street.
"FALL BACK! HE'S GOING TO BRING THE BUILDINGS DOWN" Mockingbird screamed as she realized what Blaze was going to do.
They all began running back as the buildings surrounding them began to crumble in flames crushing the infected beneath. Ghost Rider sped towards them avoiding the tumbling structures before coming to a halt in front of them. He turned his head a surveyed his handiwork. The road was now completely cut off by a mountain of debris.
"Now that's a blockade" Blaze remarked as he changed back into his human form.
"Damn, you couldn't have warned us you where about to do that?" Mockingbird panted.
"You alright kid?" Wolverine asked looking at Blaze as he propped himself up using his bike breathing heavily.
"Oh yeah I'm just fine. Being forced out of my own body by a vengeful spirit that wants to do nothing more than destroy the guilty doesn't tire me out at all" Jonathan Blaze replied sarcastically as he swatted out a flame on his jacket.
"Well that was ermm…effective" Moonstone said landing beside them.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Spider-man and Cross at the lab?" Iron Fist asked suspiciously.
"They came here to hunt down Mercer" Moonstone replied.
"As that thing is in your head does he talk to you in little yellow boxes too?" Deadpool asked looking at Johnny.
"Nope he generally just tells me to kill people" Blaze replied.
"We aren't so different then" Deadpool said slapping him on the back.
Cross threw himself at Alex causing them both to fall off the side of the building. Peter landed beside Carol looking at her worriedly.
"She's just unconcious don't worry" Jessica groaned from her position against the weather vane. "Don't worry about us go help Cross."
"What the f*** is wrong with you Mercer?" Cross growled as they freefell towards the ground. Cross struck Alex across the face with the electric weapon causing him to shudder under the voltage. "How much more pain and misery are you going to cause before you're happy?" Cross snarled striking him again. He was thrown off Alex as they hit the ground.
"What the f*** are you talking about?" Alex growled getting to his feet and lashing out with his claws. Cross dodged them expertly and pumped a grenade into Alex's face. The explosion threw Alex back.
"Oh don't play dumb with me you sick son of a b****" Cross snarled as he ran forward throwing a punch towards Alex's face. Alex grabbed his arm and locked it behind his back securing Cross in place. "What kind of sick monster releases the virus on innocent civilians? Granted we we're wrong to terminate you but are you really so f***ed in the head that you wanted to take thousands of innocent people with you?" Cross snarled looking over his shoulder at Alex.
"What the hell are you talking about? You released the virus not me" Alex growled back.
"F*** you Mercer! I saw the security tapes. I watched you do it" Cross spat kicking Alex in the leg and ducking under his bladed arm. Alex stepped back in shock.
"That's not true….It can't be true…..I wouldn't" he thought trying to figure out what Cross was saying.
Cross took another swing with his truncheon. Mercer grabbed his arm with one hand and seized his neck with the other.
"Whatever you're accusing me of its nothing compared to what you did. Killing an entire town just to play god with Greene" Alex snarled back. Cross looked at him confused.
"Yeah that's right. I know all about Hope and how you slaughtered everyone in that town just to create Pariah."
Cross looked at him wide eyed. "What the hell are you talking about the virus got lose. I only did what needed to be done!" Cross replied kicking Alex in the stomach.
Alex flinched but didn't relinquish his grip. "He doesn't know" Alex thought. "You really don't get it do you? You're just a f***ing tool. A Blackwatch dog. They point and you kill like a good solider, not even questioning your orders. You think I'm lying? How else would I know about Pariah? If you don't believe me ask Taggart. Kinda strange a rookie who had never experienced combat was sent into Hope don't you think?" Alex said looking Cross in the eyes "Or how about the fact he got promoted to colonel a few months after when it takes years normally!"
Cross's mind was in a mess. This couldn't be true. They would never use him like that. They wouldn't dare. "You're a lying son of a b****!" he yelled breaking out of Alex's grip and firing another grenade into him. The explosion threw Alex back again but this time he landed on his feet.
"Even if you're telling the truth, which I highly doubt, since you b******s put the virus in me I can't remember a god damn thing!" Alex snarled.
Cross stopped dead. "He doesn't remember anything. He thinks we made him into this thing" he thought looking at Alex in shock. "Wait" Cross said relaxing his stance. Alex followed suit watching Cross suspiciously. "Something's wrong here lets both calm the f*** down and try and put this together" Cross breathed.
"Don't you see? This is Hope all over again? You must have thought it strange that they brought Greene here before the infection got to a critical point" Alex said looking at him. Cross was taken aback. "What the hell is going on?" he thought. It was then Cross saw Spider-man jump down behind Mercer.
"No wait stop don't.." Cross began. Spider-man hesitated for a moment then drove the needle into Alex's back "NO!" Cross yelled. Alex span round striking Peter in the head.
"What did you do?" Alex gargled as a black liquid began flowing from his mouth. He tore the syringe from his back and bolted as fast as he could.
"God damn it!" Cross cursed as he watch Mercer run up the side of a building and disappear from view. "What the hell did you do that for?" Cross demanded looming over Peter.
"He was a bad guy. Anyway wasn't that the plan?" Spider-man replied sourly as he got to his feet.
"I told you to stop. He had information!" Cross snarled.
"Well get over it. It's done. The guy's as good as dead now" Spider-man growled back as he turned to walk away. Cross stared after him seething in anger. Mercer had raised questions and he wanted answers.
"Taggart me and you are going to have words!" he muttered under his breath as he began to follow Spider-man.
Peter quickly scaled a wall leaving Cross to go his own way. When he got to the roof he bent over and scooped up Carol who was still unconscious.
"Why did I do that?" he thought "I should have waited for Cross. I might have just killed someone."
"He deserved it. Look at what he did to Carol and Jessica" the symbiote hissed. Peter turned to look at Jessica who had managed to get to her feet.
"You're right" Peter replied darkly as he went to help Jessica as well. With Carol under one arm and Jessica holding onto his neck he swung off to regroup with the other Avengers. When he got to them Cross was already there.
"Hey webs long time no see" Blaze commented, leaning against his bike.
"When did you get here?" Spider-man asked surprised at Ghost Rider's presence.
"With all this going on how long did you think it would take before the Rider got pissed enough to drag me here?" he replied.
"Ah I see" Peter replied placing Spider-woman on her feet.
"What the f*** was that back there?" Cross asked putting himself in front of Peter. "When I give you an order I expect you to follow it. I'm the only one here with any experience with the virus!"
"Fat lot of good it seemed to be doing you" Spider-man growled back.
"Mercer was more valuable alive he had information we could have used" Cross snapped.
"That's just your opinion" Peter growled, grabbing Cross by the collar.
"Whoa, whoa lets calm down" Logan said stepping between them.
"And where the hell where you when Spider-woman and Ms Marvel where getting attacked by Mercer? Hiding in a tree trunk?" Spider-man snarled turning to the mutant.
"You better calm down kid" Wolverine replied curtly as his claws snapped from his hands.
"You wanna go? Fine we'll see if the skeleton of yours really is unbreakable" Spider-man snarled balling his hands into fists.
Carol had come round and was watching the conversation in quiet horror. The way Peter was speaking he sounded so much like Kaine.
"Spider?" she said softly putting a hand on his shoulder. The symbiote reacted aggresivly to her touch creating pointed tendrils to try and lacerate her hand.
"What do you need her for" it hissed angrily. "You have us. We are one."
It was then Peter realized that the symbiote was starting to take hold. "I'm sorry. I've gotta get this thing off" Spider-man said as he began tearing at the alien.
"We need the cure first. Just try and hold out for another day" Moonstone said. "You're no use to any of us dead!"
Note: Normally I update every 6 days but I had some spare time this weekend.
