"Come on, come on…" Amira urged as the Misfits and X-Men quietly made their way through the Terror-Dome.
"We're going as fast as we can." Althea said as calmly as she could. "This place is huge and your friends could be anywhere…"
"Anyone hear that whistling sound?" Todd asked.
"What whistling…" Lance started right before a battered B.A.T. crashed through the wall. "Nevermind."
"I think we found them." Althea quipped as she stepped through the hole in the wall. "Oh my god…"
"Get him!" Cobra Commander shrieked as an enraged Vladimir tore through squad after sqaud of B.A.T.s.
"I'm going to stomp you snakes flat!" Vladimir roared. "You're dead! Got that? DEAD!" He fried another B.A.T. into a pool of sludge.
"If he doesn't stop soon he's going to bring the whole building down!" Scott exclaimed.
"Um guys? Some bad news." Althea winced. "This is the nerve center for the entire Terror-Dome…for all of Cobra, including their satellites and rockets! As much fun as trashing it would be…"
"…We don't want to accidentally start World War Three either." Scott finished. "X-Men, take him down fast!"
"WAIT!" Amira shouted as she stood in front of him. "You can't just go in there and attack him!"
"I'll go in first." Althea said. "Yvonne," she turned to her. "You just be ready to do…whatever it is you're doing when you're ready."
"He has to be calm." Yvonne reminded her. "His mind is too scrambled when he's mad."
"I'll try to talk some sense into him." Althea said.
"Yeah, sure. That'll work." Pietro snorted as Vlad hurled energy blasts around with near-reckless abandon.
"Althea…maybe Amira or I should go—" Lina suggested. Althea shook her head.
"No. I have to do this."
"But, Al—" Todd started to say but Althea just headed straight for him. She wasn't a moment too soon. A hapless Cobra trooper who lost his weapon was in Red Nova's sights. The soldier hugged the wall behind him and pleaded for his life. Vlad really wasn't in a listening mood.
"Do svidanya." Vlad grinned. The Cobra cringed.
"Vladimir, stop!" Althea shouted. "You don't want to do this!" Vladimir turned around to glare at her.
"Just what I need." He sneered. "More nuisances to take care of." The Cobra Viper fled. Vlad looked annoyed. "I'll just get him later."
"Vladimir—Vlady—don't you remember me…at all?" Althea asked. Vlad winced at her and slowly shook his head.
"What are you trying to pull?" He wondered at her. "I'm still going to beat the crap out of you."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that." Althea said as she dropped into a fighting stance.
"You don't have the power to defeat me." Vlad sneered as his hands started glowing red.
"Maybe not," Althea admitted. "But I can kick your ass." Without the slightest warning, she launched herself at him, her foot aimed directly for his head.
Vlad ducked. His enraged state quickened his reflexes and senses beyond what was humanly normal.
"Is this what she calls calming him down?" Amira gaped as she watched Vlad and Althea start to fight.
"Althea knows what she's doing…" Lina assured her. "…I hope."