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Chapter 33
Absalom
The skies above Manhattan
Cap opened the throttle of his sky-cycle, surging forward on a burst of repulsor-powered speed. Joey Chapman came up on his left, riding his own cycle. In his black armored Union Jack uniform, with his blue chest piece displaying the red-and-white stripes of the British flag, and his gleaming black helmet, he gave the appearance of a modern day Knight of the Round Table. Revving the cycle forward, Union Jack activated his transmitter.
"These things are brilliant! What's their top speed—and where can I buy one?"
"300 miles-per-hour, and you can't," Cap answered. "Sorry, but Stark builds them exclusively for the Avengers."
"Hmm, maybe I can get Richard Branson to build me one."
"First things first, Jack—see if you can reach the Punisher."
Jack nodded, and placed the call. Cap's com-unit flashed. Vision was on the line.
"Cap, I've sent out a priority alert. All available members are in route, but you are on your own for the next forty-five minutes."
"Should have it wrapped up by then, if all goes well."
Vision looked uncertain. "Given your recent health crisis, I am uncomfortable leaving you without back up. Perhaps I should join you."
"You're duty officer this quarter, Viz, your place is there, coordinating for the team. Besides, I've got Jack with me. He's top flight."
"I do not question Mr. Chapman's qualifications, Cap. It's the Punisher that concerns me."
"You're not alone there…but whatever else you can say about Frank Castle, he's one hell of a fighter. Stay on post, Vision. I'll be in touch."
Union Jack hailed Cap on the two-way transmitter. "I've tried all channels, but no answer. Should I try…uh oh. So much for the element of surprise," Jack said, pointing to where smoke was rising on the horizon.
Cap frowned. "Dammit. All right, we come in fast and hard. You and Punisher concentrate on the Hydra troopers, I'm going for Zabo. It's critical we neutralize him before he can take that potion."
"Roger that. See you on the deck."
They were over the target: a massive warehouse complex, with smoke pouring from the main building. The sound of gunfire rang out, Castle playing the role of one-man-army. Cap programmed his cycle to hover a hundred feet above the roof. Jack did likewise, tossing out a rappelling line. Slinging his shield over his left arm, Cap jumped from his vehicle, feet first. Flying past Jack, he spun in midair, holding his shield like a battering ram, and tore through the roof. At the last instant, he flipped, landing hard, the walls rattling from the impact. He was in the middle of three-dozen Hydra fighters, staring at him in stunned amazement. Cap swept his shield in a wide arc, scattering men like ten-pins. A trooper charged forward, firing his pistol. Cap blocked the shot with his shield, slamming his boot into the man's chest, sending him flying into a clutch of soldiers. Union Jack dropped to Cap's left, tossing smoke grenades and laying down gunfire. The Hydra squad leader shouted out.
"Ignore him—kill Captain America!"
The Hydra troopers formed skirmish lines, and launched their attack. Jack leapt to cover, mowing down three shooters, while Hydra directed their fire on Cap. He angled his shield, deflecting two of the beams, but one caught him in the chest. His tunic took the brunt of the blast, the rest he shook off. He charged forward, two more beams hitting him, and then a third and a fourth, enough juice to drop a horse. Cap grabbed the rifle from one of the fighters and smashed it over his head. Two more shooters took his place, blasting Cap, and he dropped to a knee. Jack raced to Cap's side. "Get them," the Hydra leader shouted. "Kill the dogs!"
An explosion ripped through the first skirmish line, tearing the Hydra troopers apart. A dark figure charged through the smoke, launching another rocket-grenade at the line of Hydra troopers.
"Suck on that," Punisher shouted. The remaining Hydra forces, about twenty in all, fell back. Jack and Cap took cover as Punisher laid down covering fire.
"Are you all right?" Jack shouted. Cap flashed an 'OK'. "We've got your six, go find Zabo!"
Cap sprinted towards the rear of the huge warehouse, weaving through columns of packing crates. The sting of the energy beams was slow to fade. They shouldn't have landed in the first place, he thought, grimly. You've lost a step, Rogers. Get it together.
Spotting a row of offices above with the lights on, he charged up the stairs. Bullets ricocheted around him; sniper, hidden in the scaffolding. Ripping the shield from his arm, he launched it at the shooter, knocking him from his perch. The man fell screaming to the floor, an eighty foot drop, as the shield rebounded off a steel support beam. Cap caught it, clearing the last ten steps in a single leap.
He crashed through the office door. Zabo was pressed against the wall, his dark eyes glittering in equal parts fear and anger. He wore an antiquated suit, oversized and garish, oddly contrasting with his slight build, and ferret-like face. He reached towards the desk in front of him, where a vial of greenish-black liquid waited.
"Freeze, Zabo!" Cap raised his shield, making Zabo pull his hand back. "My team is mopping up the last of your forces. Whatever Hydra was planning, it's over."
"Over? We've only begun," Zabo said, his glazed eyes and twitching hands the perfect image of a wretched addict. "The Red Skull will have this world, Avenger…but New York belongs to Mister Hyde! It's a shame you won't live to see the new city I'll raise from the ashes."
"Tell it to the doctors at Belleview. I'm taking you in."
As Cap moved forward, a shadow dropped from above. He dodged a second too late. A green-and-purple garbed figure fell on him, twisting, wrapping, writhing. Cap dropped his shield as cold, scaly arms snaked around his neck, and legs constricted around his abdomen, squeezing with terrific force.
"Hold him, Cobra!" Zabo shouted, diving for the vial. Cap kicked out, slamming his boot into the desk. The vial tumbled to the grimy concrete floor, shattering. The noxious brew seeped out, smoking and acrid. "No!" Zabo cried, dropping to his knees.
Cobra tightened his grip, cutting off Cap's airway. Although his strength was far less than Cap's, his cartilage, bone and muscle tissue had the elasticity of his namesake, making his grip immensely strong. Cap pushed back, slamming Cobra into the wall, shattering plaster and cracking the framework. Cobra cried out in pain, and his grip loosened. Cap got his hands around Cobra's wrists, slowly unwinding his grip.
At the last second, Cobra let go. He slithered back and took aim with the weapon mounted to his wristband. Cap slammed his foot down on his shield, flipping it into his hands, just in time to bat away the poison-tipped darts hurtling his way. He charged Cobra, landing a massive kick that sent him hurtling through the window, into the iron railed catwalk outside, where he fell, unconscious. Cap turned to his other opponent.
"All right, Zabo, let's…"
Zabo was on his hands and knees, bent to the floor, his tongue lapping the blackish stain there, putting his lips to it, sucking up the dirt and grime. Cap dashed over, grabbing the scrawny scientist by the collar of his loose fitting coat, hauling him away. Zabo reached up, grabbing Cap's wrist.
"No…not Zabo," the man said, his voice growing deeper, and his grip strong. He rose to his feet, laughing as Cap tried to pull free. "It's no longer that absurd little man you have to deal with..."
Zabo's clothing was no longer ill-fitting; he stood half-a-head taller than Cap, and was growing. His body expanded ever wider, thick slabs of muscle swelling his frame, twisting the features of his face, thickening his brow, making his jaw heavy. His lips curled back in a cruel parody of a smile. Cap slammed his fist into that brutish face. It was like hitting a cement mixer. He struggled to pull free from the iron grip that was crushing him.
"Now you must contend with HYDE!"
Hyde threw Cap, smashing him through the plaster wall. He sailed over the catwalk, into a stack of crates, and fell twenty feet to the concrete floor. Hyde kicked out the remainder of the wall and leapt down, the impact like the crashing of a boulder. Cap shook the daze from his senses and headed to meet Hyde.
"Good, Avenger, good! I don't want to end it too quickly, where's the sport in that?" Hyde let out a peal of laughter, the sound earsplitting. Nearly ten-feet in height, he lumbered forward, and crouched down, his face inches from Cap. His smile was a pastiche of good humor.
"This isn't the first time you've opposed me, but I promise, it will be the last. I will grind your bones to paste. Have you any last words before you die?"
"Yes. Try a better mouthwash."
Hyde's mirth evaporated. Howling in rage, he lifted his huge hands overhead and hammered down with all his might. Cap raised his shield, catching the shattering blow. The vibranium in his shield deflected and absorbed the kinetic energy Hyde's blow unleashed, but the sheer weight of the man drove Cap to his knees. Cap spun in a tight circle, wind-milling the edge of the shield into Hyde's shin, with a colossal whack! Bellowing in pain, Hyde reached out to clutch Cap, too slowly. Cap dove in a somersault, tumbling between the monster's wide-set legs. He hammered his fist into Hyde's crotch, rolled out behind him, and drove a kick into the back of his knee, drooping him. Cap reared back with his shield, but with greater speed than seemed possible, the behemoth twisted, backhanding Cap.
At the last second Cap lifted his shield, catching most of the blow—if he hadn't, the impact would have crushed his skull. He flew through the air, blacking out as he smashed into the brick wall sixty feet away. Lying on the cool concrete floor, he heard the sound of enormous footfalls. In an act of superhuman tenacity, Cap willed himself into standing.
Open…your…eyes…Rogers
Hyde was charging, his hands outstretched like meat hooks. Taking a moment to steady himself, Cap wound up and flung his shield, sacrificing control for power. A streak of color slammed into Hyde's face with a sickening crunch. Hyde stopped in his tracks, tottered, then dropped to his knees. The shield rolled back to Cap and he strapped it to his arm.
"You will die slowly for that," Hyde said, spitting out bloody fragments of teeth as he stood. "I'll make you beg for death, Avenger. Do you hear me? Beg!"
"You know, I just don't see it happening." Cap narrowed his eyes. "Come get it, Hyde."
Hyde remained where he was. At the last second, Cap realized why: again, a shadow dropped from above, and again, he was a fraction too slow to avoid it.
"Hurry," Cobra shouted, locking his coils around Cap. "I can't hold him long!"
Hyde stamped forward, laughing.
. . .
On the other side of the warehouse, the firefight ended, the remaining Hydra soldiers surrendering. Punisher stood guard as Jack secured the prisoners, using packing tape to bind their arms tightly behind their backs, securing them to an iron handrail. As he finished with the final trooper, Jack looked at Castle.
"You see? Not necessary to kill them all, now is it?"
"Depends how you define 'necessary'. Scum like this forfeit their right to live."
The squad leader laughed. "A weakling, arguing with a psychopath, how pathetic! I serve a greater cause than fools like you could understand."
Punisher walked over to the man, unholstering his Desert Eagle .44. "Cut off one head, two more will take its place. Isn't that what you pukes say?" He chambered a round and pointed the barrel at the Hydra leader's suddenly pale and drawn face. "Show me."
"Castle," Jack said, laying his hand on his own sidearm. "Back off."
Punisher turned, slowly, his expression icy. "I like your style, Jack…but don't get in my way."
Jack pulled his gun, not pointing it, but holding it at the ready. "Drop it, Castle. Last warning."
Neither man gave way. A crash echoed from the other side of the warehouse, ending the brief standoff. "Cap's in trouble," Jack said, dashing off. Castle cursed under his breath. He turned to the Hydra squad leader.
"This is you're lucky day, scumbag. I don't have time to kill you."
Punisher clubbed the man with the butt of his handgun, and then ran after Jack, scooping up the rocket launcher on the way.
. . .
Hyde swung a backhand swipe at Cap, who spun, letting Cobra take the brunt of the blow. The impact sent them flying across the floor. Cobra's grip loosened, but not enough for Cap to free himself. He got to his feet, raking Cobra against a stack of shipping crates, making him scream.
"Like that, Cobra?"
"Laugh...while you can, Avenger."
Hyde charged forward again, as Cap struggled to free himself from Cobra's grip.
. . .
Jack rushed into the shipping bay, seeing a massive beast that could only be Hyde charging Cap, who was struggling with another opponent. Jack strafed Hyde's enormous back with machine-gun fire. To his astonishment, the creature didn't fall; he turned and glared at him, his face a twisted mask of rage.
"Jack," Cap shouted. "Watch out! Hyde's bullet proof!"
Punisher came up beside Jack. "Let's see if he's grenade proof."
Punisher launched a rocket grenade at Hyde, the explosion rocking the area. When the smoke cleared, Hyde, his clothing rent, was still standing, shaken, but unbowed. He charged them.
"I will eat your hearts!"
"Son-of-a-bitch," Punisher said, "I guess he is. I'm out, Jack. Got any ideas?"
"One or two."
Jack grabbed a packet from his belt, and hurled it forward. It ruptured on impact, spreading a thin, viscous liquid at Hyde's feet. The monster's legs kicked out, slamming him on his back. He scrambled forward, furious. Jack tossed smoke grenades, turning to Punisher.
"Plan B, Castle. Split up and hit him with everything we have."
"I got plenty," Punisher said, grabbing the Uzi from his back.
. . .
Cobra held on with desperate strength, but Cap finally wedged his hands between his neck and the stranglehold, forcing the man's arms apart. As before, Cobra gave up the attack, pulling free for another tactic. Cap was ready for him. As Cobra fired a burst of gas from his wrist weapon, Cap grabbed his arm and twisted it backwards. The gas hit him flush, and he fell instantly. Cap turned to see Hyde attacking Jack. Punisher blasted him with machine gun fire, to no effect. Cap charged forward.
. . .
Jack felt Hyde's massive hands close around his face and neck, squeezing with hideous strength. He would have died instantly but for his helmet and body armor...but they couldn't hold long against the inhuman power bearing down on him.
"Scream little man!"
"Not…bloody…likely. "
Jack unloaded his Browning into Hyde's gut, adding to the firepower Punisher was unleashing, as cordite smoke filled the air. The brute was unfazed, his grip growing tighter...
Cap fell on Hyde like righteous fury, swinging his shield with the force of a steam hammer, slamming the giant's wrist, loosening his grip. Cap backhanded Hyde with his shield, and Jack dropped free, rolling to the ground, gasping. Punisher jumped on Hyde's back, blasting him with his handgun, but Hyde shrugged him off, flinging him into a stack of crates, where he fell, unconscious. Hyde, his eyes blazing black rage and jolly humor, charged forward.
Cap stood toe-to-toe with Hyde, raining blow after blow on his huge frame. Jack watched in amazement as Cap dodged most of Hyde's punches, deflecting others with his shield, and shaking off two blows of such terrible strength that Jack felt them twenty feet away. Moving almost faster than the eye could follow, Cap pressed the attack, but the giant met him with fury, driving him back, inch by inch. Jack stood, clearing his senses. He had to help Cap, but how? Scanning the shipping bay, he found his answer, and ran off. Hyde laughed, pressing his attack on Cap.
"Your sycophants are gone, Captain. Time to die."
Cap launched his shield, caroming it off Hyde's knee, making him scream. "Maybe," he said coolly, strapping his shield back on. "But you won't be dancing a jig when this is over."
Hyde growled. "You won't live to see it…but would you care to hear the Skull's plans for the world? I should like to see the look of failure in your eyes as I snuff the life from your broken body."
"You're boring me, Hyde. And I don't snuff easily."
With a fierce snarl, Hyde thudded forward, but a voice called out, halting him.
"Hey, gruesome, forget about me?"
Hyde turned, seeing Jack, his helmet off, standing at a control panel, looking upward, towards a loading crane swing into position, directly overhead. Jack smiled at Hyde, then released the payload.
Cap rolled away as thirty tons of steel and wood crashed down, burying Hyde. As dust swirled, Hyde crawled from the shifting debris, rising up on wobbling legs. Cap stood at the ready as Jack raced over, his gun drawn. Hyde took two staggering steps and then fell. He was out cold.
The Punisher staggered over, looking at the fallen figure. "Think I'll stick to mobsters. This superhero shit is too much like work."
"Is it just me," Jack asked, "or is he…shrinking?"
"He's becoming Zabo again," Cap answered. "He only had a small dose of his potion. Lucky for us, because this wouldn't have stopped him for long."
Jack holstered his weapon. "That was a hell of a show you put on, Cap. Are you all right?"
"I am, thanks to you." He slapped a hand on his shoulder. "Jack…the giant killer. Good work, partner."
Cap turned to the Punisher. "Castle, I told you to wait for us."
"Hold it with the lecture," Punisher said, meeting Cap's disapproving stare. "Hydra was moving the weapons out when I got here, they'd have had them all on the street if I hadn't hit them. As it is, they got truck loads in distribution."
Police sirens sounded outside, faint, but growing nearer. "That's my cue," Punisher said, grabbing the Uzi and the rocket launcher. He turned to Cap. "You're one hell of a soldier. For you, I'll keep the bloodbath to a minimum."
"Where are you headed?"
"Philadelphia—this isn't the only weapons cache I've gotten wind of. I'm on Hydra's case for the duration." He turned to Union Jack. "Good work, Jack. You SAS boys are alright."
As Punisher dashed off, Jack turned to Cap. "Should we let him go? I know he helped us, but..."
Cap shook his head. "I don't think anything this side of death will stop the Punisher. I don't approve of his tactics, but in the fight ahead, we'll will need all the help we can get. Let's move."
Using their remote controls, they brought the sky cycles down. Cap called the police as he and Jack mounted their rides.
"Take special care with Zabo, make absolutely certain he has no contraband on him. Be careful of Cobra, too, he's a slippery s.o.b.."
"Will do, Cap," the police chief said. "You better get with your team—all hell's breaking out. Hydra's launched attacks in Philly, Denver, Atlanta, all over. We need the Avengers like never before."
"We're on it," Cap said, revving his cycle to full speed.
Avengers Mansion
Night was falling as Cap and Jack raced into the mansion. Once inside, Jack looked about, stunned. Nearly every superhero he'd ever heard of was gathered here. He knew the place would be packed with costumed heroes this night, but knowing was one thing, seeing was another. A green-skinned giant of a woman stood before him, and beside her, the members of the Fantastic Four. He'd played with their action figures growing up, now here they were in the flesh. Spider-Man dangled from the ceiling on a silvery web, speaking with members of the Canadian team, Alpha Flight. Iron Man was here (Tony-bloody-Stark, Jack said to himself) along with Daredevil, Captain Marvel, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Quicksilver, Moon Knight, and others he did not know. Seeing Vision, Jack nodded and slipped off his helmet, happy to see a familiar face. The fearsome mutant Wolverine walked up and spoke to Cap.
"You were right, Cap. The Hellfire Club is making a play, alongside the Morlocks. I just got a call from Cyke, there's trouble upstate. Don't like running out on you, but the X-Men need me."
"Same War, different fronts," Cap said, tossing a key to him. "Take my sky-cycle, it'll get you there quicker. Good luck, Logan."
Wolverine rushed off, and Cap raised his hand, getting the room's attention.
"Okay, listen up. Jack and I just came from Battery Park. We shut down a Hydra operation, and it sounds like it's only the beginning. Hydra is working with Cobra and Hyde, and now the Hellfire Club. I doubt they've stopped there. You came here tonight for a little fun and relaxation. That has to wait. Whatever the Skull has planned, it's big. You have your own jobs, your own teams in some cases, but tonight...we're all Avengers. Can we count on you?"
There was a resounding cry. Spider-Man dropped to the floor. "We're with you, big guy. Um…does this mean I get a membership card? Are there, like, benefits?"
Iron Man retracted his helmet, and looked at Spider-Man. "Okay, Spidey? The grown-ups are talking now." He turned to Cap. "All right, what's the plan?"
"Let's ask the boss," Cap said, turning to Wasp.
"This is Hydra, Cap. Maybe you should be running this one."
"Jan, you're chairwoman. I trust you, so does everyone here. Make the call."
She flashed a brief smile at Cap before turning to the others.
"I've gotten intel from SHIELD. There are six major hotspots to contend with. Let's take this into the game room. We'll go over specifics, and draw up teams."
The crowd followed Jan, but Cap held back, turning to Union Jack.
"I picked a hell of a time to invite you for a poker game. Sorry, Jack."
"You kidding? I've never had more fun in my life," he said, grinning. "If only my granddad could see me now. All I heard growing up was about the time you and Spitfire saved his platoon from the Germans in El Alamein. This would give him something new to talk about down at the pub."
"Glad you're on board. Head in, I'll be right behind you."
As Union Jack left, Cap walked over to Ben Urich, who was standing quietly off to the side. Urich held up his notepad, a wry smile on his face. "I just got enough material for a whole chapter. Maybe two."
"Afraid that's all I can give you tonight. I'm about to get very busy. I'll have someone see you out."
Cap looked around, spotting the Avengers press secretary walking down the hall, and hailed her.
"Cheryl, have you seen Jarvis?"
"I think he's handling a delivery, Cap. I can escort Mr. Urich out for you."
Ben said goodbye, and he and Cheryl left. Alone for the first time, Cap slumped against the wall, his face creasing with pain. Exhaustion like he had not known in years, since before taking the Super Soldier Serum a lifetime ago, washed over him. He leaned against the wall for several minutes, pain racking his body. Slowly, he straightened himself, and headed off to join the others.
. . .
In the delivery bay, Jarvis stood waiting as the truck pulled in. He expected to see the young delivery man from earlier, but a woman stepped from the cab. Jarvis walked over to her.
"I'm sorry, but we are not taking deliveries. Your company may bill us for any additional charge, but I'm afraid I must ask you to leave."
"Is that so? Well, I'm afraid my 'delivery' cannot wait," the woman said, taking off her cap. Her hair was long and silky…and emerald green. She took a cell phone from her pocket and read from it.
"Charter. X. Nine. Absalom."
Jarvis felt his mind glaze over. The woman's smile deepened, and her eyes bored into to his.
"What is your response code?"
Jarvis felt his consciousness dwindling. He tried to resist…or he tried to try, but the last part of him that was Edwin Jarvis drifted further and further away. He spoke in a voice that no longer seemed his own.
"Severance… K… Six…Ephraim…"
"Excellent," Viper said. "Your master will be well pleased."
The cargo hold swung open, and two men jumped down, bearing a small wooden crate. They placed it in the arms of the man who once thought he was Edwin Jarvis.
"There is a meeting of remarkable people here tonight," Viper said, slipping the cell phone into his pocket. "You are to place the package in the room where they are gathered. Keep the phone at hand. When you receive my text, press 'send'. No one is to leave here alive, including you. Now go."
He smiled, believing he was Jarvis again, and the memory of what had just transpired faded from his conscious mind. As Viper and her men sped away, the proper and tidy man who had been the Avengers' trusted confidant since the days of its founding walked into the mansion, carrying death in his arms .