DISCLAIMER: I own Borderline. The universe this story takes place in belongs to Persian13, as does Farrah Willows/Persiana. Everything else belongs to Marvel.
Chapter 4: Battle of the Baxter Building
"Let me get this straight," Angelica said. "You want to use a high-tech belt to give Dr. Connors the ability to switch between human and Lizard at will while still keeping his mind?"
This question was brought up by the fact that Borderline had strapped such a device to the still-unconscious Lizard, the latter rather unceremoniously lying on the floor. The members of Borderline's resistance (and Angelica) had gathered around the monstrous scientist's form, the former Firestar attempting to assess the certainty of Borderline's plan.
"Yes," Borderline said simply, giving a light shock to Lizard whenever he stirred.
"But, where did you get the technology for that?" Angelica asked.
"Got it from someone," Borderline said simply.
In the country of Latveria, Angelica's question could be answered in an entirely different way by a certain metal-clad individual in a green cloak.
"BLASTED RICHARDS!" bellowed Dr. Doom. "DOOM KNOWS OF THE THEFT YOU COMMITTED!"
Back in the Baxter Building, two unwelcome individuals had entered in search of the Lizard. Persiana and Daken, using their enhanced senses, attempted to track their foe's trail.
"Funny," Farrah said.
"What?" Daken asked.
"This building's been abandoned ever since Osborn locked up Tony, Reed, and Xavier," Farrah said.
"So?" Daken asked.
"Lizard's scent isn't the only one I'm picking up," Farrah said. "There's someone else here…about five other someones."
"Then we take the elevator and 'greet' them," Daken smirked.
"Activating belt," Borderline said. "Stand back."
Everyone complied, and Borderline used one of his poles to tap a large button in the center of the belt. Amazingly, the Lizard's face shrank and his scales disappeared. The re-grown arm had shrunk back into a mere stump, and the tail was withdrawn as well. Dr. Curt Connors opened his eyes, and looked at his one remaining human hand.
"Wha…what happened?" asked a stunned Dr. Connors.
"The device on your waist has reversed your transformation," Moon Knight explained. "I'm afraid, however, that it has not cured your condition."
"The fact that it made me human again is relief enough," Connors said. "Who are all of you? I recognize one or two, but the rest of you are unknown to me."
"Borderline," said the teenager in the green trenchcoat, gesturing to himself. "Toxin. Moon Knight. Gambit. Firestar."
"Hello," Angelica waved sheepishly.
"So, what are you doing here?" Connors asked. "This is the Baxter Building, right? It's been abandoned ever since Osborn took over New York."
"That would be what we are trying to counteract," Moon Knight said. "We wish to remove Osborn from power and restore this country to what it used to be."
"Is that so?" came the voice of Farrah Willows, everyone but Borderline turning to her and Daken in shock. "Guess we'll have to take you down, then."
"Puh-Persiana?" Angelica stuttered.
"Hello, Firestar," Daken smirked. "Miss me?"
"Did you miss Remy, Wolvie Jr.?" Remy asked with a smirk of his own.
"Why, you little-!" Daken snarled.
"Easy, honey," Farrah said. "You'll get your fill and then some in a little bit."
Back near Dr. Connors, however, Toxin had shrunk back when Farrah entered. The single-armed scientist noticed this, and immediately came to the conclusion that something was wrong. From what he had seen of symbiotes, they rarely—if ever—acted this way.
"No…can't be…can't be. Can't be, can't be," Toxin mumbled, acting as if he were trying to convince himself of something.
"Leave now and you may live to inform your master that he will fall," Moon Knight ordered, Angelica wondering if he was either serious or being overdramatic.
"How?" Daken laughed. "Osborn's got the entire country in his hands. And what have you got?"
"You've got two mutants, a weird guy in a white cloak, a scientist with an identity crisis, and—" Farrah paused upon catching sight of Toxin. She smirked. "And a symbiote."
"Ah, but there's only two of you, chere," Remy pointed out.
"That can be fixed," Daken said, activating his communicator. "Wolverine to Iron Patriot, come in."
His only answer, however, was static.
"Wolverine to Iron Patriot, come in!" Daken repeated.
"You're being jammed," said Borderline as he stepped away from his computer console. "No messages get in. No messages get out."
"Who the hell are you?" Daken demanded.
"Borderline," replied the strange teenager.
"He must be the one behind this little escapade, since none of the others could really pull it off," Farrah surmised. "Daken, honey, should we see if they'll surrender?"
"Let's not," Daken smirked, preparing his claws.
"Then battle it is," Moon Knight said, immediately throwing a crescent-shaped boomerang at the two Dark Avengers, only for Daken to slice it into pieces with a single slash.
"Toxin, get Connors to safety," Borderline ordered.
"Huh?" Toxin grunted, having barely noticed the order in the midst of his muttering. "Oh, right. Come on, doc."
The symbiote hefted the scientist onto his back and attempted to carry him to the elevator, only for Farrah to leap in front of them.
"Going somewhere?" she smirked.
"…you…I know you," Toxin muttered.
"Isn't that sweet?" Farrah said, smirk growing wider. She drew back one claw, but quickly caught sight of Angelica flying towards her.
"Leave them alone!" Angelica cried, throwing a fireball at Persiana.
Farrah's eyes widened as the flaming object approached her. Her instinctive fear of fire took control, and she darted out of the way, somersaulting on the ground and then leaping up to Angelica. The mutant heroine soon found herself pinned to the ground by her agile, cat-like foe.
"I think I'll have some Firestar barbecue," Farrah smirked.
"I don't think so!" Angelica yelled, rising into the air with Persiana holding on. She heated up her body, forcing the feline Dark Avenger to let go and fall to the ground.
Farrah got up, noticing a fight between Remy and Daken. She moved as if to assist Daken, but soon found someone in her way.
Borderline.
"Hi," he said simply.
"Love to stay and chat, uh…Borderline, right?" Farrah said. "I have to deal with your buddies, so I can't stick around. Nothing personal, really."
"Personal with me," Borderline said, narrowing his eyes behind his sunglasses. "You're an idiot."
"What?" Farrah snarled.
"You're an idiot," Borderline repeated. "You're working for Osborn. You're betraying Captain America's memory. You're letting your father rot in prison."
Farrah paused as he said that, Borderline noticing that there did seem to still be some humanity left in her.
"Last one's forgivable, though," the strange teenager continued. "He did deserve it."
"True," Farrah smirked. "You know what? I'll deal with you instead of your friends."
"Good," Borderline said, extending his poles and charging them with electricity. "Need the exercise."
Farrah lunged at him, but Borderline rolled to the side and dodged her claws. The feline Dark Avenger leapt again, this time a strand of webbing caught her by the back and yanked her into Toxin's waiting fist.
"I know who you really are," Toxin growled, "but I don't know how you're still around."
"You'll find out soon enough!" Farrah snarled, slashing Toxin across his chest. In response, Toxin kneed her in the stomach before delivering another punch, knocking Persiana onto the floor.
"We really needed that backup," Daken groaned.
"We'll be back, boys and girl," Farrah warned the group, "and we'll bring an army with us."
Farrah carried Daken into the elevator, and the two left.
"Are we not pursuing them?" Moon Knight asked Borderline as the latter went to a computer. "They are more than likely to reveal our existence and location to Osborn!"
"Exactly," Borderline said, inserting what appeared to be a cellular phone into the computer. "Need to move. Got a new base in mind."
"Where?" Angelica asked.
"Old Illuminati base," Borderline answered. "Been abandoned after Osborn put Stark, Richards, and Xavier in prison. Should work out."
After a few short minutes, he removed his phone-like device from the computer.
"No evidence left," Borderline said. "Now, we leave."
He abruptly brushed by most of his resistance force, Moon Knight and Toxin following first. Remy simply shrugged and fell in line. The group stopped when Borderline turned to Angelica and Dr. Connors.
"You coming?" he asked.
"I am," Connors said. "I can't repay you enough for giving me such help with my…condition…but I think helping you should be an excellent start."
"What about you?" Borderline asked Angelica.
The former Firestar sighed.
"I guess I am," she said. "I guess the fact that even someone like Persiana could be controlled by Osborn…the reality of what's going on in the world right now sort of hits you in the face."
She looked to Borderline.
"I'm not going to let myself, or anyone else, be controlled by Osborn ever again," Angelica vowed.
"Then come on," Borderline said with what appeared to be the barest hint of a smile. "Let's go."
Most of the group, now including Angelica Jones and Dr. Curt Connors, left. Toxin, however, stayed behind for a moment, lost in his thoughts.
"Carnage," he whispered.
With a brief shudder at the thought of his "parent" symbiote, Toxin left to return to his team.
"Let me get this straight," Osborn said to Farrah and Daken. "A rag-tag group of rebels defeated you in the Baxter Building?"
"There were only six of them," Daken snarled. "We should have been able to take them."
"You will be, Daken," Osborn smirked. "I'm placing you on my Dark X-Men team, but you'll still be on the Dark Avengers."
He pressed a button on an intercom.
"Ms. Frost, come in, please," Osborn said into the intercom.
An attractive blonde woman in a rather immodest white outfit entered the room.
"Allow me to introduce you to the one in charge of my Dark X-Men," Osborn said. "Wolverine, Persiana…meet Emma Frost."
"Charmed, I'm sure," Frost said dismissively.
"Now then," Osborn continued, "your first task on the Dark X-Men will be a simple one."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Hunt down and kill those renegades," Osborn ordered.