Just some kind of vague warning about spoilers before you read this chapter
Deadpool: - Impurest Cheese urges readers to read the prologue of the fanon Dark Avengers: The Asgard Offensive since the events in this chapter are the direct sequel to those depicted in the start of that Fanon. It's almost like he planed it that way, the cheeky basted. Plus when are you going to let me out of the Negative Zone. I demand answers now.
Impurest Cheese: - Enough Deadpool, Enjoy this chapter readers and don't forget to comment and query anything you see in this and any other story I write.
Nijo waited patiently on the rooftop the experimental General Dynamics FIM108 'Cluster Fly' mounted on his shoulder. On his arm the glowing panel turned from red to green indicating the rest of Task Force HAMMER were in position and ready to capture the target. Looking through the Cluster Fly's night vision scope he located a lone Goblin Glider and two individuals riding the vehicle as they fought over a large metal brief-case.
"Got you." he said firing the weapon and watching the missile streak towards them. Dropping onto the fire escape he sprinted down and headed for the black Jeep Wrangler parked in the alley. Climbing into the passenger seat he nodded at the figure dressed in SWAT Riot Gear.
"Let's get this thing rolling Control." he told the driver who gunned the engine and headed towards the next marker. Far off an explosion rocked the street and Nijo knew hoped that Tyto was in position to begin the pursuit. Elizabeth walked over to the crash site, the big grey case plainly in sight; from the looks of it the Hobgoblin was out cold, but their target Kephi was still moving, flicking a switch she sent a second pulse running through the Avenger's body.
"Package Secure Sir." she said over the comms, "Contents accounted for plus an extra bonus, we caught ourselves an Avenger."
"Good work Tyto head to rally point delta for package hand over." Nijo said as Control preformed a hand break turn around a corner, "We're ninety seconds out, think you can last that long?"
"I'll chance it." Elizabeth told him, "Slow her down will you." she told the smoking mail box next to the crash site as she headed out on foot as the Scarab got to her feet for the second time. She began to give chase only to find her feet sinking into the road before stopping trapped in the tar and pavement.
"Sorry about this." Ghost said his head popping out of the letter box, "But it's only fair that she get's a head start."
"I will burn your soul on a pyre of the dead spirit." Kephi yelled, the road surface trembling slightly as Ghost floated into one of the buildings. Turning around he saw a dark haired woman in combats armed with a syringe. Desperately he tied to go intangible but he still felt the prick of the needle as the woman stroked his face plate.
"Don't worry let Bile look after you." she purred as she pulled out a second needle.
Elizabeth ran down the street as behind her Kephi smashed open the asphalt tomb that Ghost had placed her in. Breaking left Elizabeth chanced a look back only to see Kephi already at the intersection a massive compound bow in her hands.
"I'm thirty seconds from hand-off point but I have problem." she yelled down the crystal, "I need missile protection."
"Don't worry I'm running Overwatch." Toxin told her, "Keep going I've got you covered." he added as he watched Kephi fire her first missile. Firing a strand of webbing he intercepted the barbed arrow before quickly firing tow more strands catching a second pair of arrows. Screaming Kephi charged again as Elizabeth turned right at the next junction only to find a broken down fuel tanker blocking her path.
"Crap escape exit blocked, I'm taking an alternate route through the Manhattan Mall." Elizabeth told the others as she fired three shots weakening the glass before diving through.
"Tyto we're shifting to your position." Nijo told her, "Get ready for connection."
"Roger Nijo, Toxin can you see her?" Elizabeth asked looking back over her shoulder only to see the Scarab was no longer chasing her. Suddenly there was a massive explosion and the sound of car alarms going off. "Don't worry she added I think I know where she ended up." Smashing through the other end of the mall Elizabeth rolled down the steps and landed by the Jeep Wrangler. Popping the boot Elizabeth jumped in and Control put her foot down and drove towards the next Rally Point.
"Guys." Toxin called over the crystal link, "Target is moving on an intercept course, suggest you take escape route Romeo to keep the distance at a fixed point."
"Do it." Nijo told Control who preformed a quick 180 degree turn and headed back the way they had come. Looking out the back Elizabeth saw Kephi turn the corner her body covered in vivid orange flames, probably caused by the fuel tanker she had charged through.
"Nijo, Kephi went from a Hazard to a Fire Hazard, hose her down." Elizabeth ordered. Nijo growled and popped out the sunroof setting up a cut down M240 LMG and fired it at the burning god. Behind him he heard sirens and he turned away to see a blockade of police cruisers blocking the path.
"Keep going," he ordered Control as he reached down for the Milkor Multiple Grenade Launcher, "Let's hope this stuff is still good now Tate's gone." He fired the launcher, unloading six grenades that impacted with the central police car. In seconds the acid inside the grenades had dissolved the car allowing the Jeep to cruise through the road-block. Kephi stopped at the road block and shook herself a wave of flame flying down the street. Nijo ducked down and closed the sun roof as the fire engulfed the car. Control wrenched the steering wheel sending the car spinning right towards the Brooklyn Bridge, Kephi once again out of sight.
Back at the barricade Kephi kissed one of the police women passionately sucking the life out of her before tossing the skeleton to the pavement. The energy she had sapped from the unfortunate victim coursed through her body healing the stab wounds from the glider as well as the numerous bullet impacts and burn damage. Curiously she looked around before seeing a parked black Suzuki Hayabusa chained up outside one of the restaurants. Walking over to the bike she snapped the chains with her bare hands she sat comfortably on the saddle stroking the handle-bars. The remaining police officer kept their distance she had killed five of them already to slack her thirst and heal her body.
"Hey you can't take that its stealing." a well dressed man yelled from the restaurant as his biker girlfriend, the owner of the vehicle walked up to her.
"But I'll pay you everything its worth." Kephi told him stroking his cheek and then his chest before sitting back on the bike, the man suddenly started gagging and spluttering until he fell down to his knees. A policeman ran over and started giving the man the Heimlich Maneuver causing a river of small gold coins to fall from his mouth. The woman and the police officer gasped before sticking their hands into the pile of coins as more flowed out of the man's throat. Kephi revved the engine before driving off after the fleeing Jeep Wrangler and the members of Task Force HAMMER.
"Okay we're at Rally Point India." Tyto broadcasted, "Mystique get into position. Mystique come in, crap."
"No rendezvous?" Toxin asked as he landed on the car's roof.
"None Mystique was meant to lead Kephi to the drop zone but she's not here." Elizabeth said, "Geode are you and Ghost ready to pick up the target."
"Roger that Tyto." Geode replied, "Ghost just arrived."
"Good we're going to have to do Mystique's work for her. Toxin you're the courier the rest of us will run interference." Elizabeth said handing Toxin the case. The car shook and a massive lance slammed into the car as Kephi rammed the commandeered motorcycle into the side of the jeep impaling control and the car's fuel tank.
"Everyone out." Elizabeth commanded, "Toxin get moving." she barked as Kephi made a grab for the case just as Toxin jumped off the car's roof.
"Traitorous Carnivore." Kephi hissed springing off of the Jeep after Toxin as he swung along the coast of the Hudson. Nijo pulled Control out of the Jeep and removed her helmet and chest plate.
"Damm Victoria you are one lucky woman." he commented.
"I don't feel lucky." Victoria replied as Nijo and Elizabeth supported her shoulders, "What happened to the car."
"It got Scarab Swiped." Elizabeth told her, "Do you have any idea what's inside because she really wants it."
"Just document drafts, nothing overly special or valuable, at least not to her." Victoria replied as she was helped down the steps towards the river. Waiting on the bank a dark Sunseeker Predator 45 crawled up to the jetty, a beautiful dark haired woman dressed in leather with large dark glasses on.
"Your late." Elizabeth spat, "Toxin's out there picking up your flack as we speak Mystique, now get this thing to Rally Point Zulu." Mystique hissed and throttled the Predator's engine causing the boat to roar into life following the golden glow leaping from building to building.
Toxin landed on the surface of the road exactly at the centre of Point Zulu as Kephi slammed down next to him holding her massive Kophesh and advancing menacingly. Morphing his arms into massive hatchet style weapons, Toxin dropped the case and watched as Kephi glanced over to the item.
"Try it." Toxin said menacingly. Kephi lunged throwing the Kophesh into the air, the weapon flying up before slashing into Toxin's back causing him to groan in pain as the Emerald Scarab reached the case, her hands now clenched around a pair of small raiding axes. Angrily she cut through the case and removed the papers before cupping her hands round the tiny body of Eric O'Grady who gasped and spluttered before becoming full size.
"That's it next time we have a date, let's just go to a restaurant and not snoop around Osborne's office." O'Grady told Kephi who smiled at him. There was a whistle and a sniper shot impacted with the Scarab's head the large bullet partially sticking out of her skull.
"Target tagged, one extra along with the Scarab." Nijo ordered, "Ghost send them down". he added. The pavement suddenly turned intangible and both Kephi and O'Grady fell through the floor into a large underground chamber decorated with hieroglyphics. As she arrived Kephi groaned in pain as certain symbols flashed keeping her restrained. Sitting in the chamber Geode and Ghost watched as Toxin tied Antman up firmly with his webbing.
"Well Mad One you have some things to explain. The markings on the walls are enscribed from a passage from the book of the dead which roughly translates as; Bound to this circle evil god, bound down by invisible chains, bound to the servitude of man or here forever remain" Geode told her indicating the circle of crystals around the kneeling deity, "Cooperate and you get this." she added wavering the scarab pendant in front of her captives face.
"Jack's Pendant, he gave it to me in Paris." Kephi said excitedly, "It's mine by legal right mountain nymph return it and I'll allow you to serve me."
"No dice Kephi, give us the information or Ghost here smashes it with this." Geode said handing Ghost both the medallion and the claw hammer from Tate's interrogation kit.
"What information do you require?" Kephi hissed poisonously not taking her eyes off the pendant.
"Somebody hired some assassins to kill me and my team." Geode announced, "I think it was you since three of them were released mid transit while under your control. I even have your signature to prove it." she added handing Kephi a copy of the prison transfer slip. Kephi scanned it and laughed evilly before glaring at Geode her eyes burning with golden fire.
"Foolish daughter of the hills, I didn't sign this." Kephi answered. "The markings are incomplete, this symbol may represent the Scarab but the symbol for my name has additional letters."
"What?" Ghost said almost dropping the hammer.
"Are you sure?" Geode asked, "Your kind lies as easily as it breathes."
"I never released any assassins, why would I have need of a hatchet man or cutthroat when I have the power to kill my enemies in person with my bare hands." Kephi stated. "Still whoever is responsible for this heresy will feel the full fury of Kephi, Lord of Heliopolis."
"Hmm, we can't force you to tell the truth but I want a pledge that for the events of tonight you won't seek revenge on anyone responsible save the leader of the assassins." Geode asked, "In return you can have the amulet."
Ghost suddenly started convulsing and wheezing his shaking hands dropping the hammer. In one swift notion Kephi reached out and grabbed the amulet placing it round her neck. "Ghost what's wrong?" Geode asked as he continued to convulse as he tried to scratch his way out of the chamber with his bare hands. There was a sudden glow and Kephi was levitating in the middle of the room, golden fire dancing around her before the flames consumed Antman and her. Almost immediately the fire died down and both of them were gone. Opening the door Elizabeth busted into the room from the dock where the Predator was docked, "Oh my god, he's having a panic attack. Somebody call 911." she cried.
"Well that could have gone better." Mystique replied sarcastically as Nijo and Victoria pushed past her. "Do you think the bitch is responsible for this?"
"Hard to tell." Victoria said, "And you could try helping." she added.
"I don't take orders from humans like you." Mystique purred walking out of the chamber.
"Tonin," gasped Ghost she jumped me earlier.
"Stay calm Ghost." Victoria ordered, "I need to give you a shot of painkillers, according to the Taskmasters report this mixture was used to cure patients she attacked at the Initiative."
"I really don't like her." Nijo commented helping Elizabeth hold Ghost down while Victoria injected him with the pain-killers, "Never have."
"I didn't choose her to be your friends." Osborne's voice reverberated around the chamber as golden fire erupted from the walls before dying down revealing Kephi, the Steel Soldier and Osborne all standing before the Task Force HAMMER agents.
"Now do you want to tell me what you're doing with my stolen documents?" Osborne asked picking up the charred papers off the floor, "Why you kidnapped an Avenger and most of all which charge you prefer to be arrested for; Obstruction of Justice, Kidnapping, the Procession of Stolen Goods or the Murder of a high ranking HAMMER officer?"
"We didn't kill anyone?" Victoria said, "What are you talking about?" She gulped as Osborne produced a gun and shot her at close range in the chest.
"Now who's next?" he asked as Victoria fell to the floor before cackling manically