Inversion Chapter 5
Carnage and Anti-Venom circled each other, just as Bullseye and Elektra were. Carnage made sure that he was out of range of Anti-Venom's "curing" touch. Anti-Venom, on the other hand, was quite comfortable, walking along like he was taking a Sunday stroll in a park. Bullseye had nothing but complete malice in his eyes – this woman, Elektra, took everything near and dear to him. She took his friends, his family, and even his life. Now, here is this she-devil again, ready to make his life a hell on Earth.
"So, here we are," Anti-Venom said. "We're fighting each other, at last. Part of me wishes we didn't have to do this."
"Me too," Carnage replied.
"Then why are we?" Anti-Venom asked. Forging on, he said, "You were the one who taught me that the law must always be upheld, even when it may not be the favorite among the people. What's right isn't always popular."
"What's popular isn't always right," Carnage replied, finishing the motto that Carnage adopted in the early days of the Resistance. "This, however, is hardly the time or place."
"Why?" Anti-Venom demanded.
"Because this time, the law has no moral backing," Carnage started walking around Anti-Venom while he talked. "Laws are put in place to protect innocent people. This law – this registration of all super-humans – would cause far more harm than good. What about the mutants? They have no choice but to be born with their powers. This law would allow every fatass in Washington to turn everyday civilians into soldiers… against the civilians' consents."
Carnage had his symbiote form two axes in his hands. "Now, I'm only going to say this once. Leave now, or…" There was no need to finish the sentence.
Anti-Venom said nothing, only had two tendrils made of his goop wrap around Carnage. Damn it – this is why he didn't want to face off against Anti-Venom earlier! In the heat of the battle, he had forgotten that Brock's powers literally disintegrated symbiotes!
Nobody saw what exactly it was. Only a flash of green and blonde. Carnage suddenly found himself free of Anti-Venom's grip, and he found a kid with blonde hair and a green katana by his side.
"We thought you could use some help," Kane said, answering Carnage's question before he could ask it.
"We?" Carnage asked instead. Then he looked at Anti-Venom, and he saw that he wasn't the focus of Brock's attention anymore. Two other kids were there, one with a tattoo on his arm and a girl with blue-and-white hair.
"We got this guy," the other boy told Kane. "Help out Bullseye."
"You got it," Kane said before he disappeared in a swarm of bats. He reappeared the same way he disappeared next to Bullseye.
"We know all about you," Quantum told Anti-Venom, her voice reminding everyone of an American version of Hermione Granger. "So I'm not even going to bother giving you the 'one chance to surrender' speech."
"Smart girl," Anti-Venom replied. He leaped at Quantum, claws outstretched. When he got within a few feet of her, though, he started acting strangely. He was still moving at full speed thanks to gravity, but his movements had slowed to a quarter of his usual speed. Carnage realized in an instant that Quantum had used her power on Brock.
This allowed Quantum and Concussion plenty of time to sidestep Anti-Venom. Concussion splayed his hands like Doctor Strange used to. From the underside of his wrists, gel that resembled clear Jello came spraying out. They stuck to Brock's left arm and leg. Concussion blinked, and the gel detonated, sending Brock into the far wall.
Quantum must have deactivated her power over Brock, because what he said next didn't sound slow at all. "Where the hell did you guys get power like that?!"
"Mutants," Concussion said. "Right here. Although Jan here was experimented on by S.H.I.E.L.D. just hours after she found her powers."
"Ah. So you're the mysterious 'X-0' project Fury was working on. Well, pleased to make your acquaintance, miss."
Concussion and Quantum were at a complete loss for words. Anti-Venom took advantage of their shock to send dozens of tendrils their way. Each one tugged ahead in an effort to be the first one to the recruits.
They were all destined to be disappointed. Carnage wrapped Concussion and Quantum around the waists with two red strands of symbiote, pulling them out of harm's way. Anti-Venom spared a quick glance towards Elektra to see if she was done yet, and to his surprise and dismay, she lay on the ground unconscious. Bullseye and Kane walked to join Carnage and the others. Lizard and Electro returned as well, having finished evacuating the civilians.
"Well," Anti-Venom said, "I think we've worn out our welcome." Turning to his team of Thunderbolts, who was only now beginning to stir, he barked, "Thunderbolts – withdraw!"
Everyone, including the Secret Avengers, ran for the doorway. They didn't stop running even after they were gone from anyone's sight. The Collective and the rookies just stood there, not believing what had just happened. Then, the silence was broken by something unexpected. Kane started laughing.
"This… is… freakin'… AWESOME!" Kane shouted.
The Lizard stared at him in disappointed astonishment. "What could you possibly find, out of this whole situation, that could possibly be, 'awesome'?"
"I always wanted to feel what it felt like to be a Super Hero," Kane said, a wide smile on his face. "Kicking ass, protecting innocent people, and be a part of something bigger than yourself… this is the best thing that's happened to me since my first kiss!"
"Dude," Concussion said to Kane, "a suggestion – run for your life."
Quantum started running after Kane, her power cancelling out his supernatural speed granted via his vampire blood. While everyone laughed, Ultron came out.
"Humans," Ultron muttered. "I'll never understand you. But what was that old saying? Ah, yes. You can't live with 'em, you can't live without 'em."
Everyone stopped what they were doing. Quantum came to a stop, turning off her power. Kane didn't notice until he ran right into a wall.
After Kane picked himself up, Ultron said, "Okay, everyone, new mission. Priority 10. We believe that the government-backed heroes have managed to get their hands on a weapon of literally unmeasurable power. The only way we can counter is to get our hands on the Infinity gems. You're all being split into groups, along with another agent and a leader of the Resistance."
"Does that include us, sir?" Quantum asked. She hid it well enough, but Kane and Concussion knew that she was very eager to go on a field mission.
"I think your fight against Anti-Venom is evidence enough," Ultron replied. "Pack up, kids. You're leaving with us within the hour."
Kane walked along, trying to keep pace with Doctor Doom and Baron Mordo.
It wasn't easy, seeing as they were in hell. Doom and Mordo had cast a series of spells before they came, allowing them to pass through undetected. Kane kept catching himself looking over his shoulder, though, looking for the demon he was sure was following them.
"Can we talk?" Kane whispered.
"Absolutely," Doom replied in a normal voice. "We could shout at the top of our lungs, and nobody would be able to hear us."
"Oh," Kane said, relaxing just the tiniest bit. "Mind if I ask a question?"
"What is it?"
"Just how were the Thunderbolts made?" Kane asked. "I mean, I kept hearing on the TV that they were reformed 'villains', but beyond that, they never explained anything."
"That's the story they want the public to believe," Baron Mordo said, his voice like silk, "but the truth is far more sinister. They were brought together by Nick Fury to act as a sort of – I don't know if there is a word for what they are. Their function is to catch us by thinking like us. A team of villains – who used to be true heroes – bringing in heroes and sending them off to the Raft."
Doom held up a hand, bringing the others to a halt. "We're here."
They were on the edge of an oasis. Four compass palm trees stood at the cardinal points… or they would, if a compass worked in hell. In the center, a pond of the purest blue played host to a demon. Its hide was so dark a blue it almost seemed black. Spikes stood up from its head, appearing like a 90's rocker. Even from a couple yards away, everyone could see its muscles.
"Hello, Blackheart," Doom said.
WHAT?! Blackheart knowing Doom?! Stayed tuned for more Inversion! (Sorry if I sounded cheesey. It's really late at night, and I'm not thinking straight.)