Natasha looked out the window of the private jet as China disappeared beneath her. Taskmaster sat opposite, now dressed in a suit but conserved his skull themed mask. Taskmaster was an intriguing character to say the least. Black Widow had read his profile and although he was considered a criminal his past transgressions were nowhere near as bad as someone like Cletus Kasady.
"So this team" Taskmaster began fixing her with his gaze. "Who's in it?"
"So far just me and you" Natasha replied looking at him warily. She had to be careful what she said around Masters, he was a tactical genius and she knew he would be monitoring everything she said.
"Who else do you have in mind?" the mercenary continued as he reached out and picked up a glass of wine one of the stewardesses had left on the table in front of him.
"I have a preliminary team in mind but nothing concrete" Black Widow replied simply. Taskmaster pulled up the bottom of his mask, took a sip of the red liquid before turning his attention back to her.
"You don't trust me do you?" he asked flatly.
"Why should I? You're a villain. Not to mention you and the Avengers don't exactly have a good track record" Natasha muttered looking back out the window.
"You still see the world with villains and heroes huh? Cute" Masters replied smiling slightly, watching as the crimson liquid in his glass lapped the sides due to the turbulence. "Or are you just choosing to? C'mon you and I both know that the world is nowhere near as black and white as that."
"Then how would you describe yourself?" Black Widow shot back.
"A survivor" Taskmaster replied shrugging "There's no need to worry you must have read my file so you know that when I make a deal I don't break it. Tell me, who else do you have in mind? I like to know who I'm working with."
Natasha sighed. What could it hurt he'd know soon anyway. "Songbird" Black Widow began.
"Ah Melissa. I haven't seen her since the whole Thunderbolts fiasco with Osborn" Taskmaster replied thoughtfully. "Sorry for beating you up by the way" he added.
"What are you talking about?" Natasha asked looking at him confused.
"Oh I forgot you didn't know that was me did you? During the time you infiltrated Osborn's Thunderbolts pretending to be Yelena Belova you remember that right? Deadpool attacked Osborn and you were sent to take care of him" Taskmaster began.
"Wait. The second guy dressed up as Deadpool was you?" Natasha replied putting two and two together. Taskmaster nodded in response. "How did you.."
"You're fighting style gave you away. I could have ratted you out to Osborn at the time but that wouldn't have got me anything worthwhile" Taskmaster finished before taking another sip of wine. "Who else do you have on that list?"
"Laura Kinney"
"that's the Wolverine chick right?"
"Yes and Psylocke"
"Do you have a thing for mutant birds?" Taskmaster commentraising an eyebrow beneath his mask.
"Please try to be serious Masters. These are the people who fit the profile" Black Widow replied sharply.
"Well as long as Deadpool isn't on that list I think I can work with that" Taskmaster said thoughtfully as he lay back in his seat.
"Don't worry. Deadpool definitely isn't on the list" Black Widow confirmed. She didn't want or need that maniac within 100miles of her.
A few hours later the jet landed on S.H.E.I.L.D's hellicarrier and they both left the jet.
"Welcome back Masters" Fury said coldly as Taskmaster approached. He didn't like the idea of having this man here. It was partly his own fault he was the one who told Natasha she could pick anyone she wanted but having an ex-S.H.E.I.L.D agent who had broken in and out of S.H.E.I.L.D easily put him on edge.
"I'd be more likely to believe you were glad to see me if the vein on your forehead wasn't throbbing chuckles" Taskmaster replied smirking slightly. Natasha quickly grabbed Masters by the arm and pulled him through a door leading to the interior of the hellicarrier before an argument could start.
"You'll be staying here" she said as she led him down a corridor and into a room.
"Wow I could fit my entire apartment inside the shower in the bathroom" Taskmaster replied as he looked round his living quarters. "Still doesn't change the fact this is still a just a glorified prison" he finished looking at the large locking mechanism on the door.
"Sorry but we can't have your kind running around aboard the hellicarrier unsupervised" Black Widow replied following his gaze. "You'll stay here until you're needed on missions."
"My kind?" Taskmaster replied feigning hurt.
"I need to check on where we are with finding the others" Natasha sighed ignoring Taskmaster's attempt at humour. "I'll come back later to go over the plans with you."
"Whatever. I'm going to see if there's a match on" the mercenary replied sitting on down on the couch in the middle of the room and turning on the television. As she left the room Natasha took care to lock the door behind her using the voice activation and made sure she heard the large electronic system lock the door before heading to the control room.
"Where are we?" she asked as she entered the large room lined with computers.
"Songbird is dark. We've been unable to find anything on her since Dark Reign" one of the agents replied.
"And the others?"
"We have the last known locations of the two mutants for the past weak" one of the other men replied getting up and handing her a sheet of paper.
"Boston huh?" Came a voice from over her shoulder. She snapped round quickly and was shocked to find Taskmaster looking over her shoulder.
"How the hell did you get out?" Natasha asked looking at the mercenary in surprise. He cleared his throat before replying.
"Like this" he smirked mimicking Black Widows voice exactly. "That's the problem with those voice responsive systems they don't work to good on someone who can copy people. Besides being stuck in there was annoying and there were no matches on" he continued still using her voice.
"Ok you've made your point" Natasha muttered raising a hand to silence him.
"So they're in Boston?" Taskmaster asked again, switching back to his own voice as he noticed the nervous glances some of the S.H.E.I.L.D agents were giving him.
"Looks like it" Widow replied turning her attention back to the document.
"When do we leave?" Masters asked looking at Natasha curiously.
"Once we have an approximate location we'll go after them."
"I don't mean to be the one to poor the cold water of reason on your little mental bomb-fire but how are you going to get them to join? They aren't exactly known for working well with anyone besides the X-men" Taskmaster asked taking the document from her hands and reading it. "Besides last I heard the psychic ninja woman was on the X-Force" he finished as his eyes followed the red dots on the map representing the mutant's movements.
"The X-Force is currently disbanded due to Logan's affiliation with the Avengers. I'm hoping as they do not have any other duties to attend to we might have a shot at recruiting them" Black Widow replied retrieving the piece of paper from Taskmaster before turning to leave.
"Boston here we come!" Taskmaster said following Natasha towards the door.
"Where do you think you're going dressed like that?" Black Widow asked turning, putting herself between Masters and the way out.
"What are you talking about? This is my suit" Taskmaster replied slightly confused.
"You're part of S.H.E.I.L.D now. We can't have you running around in that. Anyway if you're intent on keeping that suit i'm guessing you won't be wanting this?" Black Widow replied smiling as she picked up a suitcase which had been placed conveniently near the door. Taskmaster took it from her curiously, perching it on his forearm as he opened it. "We thought you might like that back" Natasha said watching as Master's eyes lit up in recognition.
"Oh I've missed you" Taskmaster smirked pulling out his old stealth suit and S.H.E.I.L.D weapon generator.
America, Boston, 10pm local time
"I don't know anything I swear" the terrified man cried as X-23's claws pressed against his forehead. Laura glared at the man disbelievingly. A noise picked up by enhanced sense caused her to stiffen as another opponent approached her from behind. The man raised a crowbar and swung it towards the young mutants head but it never made contact as a purple gloved hand shot out grabbing the the weapon. "What took you so long?" Laura asked turning back to the man in front of her as Psylocke dispatched the other assailant.
"There were a fair few others back there I'll have you know" Psylocke replied appearing beside her.
"I'm going to ask you again" Laura growled looking at the last man and gesturing menacingly with her claws. "Where's the supplier?"
After the X-Force had disbanded both her and Elizabeth Braddock (Psylocke) had decided to settle in Boston for a while to get away from all the mutant propaganda. It had been reasonably peaceful until about a week ago when an enormous amount of cocaine had appeared on the black market. Normally this would not have been something the duo would have concerned themselves with but when Psylocke had noticed one of the dealers attempting to sell drugs to children they had decided to put an end to it.
"Look I don't know where the guy is but the snow comes in at the docks. Pier 9" the man replied nervously before Laura's fist connected with the man's head knocking him out.
About twenty minutes later they arrived at the docks. Using the large storage containers as cover they both sped along the piers.
"Stop" Laura whispered as the sound of voices came into contact with her enhanced hearing. Peering round the corner they could both make out a group of people talking. "I know that woman" Laura gasped as she recognized the green haired woman standing amongst the group. "That's Madame HYDRA."
"HYDRA? What do they have to do with this?" Psylocke whispered also peering at the emerald haired woman.
"Hey what are you two doing?"
Laura's head snapped round as the man approached gun raised. She had been so intent on the group she hadn't noticed this man sneak up on them. He must have recognized them as he pulled the trigger on the weapon and bullets flashed from the muzzle. Psylocke quickly leapt to one side to avoid the gunfire. Laura on the other hand stayed put and hissed as the bullets pierced her skin. Elizabeth quickly dispatched the man but the shots had already alerted the group who instantly drew their weapons and ran towards the noise.
"It seems we have guests" Madame HYDRA purred as she saw the mutants. X-23 got to her feat the bullet wounds already healed.
"We're surrounded" Psylocke growled looking at the HYDRA agents who appeared as if from nowhere on the containers and around the pier.
"So what can I help you ladies with?" the green haired woman asked smirking. Laura didn't reply instead her claws snapped from her knuckles and she crouched down ready to leap. "Kill them" Madame HYDRA muttered as she turned away upon realizing they weren't there to talk.
Psylocke quickly dived for cover dragging Laura with her to stop the girl diving head first into the gunfire.
"What the hell are you doing?" Laura demanded as her friend pulled her behind one of the containers to avoid the gunfire.
"You won't be able to take all those bullets" Psylocke replied ducking as a bullet tore through the metal above her head. X-23 knew she was right. There were a lot of agents out there and each one was armed with an automatic weapon. Even with her healing factor they would pepper her with holes.
"Shit. We're pinned" Elizabeth muttered as she tried to peak round the container, instantly pulling back as the gunfire started up again.
"Will you just hurry up and kill them already" Madame HYDRA growled frustratedly, stopping in her stride and observing the situation. Suddenly a circular object cut through the air striking multiple HYDRA agents before rebounding off of the ground and flashing past her head. Madame HYDRA only knew one person who could throw like that.
"Rodgers!" she snarled turning her head, looking for the Avenger but to her surprise she came face to face with a man wearing skull like mask.
"Nope, not Rodgers. Just his moves" Taskmaster replied using the skills he'd acquired from Captain America to catch the shield as it ricocheted. He was then forced to duck behind the shield as HYDRA drew a pistol and pulled the trigger. The bullets bounced off the energy shield sending the rounds flying in all directions. Meanwhile noticing the guards distraction the pair of mutants broke from cover and began attacking the remaining soldiers.
"What the hell is Taskmaster doing here?" Laura asked looking in surprise at the mercenary who was currently fighting Madame HYDRA.
"He's with me" came a voice from behind her. Black Widow seized the nearest agent, quickly grabbing the gun before he could turn it towards her. She then proceeded to drive two of her fingers into the man's neck hitting the pressure point and causing him to crumple to the floor.
"What the hell are you doing here? and what's he doing working for you?" Psylocke asked suspiciously as she deflected a barrage of bullets using her katana. Although she had never actually met Taskmaster before she knew of him via his reputation as a mercenary and seeing him with a supposed S.H.E.I.L.D agent was odd to say the least.
"How about we finish up and I'll explain?" Black Widow suggested as she used Widows bite (a pair of wrist mounted weapons that give off a large electrical charge) to drop another assailant.
"So you're working with S.H.E.I.L.D now?" Madame HYDRA snarled ducking as Taskmaster threw a punch towards her head.
"What can I say. They pay better than you" the mercenary replied grabbing his former employer by her hand and twisting HYDRA into a wristlock before knocking the gun from her hand.
Shifting her weight sharply the green haired woman managed to free herself and drove her elbow into Taskmasters face. Masters staggered back but quickly composed himself as Madame HYDRA retrieved the weapon and began to fire on him again. Quickly he brought the shield back up blocking most of the bullets but he still felt a twinge of pain as one of them grazed his leg. Still training the gun on Taskmaster the HYDRA leader turned to see how her men were doing. To her annoyance they had all been beaten down and the other heroes were quickly closing in on her.
"Sorry but it looks like I'll have to cut this little reunion short" she said pressing a button her belt and activating the teleportation device just as Black Widow lunged at her. Natasha punched the ground in frustration as HYDRA disappeared. She'd been so close.
"You guys sure know how to pick your playmates" Taskmaster groaned getting to his feet and inspecting the wound to his leg.
"We didn't ask for or need your help" Laura snapped back.
"So what are you doing here?" Psylocke asked again, turning to Black Widow curiously.
"I'm here to offer you a job" Black Widow replied noticing the surprised look on the mutant's faces as she spoke.
"What kind of job?" Psylocke asked crossing her arms.
"S.H.E.I.L.D is putting a team together and.."
"Sorry not interested" X-23 cut in sharply. "We're good here thanks and…Wait do you smell that?" she said turning her head towards one of the containers.
"I just got elbowed in the nose I think it'll take a while for me to be able to smell anything" Taskmaster muttered as he followed the group towards the container.
"Whats your beef with HYDRA?" Natasha asked turning to Psylocke as X-23 began cutting her way into the container.
"We were just going to take out a drugs operation we had no idea HYDRA was involved" Pyslocke replied honestly. Laura broke the chain holding the container shut using her claws and pulled the doors open.
"Ok I take it back. I can definitely smell that" Taskmaster said as the nauseous odour entered his nostrils.
"I don't think they were just dealing drugs" Laura said quietly as she peered into the container.
"Jesus" Natasha gasped in horror as she saw the container was lined with bodies.
"What the f*** is this?" Psylocke asked covering her mouth as the smell of necrotic flesh began to cause her to vomit.
"Human trafficking" Taskmaster replied darkly from behind her. "Looks like the trip these people took was a little longer than expected and they starved to death."
Noticing a small engraving on the container door Natasha pulled out her phone, took a picture and sent it to S.H.E.I.L.D.
"What do you think that is?" she asked pointing to the insignia. It was the face of a man with a cross over his lip.
"Some kind of gang sign. I don't recognize it though" Taskmaster replied inspecting it. "Looks like HYDRA aren't the suppliers."
"We're in" Laura murmured still staring into the container.
"Excuse me?" Natasha asked turning to the mutant.
"Your team. We're in as long as our first course of action is to track down the sick f***s who did this" X-23 replied her fists shaking.