This chapter's a little short. Oh, well.
DISCLAIMER: I own Derrick Bolris. The Misfitverse this story takes place in belongs to Red Witch, the characters of G.I. Joe belong to Hasbro, and everything else belongs to Marvel.
Chapter 24: The Trouble with Technovore
Two days had passed after the Runaways, X-Men, and the duo of Cloak and Dagger escaped from Cobra's base. For the most part, it was relatively quiet in Los Angeles. Supervillain appearances had somewhat dropped in frequency, albeit not by much. As the Runaways returned from their latest battle, none of them were aware that the Hostel was about to have another visitor. The cloaked Leapfrog once again sank into the tar, but this time it was observed by the skeletal monster known as Technovore.
"Analyzing," Technovore droned, gazing at the spot where the Leapfrog had entered. "Unknown technology detected. Programming directive: consume."
****
Roughly an hour later, the Runaways were scattered about in the Hostel. Xavin was training Karolina to form shields with her rainbow energy. Elsewhere, Chase was studying his Fistigons (after a small amount of encouragement from Gert). Victor and Molly were discussing their encounter with the X-Men, though while Victor mainly praised the team, Molly's remarks were primarily insults directed at Wolverine. Derrick and Nico, recently becoming a couple (more or less), simply played cards on the same table the team used for board games like Monopoly.
"Got any fours?" Derrick asked.
"Go fish," Nico replied, prompting her opponent to take a card from the deck.
Technovore chose that moment to drop through the ceiling with a loud crash, landing on the table and knocking both teenagers over.
"Technology detected," Technovore rasped. "Moving to acquire."
Technovore brushed past Nico, making a bee-line for one person.
Victor.
"What the hell is that thing?!" Chase roared.
"Identification: Technovore," Technovore said.
"Wait, I think that's its name," Victor said.
"Well, we know the 'who'," Gert said. "Now we need to know if it's actually anything other than some giant lizard skeleton."
"Error," Technovore said. "Not giant lizard skeleton. Virus. Designed to consume all technology."
"Virus?" Xavin repeated. "This monster is an earth-born virus?"
"If that's the case," Victor said, "then who made you?"
"Creator: Anthony 'Tony' Stark," Technovore replied.
"What?!" Victor cried. "This thing was made by Iron Man from the Avengers?!"
"Must consume all technology," Technovore droned, picking Victor up by the leg.
"Leave him alone!" Karolina cried, blasting Technovore's chest with a beam. Though this did cause the monstrous virus to drop Victor, it did surprisingly little damage.
"Did the iron guy send this thing after us?" Molly asked. "Because that would be really stinky."
"That's not possible!" Victor insisted. "Iron Man's an Avenger! He'd never try to—"
"Consume!" Technovore shrieked, sprouting from its chest many tentacles constructed from various junk. The monster latched onto Victor, attempting to absorb him, but instead was repulsed by a burst of electricity from Victor's hands.
"Back off!" Victor cried. "Who sent you?"
"It just told us who sent it, Vic," Gert said simply.
"But Iron Man would never—" Victor began, but Nico interrupted.
"Victor, you saw how badly Captain America wanted us back in foster care," Nico said. "He might be getting desperate."
"Actually, I agree with Victor," Derrick said as Chase held off Technovore with a wall of flame. "Hypocritical as Cap is, he wouldn't resort to killing to get what he wants."
"I guess you're right," Nico said.
Suddenly, Technovore charged through the flames and snatched Derrick by the throat. An enraged Nico quickly summoned the Staff of One and aimed it at Technovore.
"Get away from him!" Nico cried, and the spell made Technovore vanish, but taking Derrick with it. "Oops."
****
"Nico really needs to get a manual for that thing," Derrick mumbled as he and Technovore were left stranded in the middle of the road.
"Error," Technovore said, looking around. "Illogical. Location changed. Analys—"
"Oh, shut up," Derrick interrupted, using electricity from a car to fire lightning at Technovore, sending the creature into a wall.
"Excellent aim!" a Greek-accented voice encouraged, and the living vampire named Morbius descended on the scene.
"What do you want, Morbius?" Derrick snarled. "Don't you have your Avenger buddies to get back to?"
"I quit the team shortly after the incident with your friend Victor," Morbius replied. "Speaking of which, where are the other Runaways?"
"Probably on their way to deal with Iron Man's pet virus here," Derrick said, indicating the recovering Technovore.
"I need your friends' help," Morbius pleaded.
"With what?" Derrick snapped.
The sound of a motorcycle being gunned echoed, and Morbius pointed to what appeared to be a flaming skeleton in a biker's outfit riding a motorcycle with flaming wheels.
"With that!" Morbius cried.