Bane flexed his muscles as he sat down at the end of the long marble conference table that had recently been on the top floor of the Maggia's headquarters. It now sat in the heart of the skyscraper, mostly due to Bane's paranoia about attack from the air and the massive strength that King Shark and Knockout processed. Looking down the length of the cold surface he surveyed the eight chairs as well as the people sitting on them as well as King Shark quietly scoffing a plate of cuttlefish that the now deceased waiter had brought him. With grim determination he clicked the laser pointer bringing up the first picture of the armoured hero Interceptor.

"I hope you all studied the files that Masque gave you." Bane asked, "This is Interceptor, his suit makes him a human fighter plane and he has a wide range of weapons to deal with a multitude of threats. Among them are a high energy microwave pistol, tungsten carbide blades and micro flechettes designed to inject control nanites into the bloodstream. In addition to this we also know that he shares control of the Thunderbolts with our next target." he added clicking the pointer and shifting the image to one of Songbird.

"That's Songbird." Jeanette purred, "She is stronger then an average human but that is only a secondary concern compared to her abilities to convert sound into hard surfaces. We have already seen that she can neutralize my banshee cry and that she can fly so we can only assume that her imagination and vocal strain are the only limiting factors to what she can create." Bane nodded and clicked the pointer bringing up a blurry image of Black Tarantula perched on a rooftop.

"Here we have Black Tarantula, an Argentine mob boss who came to the States and became a new-age Robin Hood, stealing from his competitors and giving the money to the poor." Catman snarled, "He is fast and strong as well as having stamina to match my own. I'd wager that he's a good tracker and that he is an equally skilled killer." Catman scratched his chin, "He also has laser eyes if these files are too believed."

"They are." Madame Masque stated as she shifted uncomfortably in the last seat. Bane cocked his head before moving on to the next image.

"He's just some sod that looks like Digger Harkness." Deadshot spat, "May even be related, all I know is that I can take him out easily." Bane glowered at him before clicking the pointer again with the other members of the Secret Six rattling through the files about Vassal, Oxide, Quicksand and Smokescreen. The meeting continued after that with tactics, assets and threats all covered until Bane eventually stood up.

"So we all understand the plan?" he asked, "Deadshot and Catman will go out and cause some havoc. If the Thunderbolts follow their usual pattern then they will send two of their number out to recon and contain the problem. When they appear we will quickly take them out and retreat, before watching as the team falls apart about what they plan to do. As they schism we will pick them off and claim this city as the first step in our Empire, with such a display of strength we will quickly expand our organization's influence across the planet.

Abe shook his head as Boomerang dropped the bag of comics on the table, Myers had spent a hell of a lot of money on the books according to the receipt that had fluttered out he just hopped that it was worth it. Reaching down he pulled out a chunky volume and was shocked to see Bane staring back from the cover as he bent a man dressed like a bat over his knee. "Myers what the hell am I looking at here?" he asked as the other Thunderbolts removed books all supporting the Secret Six on the covers.

"We had just reached Millennium Park when Juno spotted a cardboard cut-out of Bane outside the cinema advitising the Dark Knight Rises." Boomerang explained after a quick chat to the clerk I realized that I had seen Bane and some of the others before. After the worker bees were okay we detoured to one of those nerd stores and quickly learnt the truth."

"But the truth is weird." Vassal butted in, "These guys are like the comic characters, surely they are just copy-cat artists and not the real thing."

"Sure it's possible but I just can't think how it could happen." Melissa answered, "So if they are comic characters, not that I'm saying that they are, how do we deal with them."

"Well if they are characters it isn't murder if we kill them." Boomer suggested as he clicked his knuckles.

"No murdering." Abe said sharply, "They are criminals just like Cyclone, Shockwave or Shrike. And just like them it they attack the city then they are going straight to the Raft."

"Could be easier said then done." Vassal muttered, "Have you read this issue, they fight through more villains then you can throw a stick at even if that stick happens to land in a federal prison."

"Doesn't matter." Melissa hissed, "We swore to protect the city and that's what we're going to do. Juno you're out tactical genius what do you think our plan of attack should be?"

"I think maybe we should deal with the pumpkin man on the flying broomstick first." Juno answered as she pointed out the window. The others turned to look as the sneering form of Jack O' Lantern blasted past cackling as he headed down the street."

"What the hell?" Abe swore, "If this isn't related to the six then I'm going to eat my hat. Mel you're in charge here, find out what we're up against. Boomer you're with me, Halloween just came earlier and we have a pumpkin to smash."

Deadshot settled on the side of one of Chicago's elevated railway and aimed at the pedestrians walking on the pavement. While he enjoyed killing the thought of a massacre enthused him a lot less then it used to. Lining up his first shot on the young woman pushing a pram down the road before coyly glancing up at where Catman was positioned under an urban camouflage cape. The pair of them had formulated a plan, Deadshot would cause the commotion and draw the Thunderbolts in and once they had arrived Catman would spring in from behind and swiftly kill the first so that the odds were firmly skewed in their favour.

"Deadshot are you set." Bane asked over the earpiece he wore.

"Ready boss, Blake and I are in position." Deadshot replied.

"Then start shooting." Bane ordered. Deadshot gritted his teeth and pulled the trigger, his first round slamming through the young mother's head, the force of her collapsing body pushing the pram into the traffic. Seconds later screaming tyres and the sound of crashing vehicles flooded the streets as Deadshot lined up on a second target, this one a police officer running towards the chaos he had caused. He was just about to pull the trigger when a shadow flew over him, firing his shot Floyd looked up to see Jack O' Lantern sharply veer around above him and throw a grenade down at him, the projectile exploding into thick orange smoke. Coughing Deadshot pulled out a pistol and fired a trio of shots at his attacker, two of them striking the flying broomstick and the third slamming into the henchman's leg; the pain causing him to cackle menacingly and zoom underneath the highrail, indiscriminately dropping grenades down on the assorted trapped pedestrians and brave rescuers sending the majority into a fearful frenzy away from Deadshot's sniper perch.

"Bane the Thunderbolts arrived early." Catman states as he watches Deadshot drop down onto the street whilst firing shots up at his attacker, "And they obviously have more members then we knew about."

"What?" Bane snarled, "What's happening out there?"

"Pumpkin man showed up and attacked Deadshot." Blake answered.

"Pumpkins?" Madame Masque asked as she listened in on the conversation, "That is not a Thunderbolt it's a criminal called Jack O' Lantern. Looks like you have more enemies then just the Thunderbolts."

"How do I know you didn't send him?" Bane asked, "An attempt to showcase your own power."

"If I had sent anybody I would have used stealth." Masque replied, "This kind of thing is bound to attract trouble."

"Yeah trouble just showed up." Catman growled as Deadshot climbed a fire-escape as 'Jack' threw a shower of candy at the pavement, the toxic sweets melting through the concrete. "Interceptor and Boomerang just appeared on the sensors, do we continue with the plan?"

"Yes," Bane ordered, "Blake stay where you are, Lawton kill the clown on that broom and get ready for one hard-shell incoming."

"Easier said then done." Deadshot snarled as he reached the rooftop as Jack flew past dropping a shower of candy. "Shit." he yelled as he leapt off the section of roof covered by the acid as it melted the corner of the structure he was standing on. "Right Sleepy Hollow let's see what you look like without a head." he hissed as he threw away his pistols and pulled out his sniper rifle, quickly firing a snap-shot into Jack's broomstick sending the device skidding across the roof, it's jet turbine burning blue as it's rider leapt off before it detonated.

"Someone really wants you dead." Jack O' Lantern sniggered as he pulled out a pair of short handled scythes, "That's why they hired me."

"So far I've just seen a Joker/Scarecrow wannabe" Deadshot huffed, "I'm not impressed."

"Maybe the two of you should calm down." a third voice stated causing both Deadshot and Jack to look up. Hovering above them was Interceptor, his arm mounted grenade launcher aimed at Jack O' Lantern while Boomerang held out a pair of 'electrorangs' ready to throw at Deadshot.

"You don't need to fear me." Jack snarled, "I only came for him."

"I don't care." Abe replied, "You are a serial killer. You don't belong here."

"Enough talking." Deadshot yelled firing a shot at Jack, the lithe hitman already in motion. Abe fired and watched as his loaded Taser rounds smacked into a bare section of rooftop as Jack O' Lantern sprung towards Deadshot as his target opened fire with his wrist mounted machine pistols, the rounds bouncing off his attacker's armor and mask. With a quick slash Jack cut through Deadshot's sniper rifle and was greeted with a swift punch to the face causing him to fall sideways as Lawton lined up a shot. He never got to take it as a projectile slammed into his leg causing him to fall sparking next to his target. Groaning he saw Jack O' Lantern remove a knife and shove it towards his neck only to be stopped as a second boomerang stabbed into his hand pining it to the concrete.

"Both of you stay down." Abe commanded as he landed next to the pair of fallen convicts, "You both are…ugh." he grunted as both Jack and Deadshot kicked him in the chest knocking him back as the pair of villains got to their feet and continued from where there fight had left off. Landing next to Abe Boomerang cocked his head before flinging in a projectile into the fray, the Shatterang detonating between the two of them and throwing them to opposite sides of the roof.

"Okay which one do you want?" Boomer asked Abe, "Comic Gunman or the Great Pumpkin himself."

"I'll take Deadshot you get Jack, make sure he can talk once he's done, it seems a little odd that he only came here to fight Deadshot."

"Okay boss." Boomer replied taking to the air and pulling a pair of 'rangs out of his belt. "Never got this whole Trick or Treat crap anyway." Abe turned to see Deadshot open fire on him the bullets bouncing off the Interceptor armor and falling harmlessly to the floor as he advanced.

"Any time Blake." Deadshot hissed as Abe advanced, "Kind of outnumbered here."

"Hold fire Catman." Bane ordered, "Deadshot this Jack O' Lantern mentioned he had been hired to kill us, you need to get answers from him. For now killing the Thunderbolts is not the main objective."

"You say that but you don't have the Terminator heading you're way." Deadshot replied as he pulled out a pistol loaded with adhesive explosives. Pulling the trigger he watched as blobs of blue energy stuck to Abe's armor and then detonated, the explosions rocking the suit, causing the Thunderbolt's advance to stop. With a sneer Deadshot reached up and unlocked Abe's helmet revealing his face to the world as he levelled one of his wrist mounted guns right at Abe's forehead. "No reason why I can't do both." he stated.

Boomerang dodged a set of pumpkin bombs thrown at him, the blasts exploding in thick green fog that burnt at his lungs until he jetted through the mist and slammed fist first into the hit-man's chest knocking him off the edge of the roof and onto the partially melted fire-escape below. With a cocky smile Boomer watched as Jack struggled to get to his feet seconds before the Thunderbolt threw a Bladerang at the weakened supports causing the structure to collapse throwing Jack to the pavement as the remains of the fire-escape slammed down around him like a cage keeping him trapped, at least temporarily.

"Hey Abe I got him." Boomer yelled triumphantly as he turned to see Deadshot lining up a bead on Abe. Without even thinking he reached down to his belt only to find out that he had used his last 'rang and that there was only one thing he could do. Kicking his boots into overdrive Myers flew across the roof-top as Deadshot pulled the trigger. With a crash Myers slammed into his teammate knocking his armoured form off the roof as the round slammed through his left shoulder and into his lung. With a crash both he and Abe hit the floor as Deadshot looked down at them before confidently striding away from the edge.

"Melissa we need help." Abe groaned as he watched a crowd of onlookers gather round him and Boomer. "Send an ambulance to the crossroads at Lawrence and Lincoln Avenue, Boomer is down and my suit's hydraulics is shot."

"Roger that Abe, heading out now." Melissa replied, "Shit wait the tower's alarm just went off, we're under attack."

"Melissa please Boomer needs help." Abe begged, "We need help now."

"I've called 911 but shit is that a T-Rex?" Melissa yelled, "Abe we are being swamped by my god Vikings on the left side Quicksand block the passage way, Tarantula head up and make sure Volkner is safe. Abe listen as soon as we can get to you we will for now just hold on." Abe groaned and watched as the crowd began to panic and flee, their bodies parting like the Red Sea as Jack O' Lantern limped towards them holding a pumpkin bomb in one hand and his scythe in the other. Stopping next to Boomer he placed the bomb on the Thunderbolts lips and flipped his scythe so that it was blade down next to the grenade.

"We were not ordered to harm you." Jack cackled, "But since you interfered then I have no choice…scratch that no choice I like other then to kill you. If it's any comfort the Lethal Legion will not target the rest of you're team until after the Secret Six are dead." he added drawing back his scythe as he got ready to hit the bomb like it was golf ball. Before he could a shot rang out and Jack went tumbling backwards propelled by the force of the bullet.

"Pumpkin just gave us a name." Deadshot grunted, "Looks like the Lethal Legion is out to kill us. Now that the Lantern is out what do you want me to do about the Thunderbolts?"

"Leave them." Bane ordered, "Boomerang will almost certainly die and that will cause the Interceptor to doubt himself. The tension caused by his ineffective leadership will cause the team to schism and become easy targets to neutralize."

"Got ya." Deadshot answered, "You just got lucky." he sneered at Abe before turning and walking away as sirens sounded.

"Boomer." Abe groaned, "Boomer hang on help is on the way."

Melissa slammed a Spartan Hoplite around the face as he advanced up the stairs of the Sidewinder building. It seemed to her as if history had vomited the deadliest fighters in the world right into the building's atrium. She had already taken down a pair of Velociraptors, an elite SS officer and a Napoleonic musketeer and that was just the tip of what was inside. The Thunderbolts had split up but last time she had seen Quicksand she had been in the process of pacifying the T-Rex that had been used as a battering ram to enter the premises. Deep down she was worried about Abe, from what she had briefly heard it wasn't going well. Either Jack O' Lantern was a lot deadlier then they had expected or the pumpkin headed reject hadn't been working alone. Melissa wondered how Juno was doing, there was no disguising the fact that she and Myers liked each other and while 'Smokey' as she was often called, was busy fighting a Scythian Headhunter it wouldn't be long before she asked about Boomerang. With a scream of triumph Melissa slammed the Hoplite in the face with a sonic hammer, watching him fall down the flight of stairs before walking back up towards her.

"Why won't you just die." she snarled as she slashed at him with a sonic sword mindful that a pair of WWI era Stormtroopers and what appeared to be Samurai were now heading up the stairs behind the Spartan. With a last ditch slash Melissa watched as the Spartan erupted into pink energy before disappearing along with his time displaced compatriots. Melissa blinked and looked down to see a dweeby looking man carrying a history book staring up at her. He looked like he was about to bolt so Melissa hummed up a set of sonic bindings that wrapped around him keeping her 'guest' from escaping.

"Explain yourself." Melissa yelled as she descended to stand next to the bound man.

"Please I came to help you." the man yammered, "I knew it was a mistake bringing them into our world but Maurice insisted."

"Who?" Melissa asked before slapping herself on the forehead, "Of course, well at least we know where our eight new pains the ass comes from and how they got here."

"I tried to read them back in just like I did with the forces that I brought here." the man whimpered, "I summoned them to protect me from the Maggia and the Secret Six."

"The Secret Six are working for the Maggia." Melissa spat, "That's great." she added as Vassal and Oxide walked into the room. "Guys keep this wanker under lock and key while I find Abe and Boomer. If he even looks at you funny cut off his head." she added.

"You wouldn't do that…" Bookworm whimpered as Melissa left, "Would she?" he asked Cody and Chris.

"Depends." Vassal snorted, "If Abe and Booms die then you may as well say high to St Peter right now, as it is you have the blood of everyone the Secret Six have killed on you're hands."

"I know that's why I came here." Bookworm stated trying to sound like he wasn't about to piss his pants. "This building isn't just a building. From what I saw in Millennium Park it contains a teleportation grid, with a focal point then combined with my powers I may just be able to trap the Secret Six back in the comic they crawled out of."

Vassal looked at Oxide before turning back to Bookworm. "Call Songbird in a few minutes, tell her that she had to hear this." he gasped, "As for you…" he turned and picked Bookworm up by the scruff of his neck, "Tell me more about this plan."

New Thunderbolts vs. Secret Six #4

Things are about to get interesting for the Secret Six and the Thunderbolts as the Lethal Legion attempts to live up to it's name. Jack O' Lantern may be heading to the raft but both teams are about to be the victims of a deadly home invasion as the Grim Reaper and Co decide to come a calling.