Magik blinked as the pink light faded revealing the scene of carnage caused by her allies scream. The hostage Rosa was lying on the floor, the whip used to suspend her snapped and its wielder lying face down on the floor, his body convulsing from the shock of the attack. Compared to Whiplash, Backlash had got off reasonably well; his wife was bleeding from her ears and nose as she reached for her whip. With a swift kick Illyana stopped any further attempt to counter-attack. Looking over at 'Skylark' Illyana saw her panting; her damaged costume completely vaporized leaving her standing naked in the middle of the room, her skin glowing a hot pink.
"Mrs Jimenez are you alright?" Melissa asked the former hostage.
"As well as I should be after being held hostage." Rosa answered smiling graciously, "I thank both of you for rescuing me. Be assured my husband will hear of their treachery."
"I wouldn't bother he has become a servant of the Scorpion Goddess, he would sooner sacrifice you then anything else." Illyana told her as Melissa walked over to Whiplash and stripped her before using the villains whip to tie up both of the villains. Slipping the leather on Melissa had to marvel on how high tech the cowl was, despite being kinky it featured a recoil compensator and automatic tracking module, after she was done with it she would give it to Abe and let him tinker with it. In the meantime being dressed in revealing leather was better then fighting the Scorpion Goddess butt naked. "We need to talk." she announced staring at Rosa. "And we need to know everything."
Abe watched as the others hammered the Scorpion Goddess, the massive creature barley flinching at their attacks. He would have joined them but his own armor was outclassed so heavily that he may as well simply swat flies off the monster's skin. Slicing through the last of the scorpion offspring with his cut down blade he looked up towards the manor house and saw sonic flares being released, Melissa's way of getting his attention. Eventually the hard sound blasts formed into letters that spelt out a terrible warning. "Energy Release Imminent get up here now." Abe cursed out loud before waving to Emma Frost and pointing to the lettering, seconds later everyone was looking as a telepathic message was relayed to all the Thunderbolts and X-Men.
Melissa watched as Illyana shuddered, the mutant's body counting down until the Scorpion Queen drained enough energy to decimate the area. Rosa had been reasonably helpful, telling them how her husband had made a game out of drawing the warning symbol in the days before his devotion spiralled out of control, as well as recounting the stories she had heard over the years as she researched the creature, it was clear she had known that this would happen and had been preparing for the release of the Goddess every since the oak had been planted and the monster's prison expanded.
Closing her eyes Melissa listened marvelling at how quiet the house was; the only sounds save for heart-beats and the distant noise of battle was a clicking scuttling sound. Opening her eyes Melissa grabbed Rosa's hand and pulled her towards the basement before beckoning for Illyana to follow them, the master of the house George Jimenez was returning for whatever reason. Closing the door softly behind them Melissa looked around the room they found themselves in and gasped, every piece of space was covered in weapons; both normal firearms and upgraded technology from organizations such as AIM and Hydra, it was clear that Jimenez had his fingers in plenty of illegal pies. The scuttling sounded again and Melissa looked up along with the others and saw the Scorpion hybrid, his armor blackened, crawling across the ceiling his tail snaking towards Rosa.
"You shouldn't be down here Rosa." Jimenez hissed swinging his tail into her back, "Normally I would have Backlash punish you but now I can do it myself." he cackled over his wife's screams. Solidifying a hard sound knife Melissa dived into the fray and slashed through the tail, blood spurting over her before grabbing the tail and wrenching it out of its victim, twin scorpion tattoos already forming on her hand. Dropping to the floor Jimenez screeched and came charging towards her only to disappear in a flash of blue light as Magik stepped forward and put her hand over Rosa's wound.
"Where did you send him?" Melissa asked as Rosa begun to cough up blood.
"Later this woman has been envenomated with a magical toxin, one for which I have no antidote." Illyana replied, "Luckily her senses are overloading so she can't here us, all we can do is end her life quickly."
"I'm not a killer." Melissa snarled, "She must be able to survive, no toxin kills 100% of the time."
"This toxin has already done all the damage it needs to, it has polarized her bodily system, her heart and lungs are dying but her brain is working faster then it should, taking note of everything, if she could scream she would be. This woman is not evil; she doesn't deserve to die in this way." Melissa bowed her head and removed one of the pistols from the wall and lined up a shot before closing her eyes and pulling the trigger. Opening her eyes she saw Rosa's body explode with light from the bullet wound before completely evaporating into photon's, looking down at the weapon that she was holding Melissa saw that it's casing was AIM yellow, a clear sign of who it's original manufacturer was.
"She will not be the last of us killed this day; one more will be sacrificed to stop the Scorpion Goddess." Illyana told Melissa, "For now we must worry about the Hybrid's return, I tried to send him to limbo but his magics are too strong and all I could do was send him outside."
"Good," Melissa spat dropping the pistol and opening a large crate and removing the contents, "If what Chris demonstrated is true this should be enough to destroy him."
Abe reached the mansion as the Thunderbolts and X-Men fell back in pairs. He and Storm had been the first to be sent back to prepare the binding spell in the hopes that a new prison would be found. Magneto and Colossus would be next with the old villain required to physically drag the metallic skinned mutant away from the fight. After them were Chris and Emma with Diana and Cyclops bringing up the rear. Looking at the house Abe could sense something was wrong, it was too quiet and a weird smell filled the air.
"Storm go inside and see what you can scrounge up. We need Peyote, Sage, Sequoia Chips and Rattlesnake scales to complete the position. If what you have told me Magik should be able to handle the chanting while we finish off the glyphs required to trap that big mother fucker." Abe told the Weather Witch, "I'll stay here and wait for the others."
"Agreed." Storm answered before she swooped into the house. Abe turned back to look at the raging battle, blasts of energy lighting up the sky. "Marvelling at her beauty?" a voice hissed behind Abe before something cold and vice like closed on his neck. "I can't blame you." it added as titanium armoured scorpions sprouted from his Iridium Armor.
Melissa crouched at the end of the basement, a clear line of sight to the door cleared so that she could get a good shot. Taking deep and even breathes she heard Jimenez close in before panting as he squeezed through a gap at the rear of the room. Dropping down he stepped into the light holding the limp armoured figure in his claws.
"You will be a brilliant sacrifice." Jimenez hissed to Abe, "You have committed evil acts and that means she will have a richer meal when she consumes your soul.
"I've changed." Abe moaned, "I served my time and now I work to bring freaks like you to justice."
"In only a few minutes my mistress will redefine all the laws to just one, the law where the strong rule the weak." Jimenez told him before coming face to face with Magik as she grabbed Abe and teleported away leaving the abomination blinking at its apparently disappearing prey.
"You want to talk about law." Melissa announced causing Jimenez to spin round to glare at where she was crouched. "I just killed you're wife, probably interrupted you're mistress snacking. It's probably a good thing because I know she wouldn't have wanted to see the devastation you are so hell-bound on creating."
"What is hell for you will be paradise for me."
"Still that LAW you mentioned." Melissa stated shouldering the rocket launcher she had found, "You have to abide by it as well." she added as she fired the weapon as her enemy charged foolishly towards her. Jimenez collided with the rocket and kept on coming for a few seconds before the whole room detonated the stored weapons and power cells exploding and ripping the mansion above into pieces. Up above the mansion Storm looked down before showering the whole area with rain, the smoke and fire quickly extinguished to reveal a glimmering dome of energy protecting the shooter. Crawling out of the remains of the house Melissa turned back to see the smoking pile of ash which had been Jimenez. "I had plenty of quips about Hell as well." she yelled at the former minion as Abe raced up and pulled her out of the rubble.
"Please tell me that isn't a hint at something." he moaned before leading her over to the others.
"Just borrowing." she added sweetly, "Oh fuck Whiplash and Backlash were tied up in the house."
"Don't worry." Cyclops answered gesturing to the still tied up villains leaning up against an uprooted Yew Tree. "Magik plucked them out of the house moments before you decide to blow the place."
"We seem to have all the ingredients too." Emma added, "The woman Rosa was planning this, she even had a Yew Tree planted with a nearly completed drawing of the creature as well as runic slabs with the correct pictographs."
"So we complete the ritual and sayonara Scorpion Goddess right?" Chris asked.
"Should be the case. We need a few minutes to get the potion brewed and the all we need to do is splash her with the stuff and chant." Storm answered. Chris smiled before looking over at Diana who sat alone staring out at the Scorpion Goddess, the ripples of energy reflected in her eyes. Walking over he hopped up onto the wall and put her arm round her, noticing how hot her skin was.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked.
"It's going to come too late." Diana replied, "The potion will not be ready in time and the chant requires a good three minutes to kick in, plus the vessel that will contain the Goddess has to make contact."
"So we start chanting and drop the tree on the thing and presto it's over." Chris stated.
"That won't work either." Diana replied turning to stare into his eyes. "I know what I need to do." she added kissing him passionately on the lips as a symbol of the Scorpion Goddess formed on her chest, "Don't try and stop me." she added stunning him before walking over to where Abe and Emma were getting ready to mix the ingredients. Emma looked up just as she arrived and shook her head before getting to her feet, her skin turning to diamond ready for combat.
"What the hell?" Abe swore as he moved out the way, "Diana what's going on?"
"You taught me about redemption when we first met." Diana stated as Melissa and the other ran towards them. "I never forgot that and I will never forget it. But now I know what has to be done to stop the monster from coming in and taking everything on this planet."
"Yes it's the ritual." Abe stated.
"Not the Scorpion Goddess I'm talking about me." Diana told him, "I know why I came here and more importantly what I was before he changed me. And he will use me to come to this world and take it as his own, something that I can't let him do. Please forgive me Abe for everything." With a flash of her panels Diana let loose a blinding light before grabbing the ingredients and leaping into the vineyard running along the track towards the now still Scorpion Goddess.
"You want me to run her down?" Colossus asked Emma as the remaining X-Men and Thunderbolts stood stunned at Revenant's actions.
"No." Emma answered, "She wasn't what we came for, we came to stop that thing and Teresa or Diana whatever she calls herself is our only shot now."
Chris blinked as he regained consciousness, spots still flashing before his eyes. Looking around he saw Abe and Cyclops placing the runic tablets on the floor as Magik begun to chant the incantation that was then amplified by Melissa, the whole area booming with the ancient words of binding and containment. Looking out to the field he saw Diana running towards the Scorpion Goddess keeping to the well worn paths. Something else was moving in the thickets of vines as well, something that smashed through plants heading for an intercept course, Chris narrowed his eyes before seeing the form of Jimenez cross one of the irrigation ditches, his armor glowing red as spittle dangled from his mouth. As fast as Diana was moving, Jimenez would reach her before she could reach the goddess, energy running across her body and bathing the whole area in a golden glow.
"He'll get there first." Chris gasped, "Hey metal head." he yelled as Colossus stalked past, anxiously paceing as he waited for something to happen. "Look over there." he added pointing at Jimenez. Colossus snarled and picked him up by the scruff of the next before cursing in Russian and throwing Chris into the field on a direct path to Jimenez, the young mutant crashing into the scorpion hybrid and melting away a chunk of the creature's arms and causing him to wheel around and kick him away.
"Foolish mortal." Jimenez snarled, "While my mistress is alive my soul is tethered to her side. As long as she lives I am an immortal." Snarling the creature slashed at the obstruction with a bladed claw only to have it blocked and for the appendege to melt, armor and skin bubbling away until nothing was left of the arm. Howling in rage Jimenez backed up and kicked sand at Chris, the dust superheated as it approached him and transforming into glass daggers that cut the Thunderbolts skin. Wincing through the pain Chris left forward and grabbed hold of one of Jimenez's legs until it burnt away to nothing causing the abomination to stagger and slam belly first into Chris's chest, his whole body leaking onto the Thunderbolt as tiny scorpions wiggled from his attacker's flesh and stung at his face and legs. Despite the repeated assaults Chris held on long enough until Jimenez pulled away, his entire body aflame as he ran towards Diana before burning out in the middle of the field, the vines burning where he fell.
Diana secreted the finished potion over her skin and clothes as she reached the Scorpion Goddess, far behind her the chant was already well underway and the rune stones that would bind the fell creature were glowing a cool blue, ready to aid in the binding. Reaching out to touch the creature on the flank, Diana hesitated looking up at the creature as it shuddered, bursts of energy already incinerating the ground around her and melting the biological plastic off her skin and hands. Stroking the creature on the flank Diana closed her eyes before tumbling backwards onto the floor as the Scorpion Goddess erupted into golden light and ascended into the sky as a gleaming cloud only to be sucked away into her body. Struggling to her feet Diana screamed, she was the creature's prison but it was far from happy to be sentenced. Almost immediately golden energy wrapped around her form creating a magical flesh as the contained god fought at the bindings. As every second past more and more power surged to the forefront and Diana knew that she was losing the battle to contain the monster, its charisma and magic burning out her technology. Collapsing to her knees Diana lost control completely as golden fire radiated from her eyes and her skin morphed into a young woman, both beautiful and terrible to all who saw her.
Melissa looked across the field and saw Diana's body loose control of the creature that had escaped its bounds and taken control of her form. Looking over at Illyana she saw the Russian mutant nod sharing an unspoken conversation. Reaching out Melissa sliced through the Yew Tree and grabbed a splinter of wood with the symbol etched on the surface. Taking flight she thundered towards Diana a flurry of golden energy balls thrown up by her former teammate in an effort to stop her. It didn't work, with an angry scream Melissa slammed the wooden stake into Diana's chest and watched as the golden energy drained out of the cyborg and into the piece of wood before chucking it away as the golden fire incinerated the prison and imprisoned the goddess once and for all.
"Diana I want you to know that I am proud of you." Melissa whispered as she caught the sparking cyborg as she fell.
"Thank you." Diana croaked before one last charge of electricity ran through her system up into her brain before she shut down. Melissa laid the remains of her friend down on the floor before turning back towards Abe and the others stood, tears streaming down her face.
"SHIELD will be on station in three minutes." Emma told Abe, "This is now you're mess." she added, "Rest assured that you're secrets will be secure with us."
"Thank you for all the assistance you provided." Abe replied as the X-Men flashed out before striding out to where Chris and Melissa stood, heads bowed around their fallen friend and comrade.
Epilogue
SHIELD sealed the body away in a large lead lined coffin before placing it in a van with all the other items labelled as 'Evidence'. The official story that they were going to use was that Backlash and Whiplash had detonated a Thermobaric bomb at the Pleasant Hills Vineyard, no mention of the Scorpion Goddess would be made so the public would never know about the monster that had dwelled under the hills of California. The members of Highway Patrol; Iridium, Skylark and the newest member Oxide were asked several questions; the most difficult being what happened to 'Skylark's clothes. No mention was made of the X-Men and while Abe was sure that SHIELD knew about their involvement it was clear that they didn't want to know. After a tense few hours the team retired to their rooms, each of them preferring to sleep alone and avoid talking about Diana.
The two guards on the SHIELD evidence truck laughed and talked as they headed to the lock-up in Phoenix. Everything including the 'robot skeleton' and the glowing box would be stored their and probably never seen again. They didn't care, it didn't pay to ask questions and truthfully they didn't want to know the answer.
"Whoa we got some tremors today." the driver announced as the truck buckled. "They say that the idiots SHIELD sent to the raft set off a bomb that's affecting tectonics in the area."
"You believe that?" one of the guards snorted, "It was some kind of big monster not losers like Backlash and Whiplash."
"Still that gear looked hot, did you see Skylark dressed up in the stuff that Isabella wears. She looked hot no doubt." the second replied.
"Hey Lana what do you think?" the first guard hissed, "You're a dyke right?" Lana stalled the van and turned to look at the pair of idiots. "Get out." she snapped as she levelled a pistol at them. Jokingly the agents put up their hands and got out the van to see a massive figure towering over them, his scales puffed up as he wheezed in and out.
"Gentlemen." a German voice stated as the figures of Baron Zemo stepped out from behind the reptilian colossus. "My associates and I are taking you're truck, please don't resist." The SHIELD agents gasped and went for their pistols, Zemo sighed. "Puff Adder restrain them."
"Be a pleasure Baron." Puff Adder wheezed before ripping the head off on of the agents as the other turned and fled towards the van. He didn't get too far, as he reached the door the driver shot him before kicking open the door and descended to join the other Masters of Evil.
"Good work Beetle. You had no trouble getting in and out I assume?" Zemo asked.
"None Baron." the Beetle replied as she strapped on her wrist blasters that had been strapped to her legs under her trousers. "The goods are inside; I think you will be pleasantly surprised." Zemo flecked his hands before opening the doors and hopped inside, his eyes going straight to the glowing box. Cautiously he opened the box and removed his hood to reveal his scared face, a smile of triumph etched across his face.
"Yes my masters." Zemo purred, "I am indeed elated at our success." he finished closing the lid of the box and slipping it into a tactical hard case before hefting Diana's broken body from the coffin and passing it to Puff Adder. "We are one step closer to revenge." he added jumping out of the truck. "Tremor burry the evidence." he ordered as he headed off into the desert.
"Yes Baron." Tremor snarled before stomping her foot, fissures spreading out and swallowing the entire section of road, "For our revenge." she stated as the shaking ceased and she turned to follow Beetle and Puff Adder into the blazing heart of the Californian Desert. "My revenge not yours."
Thunderbolts #16
The Thunderbolts are in the city of sin in an attempt to steal some Vegas Luck. But the plans of Super Heros on the run often go array as some old friends show up looking for the perfect sinful getaway. Will the Thunderbolts be Double Crossed? Find out in the next issue.