Robert Umbridge the head of the FACT committee sat across the room from the bent and broken former hero watching him as he flipped through the files that he had brought with him. Umbridge like his visitor had been a former man of action, in this case a serving member of the British Army rather then a US marine but regardless of that both knew that actions spoke louder then words in nearly every theatre of war from down on the front line to back home where the recruiters and war profiteers churned out propaganda to enthuse the civilians to do their part for the brave men and women fighting for them overseas. Umbridge knew that Warden Walker, the former US Agent would not reject his proposal like his colleges within FACT had done, the man valued camaraderie and loyalty just like him.
"So Warden what do you think of the Intel I managed to scrounge up for you." Umbridge asked.
"It is compelling but I will need more to act on." Walker replied, "And I can't authorize any action unless you and the other members of FACT agree that it is the correct course of action."
"That will never happen." Umbridge sighed, "King is a bureaucrat and Lane well he still has dreams of the criminal registration act being repealed, the fact that we keep our operatives identities a secret is down to his intervention. If he had his way then these files would have been destroyed, luckily I was able to save them."
"It would have been a loss of good Intel." Walker stated, "But even though I support the need to apprehend these individuals I am not willing to use the Dark Avengers to do it. The fact that Gold and Jenkins have shared history with Dr. Sophen is troubling enough but add in Barton being Myers replacement and we might end up with severe casualties on both side, personally I would risk it but SHIELD wants all Government supers kept off the front line ready to deal with the Phoenix Five if they become a threat."
"When they become a threat." Umbridge corrected, "The thing about power is that once you have it no one else is allowed it. You admired Norman Osborne from afar, marvelled at what he did. Osborne's failing was he allowed others to have power, he was afraid to take what he had to the next level. Mark my words once the Avengers and X-Men are done with each other they will turn on everyone else and I for one don't like to relinquish the power I have. Do you Mr. Walker?"
"No." Walker answered, "But what does that have to do with the Thunderbolts?"
"Capture them and you prove that you and you're team are powerful. Let you're men know that and when the Avengers come for them they will be ready in spirit as well as body. Prove that you can be a strong leader and they will follow you anywhere, even to the gates of the respected hell dimensions they believe in. Songbird, the Beetle, Boomerang, Smokescreen and the Melter are the first steps you have to take to become the man you want to be." Umbridge told Walker, his eyes fixed on the warden's expression as it went from stoic resilience to moulded joy; Walker had fallen into his trap and would never escape now that he had wormed his way into the former soldier's skull. "So we have an accord?" he asked, his words met by Walker's gung ho smile, Umbridge knew then that his 'victim' agreed and that he had successfully prevented another from obtaining power.
The blonde haired man carried the two plastic shopping bags down the street before turning off the pavement and heading into the abandoned office block that sat in the middle of Dallas, the building was under refurbishment and the finished rooms were being rented out to travellers and yuppies until it was completed. Ducking inside the man closed the door and fiddled with his belt, his clothes transforming from an AC/DC Concert Shirt and Jeans into a blue armoured jumpsuit and visored helmet. Cracking his knuckles the man removed a pair of boxes filled with wires and components from the bags and headed for the stairwell heading for the loft he and his 'friends' had rented out. Reaching the door he fiddled with the key-pad and walked in as soon as the door was open, placed the boxes on the table and sat down on the sofa the previous tenant had left.
"Boomer." a voice called, "Did you get Abe's parts?"
"Right here darling." Boomerang replied as Melissa appeared in the doorway to the bedroom she shared with Juno, her body clothed in a tank top and jogging shorts, her hair dripping wet suggesting she had just stepped out of the shower. Walking over to the boxes she sifted through the detritus and pulled out one of the circuit boards. "Did you get these from Radio Shack or Wal-Mart?" she asked pursing her lips together.
"Tools are from Wal-Mart, Circuits and that crap are from the Shack." Boomerang told her, "Why do you ask?"
"I told you if you were going to Wal-Mart to pick up an extra carton of milk." Melissa told him, "Can't you remember anything?"
"Well." Boomer stammered before hearing something slam into the wall from the bedroom. Storming out dressed in her combats and grenade bandolier Juno Shepherd AKA Smokescreen pushed past Melissa and grabbed Boomerang by the neck.
"Are you an idiot soldier?" she asked.
"It was only milk." Boomerang replied not making eye contact. "Why is everyone so uppity about it?"
"It wasn't just milk." Juno snarled, "There were two main stories on the news; one was from Lithuania where Colossus managed to convince Zaxx to supply free electricity to several Eastern European stated. The other was that a Latvarian Terror Cell was stopped from blowing up a shopping centre by the Highway Patrol's very own Boomerang."
"Huh and I thought they were Germans." Boomer mused as he avoided Melissa's glare. "Should have figured that they were from Latvaria from the amount of time they said Doom." Melissa snarled before walking over to the third bedroom and knocked on the door until Chris poked his head out of the room.
"Did Boomer get the parts?" he asked, "Abe is talking technology to me and it's driving me insane."
"Oh he did." Melissa told him. "He also exposed us, tell Abe to get that suit in working order because we have to leave now." Chris opened his mouth and closed it a couple of times before withdrawing back into the room as Melissa turned back to look at Boomer. "You'd better hope that the Avengers don't turn up on our doorstep." she warned him before stalking back into her room.
"What was I meant to do let the Doomies blow up loads of people?" he asked. Juno cocked her head and put a finger to her lips before pointing at the door. Boomer listened and heard the sound of quiet conversation outside the door as well and toggled the image transducer on his belt, his street clothes returning. Juno followed suit, her military fatigues changing into sweats and a hoodie before un-holstering her Tech 9 and stalking over to the side of the door. Boomer nodded and walked over and placed his hands on the door handle before wrenching it open to reveal a woman and man both dressed in business suits.
"Good Day sir." the woman chirped, "We are here to discuss our fabulous new line of cleaning products." she announced gesturing to the suitcase the man was holding. "Can we come in?"
"No you can't." Juno hissed as she barged into the door way, "Thank you and goodbye."
"But Ma'am our products are new." the woman stated wedging her foot in the door.
"You're voice is familiar." Boomer announced as Juno wrestled to close the door, "Where have I heard it before?"
"Please we just want to sell you this cleaner." the woman begged as Juno pushed her out of the way and closed the door before slamming the dead-bolt across and turning the key in the lock. "I hate salespeople." she hissed before removing her Tech 9 from the place she had hidden it when she had intervened in the attempted sales pitch.
"Crap." Boomerang swore, "This ain't over."
"They are salespeople." Juno stated, "What is the worst they can…" Before she finished the door vaporized in a blast of light revealing the suited woman standing in the frame, her hands glowing. Spinning around Juno opened fire releasing a trio of shots before the woman blasted her with a blast of light propelling her across the room. Using this brief window Boomerang jumped into the fight slamming his fist into the woman's nose before being punched back, his assailant's blow causing the concrete floor to crack as the woman walked over him followed by her partner.
"Boomer what the hell is all the noise for." Melissa yelled as she stepped out of the door dressed in her 'Sky Lark' Uniform. Looking across the room she saw the blonde woman turn to face her and crack an evil grin. Swearing under her breath Melissa fell back into the room as a burning pulse of light flew past her, the heat scorching the ID Mask of her face and revealing her true features. Getting to her feet she sprinted out the room and reached half way to her attackers before the man opened the case and pulled out an already loaded compound bow. Releasing the bow string the arrow flew towards its target only to be intercepted by a thrown Boomerang as Myers pulled himself up using the wall.
"Mel its Moonstone and Trickshot." he yelled as the later pivoted round and fired a second arrow the slammed through his arm pinning it to the wall. Using the distraction she had been provided Melissa charged and delivered a snap kick to Moonstone's chest before being grabbed by the leg and thrown into the sofa by her former teammate. Strutting over Karla ignited her fist and got ready to slam her fist threw Melissa's chest when the wall adjacent to her crumbled and Abe lumbered into the main room clad in his bulky Iridium Armor, bits of masonry flying everywhere and causing Moonstone to go intangible to prevent from being KO'd by flying brick work.
"You don't look so tough." Trickshot sneered loosing five arrows at once, the lethal projectiles embedding in the armour's outer skin before detonating, the blast charring Abe's breast plate but coming nowhere near to reaching the pilot inside. Retaliating Abe fired up a shoulder mounted laser blaster, the beam of light scything through Trickshot's bow string and burning his left hand. Checking the power level Abe was relieved to see that this new addition wasn't as power hungry as he had predicted, whoever had supplied Goldbug with the weapon had made sure to think about the systems battery life as well as power.
(Sky Lark, Iridium and Oxide confiscated Goldbug's Laser in Road to Redemption - Part I)
"Karla let her go." Abe ordered as he aimed the weapon at Moonstone, a red dot darting about on the fair skinned woman's forehead. Karla turned round and smiled at Abe before putting her hands above her head.
"I don't want Melissa any more." she hissed, "She has no powers without her sonic harness, you on the other hand have some nice kit." she added as her entire body begun to glow. Reaching forward Abe grabbed hold on her hands before his suit's Taser function, the sound of Moonstone screaming filling the room. As the glow faded he saw that the woman in his arms was Melissa, her frame smoking as Trickshot removed a set of throwing knives twirling the blades through his fingers.
"Boomer where's Karla?" Abe asked as he laid Melissa on the floor and swung his head from left to right to see where Moonstone had slipped off to.
"Behind you." Myers screamed causing Abe to turn around just in time to see a blonde woman in red slash towards him, her fingers leaving gashes in the burnt metal plate. Abe responded by kneeing the woman in the stomach sending her reeling as Moonstone came up behind him and slammed her fist into the Iridium armours power-pack causing the suit to stall.
"He did say behind you." Karla replied sweetly as Trickshot walked over to Boomerang and stabbed one of the knives through his shoulder. "That's for being a blabber mouth." the archer told him, "And that's for what happened last time we met." he snarled as he stabbed the second blade into Myers shin.
(Boomerang easily defeated Trickshot in Dark Avengers 182)
"Area is secure." a fourth voice announced from somewhere outside of Boomerang's field of vision. "That's enough Barton." it snapped before Barton was struck by a blast of electricity causing him to convulse backwards spitting and cursing. "Melissa Gold, Abner Jenkins and Fredrick Myers you are all under arrest for acts of terror. You have the right to remain silent but anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney…"
"Wait there were four of them." Trickshot interrupted, "Where is the army girl?"
"And you said in briefing that there was a fifth one, the Melter or something." Karla added.
"Looks like the area isn't all that secure." Melissa croaked as she sat upright. "So Walker they gave you new legs and a smart new job holding some convicts leads." she hissed as Walker moved into the apartment, the black and grey version Captain America uniform and shield glowing in the late afternoon sun as it shone through the bay windows. "But you knew this fight wasn't over." Karla shot Walker a look before seeing Melissa spread sonic wings from her back and propel her out of the window, glass shattering as she escaped.
"Sophen get after her." Walker instructed, "Control release Apaec and Ragnarok to join the pursuit. Target is Songbird, she's rabbited and should be considered armed and dangerous." he informed the person on the other end of the comm. link as Moonstone flew through the window after Melissa. Barton, Covington help me extract Jenkins out of the suit before he reboots It." he ordered as he removed his pistol and begun to shoot the leg joints of the Iridium Armor. Trickshot gave Boomerang a sinister smile before walking into the kitchenette and removing a blow torch.
"Once I'm done with Jenkins I might use this on you." he hissed before he got to work on the suit. "Let's see how ugly you are Jenkins, whatever the reason for hiding you're face it's going to be uglier after we are done with it." he told Abe as he brought the blow-torch level with the Thunderbolt's face mask. As he fired up the tool it exploded scorching his other hand and causing him to drop and roll onto the floor screaming in pain. Stepping out of the ruined bedroom Chris emerged his hands blazing causing Walker and Covington to turn their attention away from Abe's armor.
"Surrender Colchiss, make this easy on yourself." Walker commanded, "You're not a bad kid so don't throw you're life away by siding with these felons."
"Detonating a fuel tank is easy." Chris replied focusing his powers causing his hands to blaze even hotter, the ambient heat causing the remaining Dark Avengers to take a few steps back. "Arrows and Knives are a lot harder especially when there embedded in a friend."
"What are you talking about?" Covington snapped, "Make sense you obnoxious child."
"She's talking about this." Boomerang told her as he released a Razorrang, the projectile detonating over Covington and Trickshot and showering them in shrapnel causing the later to dive out the way and pick up a discarded pane of glass. "Try it Hawkeye junior." Boomerang taunted, "Just try it." Barton snarled and threw the pane, the improvised projectile arching through the air and whizzing past Boomerang barley missing his cheek before shattering on the wall behind him.
"Barton deal with the child, Boomerang is merely an inconvenience." Walker snapped as he blocked a blazing punch from Chris, the blow causing his shield to melt where the younger man's strikes impacted with the surface. Trickshot picked up another pane of glass and threw it at Chris the projectile shifting his focus as Walker counter-attacked using his shield to pin the Melter to the floor. Picking up a third pane Trickshot looked up to see another boomerang fly towards him, the reinforced projectile propelling him out the broken window screaming as he fell to the street below.
"You baby it's only three stories." Boomerang chided him reaching for another one of his trademark weapons as US Agent pummelled Chris in the face.
"Hey soldier." Walker heard as something brushed past his face. Looking up he couldn't see the speaker until she rippled into view her fingers covered by a knuckle duster. "Semper Fi basted." Juno told him as she slammed her fist into Walkers eyes before pushing him off of Chris. Staggering backwards his eyes bleeding Walker reached for his pistol before seeing Abe's armor splutter to life; the power system recharged as the Iridium suit marched forwards crushing the gun and his hand in its metal grip.
"So Warden but this is necessary." Abe apologized as he rammed Walker through the wall into Melissa and Juno's bedroom. "Okay everyone we need to leave. Mel swing back round and we'll get the other Dork Avengers off you're tail"
"Roger that." Melissa replied as she banked round the Reunion Tower avoiding the photon blasts and lightning strikes from her pursuers. Darting towards the office apartment she saw Smokescreen perched on the edge of the broken window armed with a grenade launcher, her eyes fixed on Ragnarok as he fired another blast of lightning that snaked across the side of the building after Melissa. Opening fire Juno watched as the grenade detonated between Ragnarok and Ai Apaec, electric energy coursing over the pair and causing the former to fall from the sky slamming into a city bus as he landed, the impact causing his left arm to snap off just above the elbow.
"Give up Moonstone." Abe yelled as Melissa darted over the top of the building before circling back round the bottom back towards her pursuers. "Walker, Trickshot, The Witch and Ragnarok are all down, you and the spider freak are the only ones left." Karla turned to respond but before she could respond a sonic blast caught her from behind propelling her through the gutted apartment and through the door she had blasted open earlier.
"And that's how we deal with persistent sales people in Texas." Juno told Karla as she flew past.
"Well we may as well kiss the deposit goodbye." Boomer lamented as Melissa formed a sonic platform on the edge of the office. "So what now?" he asked as the rest of the Thunderbolts crowded onto the hard sound disc.
"We made the call to Volkner." Abe told him, "He's going to meet us at Fort Worth tomorrow morning. Until then we survive." he added as the platform hovered away from the teams temporary hideout, Ai Apaec swinging behind them. Absent mindedly Abe opened fire with laser cutting through the Moche god's webbing and sending him flailing soundlessly towards the streets. "In any way we can."
Thunderbolts #23
Think that the Dark Avengers was all that FACT would send to hunt down the Thunderbolts? Something a lot deadlier is about to be released back onto the streets, something or someone who has a score to settle with one of the Thunderbolts. Find out who is back in the next issue of New Thunderbolts.